The HR Dialogues

AIHR

Yesterday’s HR playbooks don’t work. Let’s talk about it. Welcome to HR Dialogues, the show where HR leaders discuss the obstacles and opportunities facing people professionals today.  Tune in to hear from HR leaders and innovators sharing insights on HR from the front lines. From business impact to HR capabilities, you will get an inside view on the topics that need to be on your radar as an HR leader. Hosted by Dr. Dieter Veldsman, Chief HR Scientist at AIHR and ex-CHRO. 

  1. VOR 7 STD.

    #42 | Why AI and Employee Wellbeing Need to be Discussed Together

    Is your organization truly prioritizing wellbeing or just handing out another app? Discover key insights from a bestselling author and wellbeing advocate on how businesses must embrace systemic change to truly support employee wellness in the modern workplace. Welcome to The HR Dialogues with Dr. Dieter Veldsman! Join AIHR’s Chief HR Scientist to learn from People Practitioners as they navigate the changing world of work. In this episode, Dr. Dieter Veldsman sits down with Ryan Hopkins, Chief Impact Officer at JAAQ, a rising well-being platform for businesses. Together, they explore the evolving well-being landscape, the unintended consequences of digital tools, and why measuring what matters is key to creating sustainable workplaces. As a global well-being leader, Ryan has helped major organizations like Microsoft, Bupa, Sainsbury’s, and Deloitte reduce burnout, improve performance, and navigate the human impact of an increasingly digital and AI‑driven workplace. He is also the author of the best-selling book “52 Weeks of Well-being”. In this episode, we’ll discuss: The digital well-being crisis and how constant connectivity impacts employees How to move beyond apps and perks to build a truly human-centered culture The role of data and leadership in creating sustainable wellbeing strategies Ready for the full experience? Watch the episode in video format.  Rate, review & follow on your favorite podcast platform. If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing our show. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode and any topics you'd like us to cover next. If you haven't done so yet, subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode!

    25 Min.
  2. 04.12.2025

    #41 | Why AI Maturity Is More About People Than Technology

    How are organizations using AI, and what does AI maturity look like in practice? Discover key insights from a seasoned AI expert on navigating adoption, measuring impact, and building responsible, human-centered AI strategies. Welcome to The HR Dialogues with Dr. Dieter Veldsman! Join AIHR’s Chief HR Scientist to learn from People Practitioners as they navigate the changing world of work. In this episode, Dr. Dieter Veldsman sits down with Eryn Peters, co-founder of the AI Maturity Index. Together, they dive into how organizations are adopting AI, what true AI maturity means, and how HR can lead responsibly in an AI-driven future. As a future of Work evangelist, Eryn brings deep expertise in AI adoption, organizational culture, and workforce transformation, grounded in her extensive global research, with over 300,000 data points. In this episode, we’ll discuss: - How to assess and improve AI maturity across teams and regions - The psychological and cultural factors influencing AI adoption - Why HR plays a central role in building responsible, organization-wide AI strategies Ready for the full experience? Watch the episode in video format.  Rate, review & follow on your favorite podcast platform. If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing our show. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode and any topics you'd like us to cover next. If you haven't done so yet, subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode!

    32 Min.
  3. 27.11.2025

    #40 | Making the Deal Work: The Strategic Role of HR in Mergers and Acquisitions

    How can HR drive value before, during, and after a merger or acquisition? Get actionable insights for navigating M&A with confidence, clarity, and impact from a seasoned HR executive and educator. Welcome to The HR Dialogues with Dr. Dieter Veldsman! Join AIHR’s Chief HR Scientist to learn from People Practitioners as they navigate the changing world of work. In this episode, Dr. Dieter Veldsman sits down with Andrew Bartlow, Founder of People Leader Accelerator and veteran HR leader. Together, they explore the real value HR brings to M&A, the pitfalls to avoid, and how to lead through uncertainty with a clear strategy. Andrew has 35+ years of HR experience, including senior roles at Pepsi, GE, and Wells Fargo, and now supports CHROs and HR teams through high-impact advisory work. He has guided dozens of successful mergers and acquisitions. In this video, we’ll discuss: How HR can align with the value creation plan to drive successful M&AThe biggest misconceptions about HR’s role in M&AHow to create clarity, retain key talent, and align culture with business goalsReady for the full experience? Watch the episode in video format.  Rate, review & follow on your favorite podcast platform. If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing our show. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode and any topics you'd like us to cover next. If you haven't done so yet, subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode!

    32 Min.
  4. 30.10.2025

    #39 | Psychological Safety: What It Really Means for HR and Leadership

    What does psychological safety really look like in today’s dynamic workplace? And how can HR play a role in shaping cultures where trust, authenticity, and feedback thrive? Welcome to The HR Dialogues with Dr. Dieter Veldsman! Join AIHR’s Chief HR Scientist as he sits down with Michelle Fields, former VP of HR at AIHR, to unpack the complexities and realities of psychological safety across modern organizations. In this episode, Dieter and Michelle explore how psychological safety impacts team dynamics, HR’s role in enabling versus owning it, and how leaders can intentionally build cultures where people can show up as their true selves—even in high-performance, hybrid, or AI-driven environments. Michelle brings nearly 15 years of cross-industry HR experience, spanning construction, publishing, advertising, and digital innovation. Her insights blend strategic thinking with human-first leadership, making this conversation both practical and powerful. In this episode, we discuss: - Defining psychological safety and what it actually looks like in today’s - workplace - Unpacking HR’s role in enabling trust without overstepping boundaries - Exploring how leaders can build safety into even the most high-paced work environments Ready for the full experience? Watch the episode in video format.  Rate, review & follow on your favorite podcast platform. If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing our show. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode and any topics you'd like us to cover next. If you haven't done so yet, subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode!

    32 Min.
  5. 28.08.2025

    #38 | Building Influence in HR: Strategies for Connection

    What makes a great leader in today's evolving workplace? Find out how a workplace psychologist and executive coach breaks down why strong relationships make better leaders, teams, and cultures. Welcome to The HR Dialogues with Dr. Dieter Veldsman! Join AIHR's Chief HR Scientist to learn from People Practitioners as they navigate the changing world of work. In this episode of The HR Dialogues, Dr. Dieter Veldsman sits with Dr. Karen Bridbord, Chief Talent Officer and licensed psychologist. Drawing from her background in workplace psychology and executive coaching, Karen unpacks what it means to lead through connection — and how building authentic relationships at work leads to better business outcomes. Karen’s work focuses on leadership development, emotional intelligence, and building psychologically safe and resilient teams. She is also the author of The Relationship-Driven Leader, a book that explores the impact of everyday interactions on team experience and performance. In this episode we’ll discuss: - The four pillars of relationship-driven leadership and their impact on workplace wellness and productivity - Why authentic connection, not just cooperation, drives effective collaboration - How HR can balance relationship-building with accountability and foster resilient leadership cultures Ready for the full experience? Watch the episode in video format.  Rate, review & follow on your favorite podcast platform. If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing our show. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode and any topics you'd like us to cover next. If you haven't done so yet, subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode!

    32 Min.
  6. 31.07.2025

    #37 | How to Build a Business-first Strategy

    How can HR leaders design impactful strategies and prepare for a future with AI-powered teams? Find out how the co-founder of a talent intelligence platform builds business-led HR strategies that truly deliver results. Welcome to The HR Dialogues with Dr. Dieter Veldsman! Join AIHR's Chief HR Scientist to learn from People Practitioners as they navigate the changing world of work. In this episode of The HR Dialogues, Dr. Dieter Veldsman sits with Avinash Kohli, co-founder at intalent.ai, to unpack how HR leaders can create and implement a business-first HR strategy that is proactive, agile, and future-ready. Avinash is an HR tech entrepreneur with 20+ years of global experience across Citibank, GE, and Boeing. At intalent.ai, he is reimagining the future of talent acquisition through AI-powered solutions that help organizations scale smarter and hire better. In this episode we’ll discuss: - What makes a business-first HR strategy and why it matters - The link between strategy, organizational design, and execution - How AI and digital agents will reshape HR Ready for the full experience? Watch the episode in video format.  Rate, review & follow on your favorite podcast platform. If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing our show. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode and any topics you'd like us to cover next. If you haven't done so yet, subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode!

    29 Min.
  7. 26.06.2025

    #36 | Where HR Goes Next: Skills, AI and the Power of Being Human

    What are the biggest trends influencing the HR environment and how can HR practitioners prepare for the future of work? An experienced professor shares key insights on AI, leadership, and the evolving workforce. Welcome to The HR Dialogues with Dr. Dieter Veldsman! Join AIHR's Chief HR Scientist to learn from People Practitioners as they navigate the changing world of work. In this episode of The HR Dialogues, Dr. Dieter Veldsman sits with Professor Marc Miller. Together, they explore HR's current and future challenges and opportunities, focusing on the influence of AI and the changing dynamics of the workforce. Marc Miller is an author, consultant, and academic with a distinguished career in industrial psychology and HR. Over the years, he has held key consulting roles with top organizations, pioneered HRIS development, and founded his own consulting firm, Marc S. Miller Associates. In this episode we’ll discuss: - The evolving nature of the workforce, including the blend of humans, avatars, robots, and gig workers - The necessary qualities and skills for future leaders and HR practitioners - Strategies for preparing the workforce for an AI-powered world Ready for the full experience? Watch the episode in video format.  Rate, review & follow on your favorite podcast platform. If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing our show. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode and any topics you'd like us to cover next. If you haven't done so yet, subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode!

    26 Min.
  8. 01.05.2025

    #35 | Self-managed Teams: Freedom, Responsibility and Everything In-Between

    How can self-managed teams stay accountable and ensure alignment with organizational goals? An experienced professor in Human Resource Management shares key insights on the essential factors to make self-managed teams work. Welcome to The HR Dialogues with Dr. Dieter Veldsman! Join AIHR's Chief HR Scientist to learn from People Practitioners as they navigate the changing world of work. In this episode of The HR Dialogues, Dr. Dieter Veldsman sits with Bex Hewett, Associate Professor in Human Resource Management at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. Together, they explore the challenges and benefits of moving towards self-managed or leaderless organizational structures.  Bex has 10 years of experience working in HR and 12 years as an HR scholar. She’s also the Academic Director of the part-time PhD program of the Erasmus Institute of Management. Her research focuses on self-managing organizations, the experience of HR practices at work, motivation at work, and wellbeing. In this video we’ll discuss: - The importance of an international structure and strong principles in self-managed teams - The shift in how leadership and authority function - HR’s role in facilitating collaboration and trust Ready for the full experience? Watch the episode in video format.  Rate, review & follow on your favorite podcast platform. If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing our show. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode and any topics you'd like us to cover next. If you haven't done so yet, subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode!

    32 Min.

Info

Yesterday’s HR playbooks don’t work. Let’s talk about it. Welcome to HR Dialogues, the show where HR leaders discuss the obstacles and opportunities facing people professionals today.  Tune in to hear from HR leaders and innovators sharing insights on HR from the front lines. From business impact to HR capabilities, you will get an inside view on the topics that need to be on your radar as an HR leader. Hosted by Dr. Dieter Veldsman, Chief HR Scientist at AIHR and ex-CHRO.