Love Your People Podcast

ITA Group
  • 4.6 (11)
  • Business
  • Updated Biweekly

The Love Your People podcast by ITA Group is for HR professionals, business leaders and culture enthusiasts who believe that thriving organizations start with empowered, engaged people. Each episode features real stories, practical strategies and expert advice from leaders who are transforming organizations by putting their people first. We explore topics like employee engagement, team building, leadership development and how to create a connected culture. Whether you're looking for fresh ideas to spark joy in your team or proven strategies to boost morale and productivity, this podcast has you covered. Subscribe now and join the movement of loving your people to transform your workplace—and your business.

  1. Inside AT&T's culture playbook with Keith Jackson

    Jun 10

    Inside AT&T's culture playbook with Keith Jackson

    What happens when a high-stakes sales executive takes over the CHRO seat of a global enterprise? And how do you avoid the dreaded "manager tax" when scaling new HR technologies like AI? In this episode of the Love Your People Podcast, Keith Jackson, Chief Human Resources Officer for AT&T International, shares his unconventional journey from sales leadership into the world of human resources. Leading a massive footprint of 40,000 employees across more than 50 countries, Keith explores how putting a business operator's lens on HR can shatter organizational silos and drive tangible outcomes. Keith unpacks practical strategies and real-life examples of operational excellence. He introduces his 15-person "Tactical Employee Solutions Team" (TES) used to consult across HR boundaries, explains why a healthy leadership team requires an intentional blend of deep specialists and wide generalists, and issues a vital warning to HR leaders regarding the hidden administrative costs shifted onto frontline leaders—a phenomenon he calls the "Manager Tax." Whether you're a seasoned executive navigating a global workforce or a people leader looking to better align your strategies with business outcomes, this masterclass in operational HR will leave you inspired and equipped with actionable takeaways. 💡 Don’t miss future episodes! Join our community at https://www.itagroup.com/insights for insights and tools to grow as a people-first leader. Please note: SHRM and HRCI credit codes for episodes beyond two years of their original air date are no longer active. Check our current Love Your People episodes for the latest valid codes. Resources from this Episode Learn more about AT&T International https://www.att.com/  Connect with Keith Jackson on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-jackson-att/  Inspirational quote referenced: "People respect what you expect when you inspect." — Harvey Mackay Thank you to our community partner, SHRM Atlanta https://www.shrmatlanta.org/  Credits Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
  2. Practical Empathy at Scale with Holly Novak

    Mar 25

    Practical Empathy at Scale with Holly Novak

    How do you bridge the gap between high-tech fintech innovation and high-touch human connection at a scale of 7,000+ associates?  In this episode of the Love Your People Podcast, Holly Novak shares her journey of leading the "One Jack Henry" cultural transformation, exploring how putting people first can drive business success. Holly unpacks practical strategies and real-life examples that demonstrate how "Swarm Teams" and "The Jack Henry Way" create a consistent experience for both leaders and clients. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting your journey, this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped with actionable takeaways. 💡 Don’t miss future episodes! Join our community at https://www.itagroup.com/insights for insights and tools to grow as a people-first leader.    Please note: SHRM and HRCI credit codes for episodes beyond two years of their original air date are no longer active. Check our current Love Your People episodes for the latest valid codes.   Resources from this Episode Learn more about Jack Henry: https://www.jackhenry.com/  Connect with Holly Novak: [LinkedIn Profile Link]  Explore Josh Bersin’s "Systemic HR" (Referenced by Holly):   Credits Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
  3. Mercedes-Benz’s workforce transformation: Reshape. Reskill. Recharge. with Lars Minns

    Jan 28

    Mercedes-Benz’s workforce transformation: Reshape. Reskill. Recharge. with Lars Minns

    How can you transform human potential into a genuine competitive advantage?  In this episode of the Love Your People Podcast, Lars Minns, CHRO of Mercedes-Benz USA, shares his journey of moving the HR function from a back-office support role to a strategic catalyst for business transformation. Lars unpacks the "Reshape, Reskill, Recharge" framework and explores how one of the world's most recognizable brands is navigating massive workforce shifts, including the integration of AI and the move to electric vehicles.  Whether you're a seasoned HR leader or a business executive, this conversation will leave you inspired to "hack" your benefits and map the moments that truly matter to your people.  💡 Don’t miss future episodes! Join our community at https://www.itagroup.com/insights for insights and tools to grow as a people-first leader. Resources from this Episode Visit https://www.mbusa.com/en/home  Learn more about SHRM-Atlanta at https://www.shrmatlanta.org/  Credits Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com Please note: SHRM and HRCI credit codes for episodes beyond two years of their original air date are no longer active. Check our current Love Your People episodes for the latest valid codes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min
  4. Culture, recognition, results: Lessons from our CEO Brent Vander Waal

    11/26/2025

    Culture, recognition, results: Lessons from our CEO Brent Vander Waal

    In this special episode of the Love Your People Podcast, Brent Vander Waal, President and CEO of ITA Group, joins host John Duisberg to pull back the curtain on how a 60-year-old agency walks the talk of its own "people first" philosophy. Brent shares his journey from Controller to CEO and unpacks the tangible strategies ITA Group uses to create a culture of ownership—including the unique "vesting vest" ceremony and a surprise company-wide bonus that reinforced their core values. He also discusses the evolution of HR into a strategic business partner and offers a grounded perspective on balancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Human Intelligence (HI). 💡 Don’t miss future episodes! Join our community at https://www.itagroup.com/insights for insights and tools to grow as a people-first leader. Resources from this Episode Connect with Brent on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-vander-waal-3438a59/  Learn more about ITA Group: https://www.itagroup.com  Credits Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com Please note: SHRM and HRCI credit codes for episodes beyond two years of their original air date are no longer active. Check our current Love Your People episodes for the latest valid codes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
  5. What Great Workplaces Get Right

    09/23/2025

    What Great Workplaces Get Right

    On today’s episode, John Duisberg sits down with Julian Lute, Insights and Innovation Strategist at Great Place to Work. Julian brings over 15 years of experience as an innovative operational leader and global trusted advisor, helping to connect the dots between superior business performance and a best-in-class employee experience. You’ll learn how to define and create a high-trust culture, the difference between a good workplace and a great one, and why investing in your people is the best strategy for sustainable business success. With his deep expertise in building high-performing, people-centric cultures, you won’t want to miss this episode with Julian Lute. Tune in now on your favorite podcast platform. 💡 Don’t miss future episodes! Join our community at https://www.itagroup.com/insights for insights and tools to grow as a people-first leader. Resources from this Episode For additional resources and to learn more, visit https://www.greatplacetowork.com/  Follow Great Place to Work on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/great-place-to-work-us/ Follow Julian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianlute/ Credits Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com Please note: SHRM and HRCI credit codes for episodes beyond two years of their original air date are no longer active. Check our current Love Your People episodes for the latest valid codes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
  6. Creating an employee-focused, values-based company culture

    07/23/2025

    Creating an employee-focused, values-based company culture

    On today’s episode, John Duisberg sits down with Crystal Hanlon, Senior Vice President of Culture and Values at The Home Depot. Crystal’s own journey is a powerful testament to their culture—she started with the company 40 years ago as a part-time cashier and has risen through the ranks to her current executive role, leading culture for over 450,000 associates. Crystal shares how The Home Depot successfully scales its iconic, values-based culture by making leadership local and harnessing the power of storytelling. You'll learn tangible strategies for making culture real across a massive, distributed workforce and understand why creating a shared purpose through community impact is a true game-changer. Tune in for an incredible story of growth and servant leadership. Resources from this Episode Visit https://www.homedepot.com/ Follow Crystal on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-hanlon-3221278/  Credits Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com Please note: SHRM and HRCI credit codes for episodes beyond two years of their original air date are no longer active. Check our current Love Your People episodes for the latest valid codes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min
  7. Supporting career development and engaging with kindness with Bettina Deynes

    06/04/2025

    Supporting career development and engaging with kindness with Bettina Deynes

    How do you create a culture where every employee believes in their own breakthrough? In this episode of the Love Your People Podcast, Bettina Deynes, Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Carnival Corporation, shares her inspiring journey from immigrant janitor to C-suite executive, and how she now leads HR strategy for more than 160,000 employees across eight cruise brands. Bettina offers a transparent look at leading through a global crisis, building a consistent company culture across 150+ nationalities, and the importance of kindness, emotional intelligence, and grit in leadership. Her story will challenge and inspire you to rethink how you show up as a leader. Whether you're navigating change, scaling culture globally, or helping your people unlock their potential, this episode is packed with lessons worth sharing. 💡 Don’t miss future episodes! Join our community at Cooleaf.com/resources/podcast for insights and tools to grow as a people-first leader. Resources from this Episode 🌍 Learn more about Carnival Corporation: https://carnivalcorp.com 📚 Learn more about Hogan Assessments: https://www.hoganassessments.com Please note: SHRM and HRCI credit codes for episodes beyond two years of their original air date are no longer active. Check our current Love Your People episodes for the latest valid codes. Credits Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min
  8. Leading a people-first franchise with Mike McFall

    03/26/2025

    Leading a people-first franchise with Mike McFall

    In today’s episode, John Duisberg dives into the power of leadership, franchising, and building a thriving culture in business with Mike McFall, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Biggby Coffee. Mike shares his incredible journey from barista to CEO, revealing how Biggby Coffee’s franchise model isn’t just about business growth—it’s about empowering franchisees, fostering community, and unlocking the potential of people at every level. If you’ve ever wondered how to scale a business while staying true to a people-first mission, this episode is packed with insights for you. Don’t miss out on opportunities to grow as a people-first leader! Visit itagroup.com/insights/podcast for upcoming episodes, leadership resources, and tools designed to help you create thriving workplaces.  Resources related to this episode Follow Mike McFall on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejmcfall/  Visit https://www.biggby.com/ Get the Book! Grind - No BS by Michael J. McFall https://store.bhappylounge.com/p-11728-grind-no-bs-by-michael-j-mcfall.aspx Credits Theme Music 🎵DPMusic from Pond5.com Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com Please note: SHRM and HRCI credit codes for episodes beyond two years of their original air date are no longer active. Check our current Love Your People episodes for the latest valid codes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
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4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The Love Your People podcast by ITA Group is for HR professionals, business leaders and culture enthusiasts who believe that thriving organizations start with empowered, engaged people. Each episode features real stories, practical strategies and expert advice from leaders who are transforming organizations by putting their people first. We explore topics like employee engagement, team building, leadership development and how to create a connected culture. Whether you're looking for fresh ideas to spark joy in your team or proven strategies to boost morale and productivity, this podcast has you covered. Subscribe now and join the movement of loving your people to transform your workplace—and your business.

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