The Inspire Podcast The Inspire Podcast by the Humphrey Group

In this kickoff episode of Season 6 Bart is joined by Melanie Burns, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer of TD Bank, to discuss the vast array of changes in the last five years in the world of talent, and the foundational principles that leaders can still build their relationships on. Melanie explains how COVID, remote work, the Great Resignation, return to office, and now AI are all transforming the relationship between companies and their staff. She offers perspective on the positive implications of these changes and what they mean for leaders who must cultivate talent. Melanie offers a positive message for leaders: despite these shifts, the good news is that the fundamentals of attracting, engaging and managing talent are the same as they ever were. Melanie's insights and experiences make this a must-listen for any leader who is grappling with the age-old task of cultivating talent in a world that is rapidly changing.

Show Notes:
2:16 Introducing Melanie Burns
2:38 Bart asks about the rapidly changing environment
3:52 What do the different parts of the bank think about our times
4:11 Hybrid work
4:34 Politics at play
5:03 Customers in turmoil too
5:33 Unstable nature of politics like DEI
6:02 What's led you to this point?
6:56 Upbringing
7:41 Picked business
8:30 Opening doors
8:38 Continually asking questions
9:06 How did you get into the world of "talent"
10:30 Unprecedented changes in the last 5 years
10:58 Switch to remote/hybrid workers
11:16 Trust and remote work
11:29 The great resignation
11:41 Did TD lose people in the Great Resignation?
12:57 Great resignation didn't really happen - don't get duped by the hype
13:49 Inverted relationship between leader and direct report
14:36 We are in the trust business
15:13 The power of in-person human connection
15:49 What has changed in talent management
16:36 A collection of experiences
17:00 Exceptional talent have options
17:05 How to get talent to consistently choose TD
17:47 Pressure from employee base
18:37 What are the fundamentals that haven't changed?
19:23 Advice to people managing teams
19:38 The fundamentals: People really want 2 things
19:51 The opportunity to do challenging things
20:14 Want to work for someone who is talented
21:20 You didn't mention money!
21:26 Didn't mention culture
22:42 Truly talented people do not get hung up on titles and compensation
23:21 People don't know the culture that they want...
24:48 Left TD reference
25:52 Philosophy of cultivating talent
26:14 Bart proposes thought experiment
26:47 Leader's job is to manage the tension between present and future
28:06 Signs to look out for in talent management
28:24 Never take things for granted
28:55 Have regular check-ins with people
29:45 Give clarity - not certainty about the future
31:21 Be honest with reports about where they are
31:44 Another mention of leaving
33:19 What's the biggest mistake you've made in talent management
33:45 The importance of succession planning
37:48 Bart summarizes the conversation
38:33 Be authentic
40:05 Thank yous

Check out our last rewind before we launch season 6 of The Inspire Podcast next week! This episode is from season 5, and explores the heart of human connection in a digital age.

Despite the promise of a digital future, staff and leaders are increasingly seeking human connection. In this conversation, author David Sax discusses why analog has proven so durable in a world filled with the promises of a digital transformation. He explains why being in person is something that calls to us, what leaders should do to maximize connection in a hybrid world, and lessons for those still feeling too stuck on screens (or listening to podcasts on headphones!)

We're diving back into another favorite episode from #TheInspirePodcast archives.


In season 4, Bart spoke with Susan Black of The Conference Board of Canada about the challenges facing today's leaders. Drawing on the CBOC's deep research capabilities, Susan shares insights into the major pressures facing leaders across all sectors – from talent management, to a return to premises, to DEI and the future of work. She provides suggestions on how leaders can navigate and inspire through these challenges with practical examples. It's a must-listen for leaders who want to engage and inspire in an ever-changing work environment.

We're getting closer to season 6 of The Inspire podcast! While the countdown continues, we're bringing you standout episodes from our archives. Stay tuned for more as we continue to countdown to the new season!

In this episode Bart speaks with Casper Wong about his journey to create the United Nation of Cyclists, a race team whose mission it is to promote diversity and inclusion. Casper, whose day job is CEO and Co-Founder of Financeit, came to cycling late in life but quickly caught a passion for the sport. In his interview with Bart, he shared his personal experience of loving the sport but feeling like its homogeneity made it hard to feel included and at home. He connected with others who felt the same, and the result was their organic creation of a race team that today is taking an active role in promoting equity in the sport while giving back. Casper's experience and UNC's rapid growth highlights the underlying demand for change in cycling and shows that this sport does not need a one size fits all approach.

In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Richard Rooney. Richard is the President and Chief Investment Officer at Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.

Listen in to learn how Burgundy has been able to create a culture of responsibility with authority for its employees.

In a data-driven economy, it can sometimes be tough to cut through the statistics and generate genuine connections with our audiences.

In this episode, we hear from Margo Gouley on how you can create better audience engagement by integrating Storytelling into your everyday interactions. With real world examples and concrete tips, this episode is a must listen for anyone seeking to have a lasting impact during their next communication opportunity.