People Ops Playbook

Vara Lakshmi
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

A podcast for people leaders, HRs and entrepreneurs seeking actionable insights to enhance people operations in your organization. Join HR experts sharing real-life examples and resources to empower your journey!

Episodes

  1. 11/11/2025

    Employment Law 101

    In this episode, Vara and Halisi, Founder of Workplace Investigations break down everything HR and business leaders need to know about staying compliant from contractor misclassification to handling terminations, workplace conflicts, and layoffs the right way. You’ll learn how to: - Spot legal blind spots before they cost your company - Handle investigations and employee relations with empathy - Build safer, fairer workplaces where people feel heard and manage conflicts better. Resources: Employment Law Now Podcast What the Hell Just Happened?! Podcast Workplace Investigations LLC

    57 min
  2. Automation in Community Building

    08/24/2025

    Automation in Community Building

    In this kickoff to the new automation series on PeopleOps Playbook, special guest Martin Hauck, founder of the People People Group - a 5,000+ strong HR community shares how he’s used tools like Zapier, Circle, and TextExpander to streamline onboarding, personalize member experiences, and build genuine engagement at scale. From automating repetitive tasks to preserving the human touch, this episode is packed with practical tips for People leaders looking to work smarter. Great automation tools: TextExpander - Automating LinkedIn connection messages for new community members Zapier – Orchestrating the member journey after application approval. Circle – Integrating with Zapier to trigger onboarding workflows and welcome sequences. Typeform – Collecting new member applications in a visually appealing, user-friendly form Martin Hauck [Guest] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinhauck/ Vara Lakshmi [Host] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/varalakshmi06/ People People Community Group: https://www.thepeoplepeoplegroup.com

    19 min
  3. How to Build Inclusivity & Belonging at Work

    07/28/2025

    How to Build Inclusivity & Belonging at Work

    In this episode of People Ops Playbook, DEI leader Daniel O’Neill brings a refreshingly real perspective on what it actually looks like to create inclusive workplaces. From running impactful trainings to learning through moments of failure, Daniel shares practical stories, tools, and trusted organizations that shaped his work. Whether you’re designing your first DEI initiative or recalibrating after burnout, this conversation is filled with honest insights, humility, and hope.

    48 min
  4. Getting Exec to Love your People Strategy

    05/22/2025

    Getting Exec to Love your People Strategy

    Welcome back to People Ops Playbook! In this episode, we dive into the power of data with Emma, an HR pro from Australia with nearly 20 years of experience. We explore how data can move HR from reporting to real strategy—covering flight risks, workforce planning, and avoiding vanity metrics.

    39 min
  5. Secrets to Building High-Performing Teams

    02/23/2025

    Secrets to Building High-Performing Teams

    In this episode of PeopleOps Playbook, host Vara sits down with psychology of change expert Mona Momtazian to explore what truly sets high-performing teams apart. From psychological safety and intrinsic motivation to leadership’s role in fostering resilience, they uncover actionable strategies to build teams that thrive. Whether you're an HR professional or a leader, tune in for practical insights on creating a culture of collaboration, autonomy, and sustained high performance! 🚀 #Leadership #HighPerformingTeams #PeopleOps

    1h 14m
  6. Toxic to Thriving: How can HR Drive the Change

    01/16/2025

    Toxic to Thriving: How can HR Drive the Change

    Workplace toxicity doesn’t just hurt morale—it holds back growth and success. In this episode of People Ops Playbook, we’re joined by Julia Cartwright, ACC—a seasoned HR leader, Certified Executive Adlerian Coach, and culture transformation expert with 20+ years of experience. Together, we explore how HR can tackle toxic cultures and turn them into thriving, high-performing environments. ✨ Learn practical frameworks to clean up toxicity ✨ Discover real-life success stories ✨ Get actionable strategies to boost engagement and performance Follow for more insights on HR, people operations, and building better workplaces!

    1h 30m
  7. 0 to 1: Effective People Project Planning

    12/23/2024

    0 to 1: Effective People Project Planning

    As we approach the end of the year, many of us are looking for ways to make next year our most impactful yet. In this episode, our guest, Maude Royer, founder of Hoom Consulting, shares invaluable insights on how she approaches building great projects for her clients. Getting the full picture of a company—understanding culture, people, and challenges in a short amount of time. Frameworks she uses to identify gaps and prioritize based on what’s needed by HR, employees, and leadership. Navigating the complexities and unexpected roadblocks in people projects to drive results.If you’re ready to level up your People Ops game, tune in to learn more! 🎙️

    55 min
  8. Why Are Our People Initiatives Failing?

    10/29/2024

    Why Are Our People Initiatives Failing?

    In this video, I’m joined by Mona Momtazian, a psychology of change expert with over 20 years of experience in organizational change from Australia. Mona shares an incredible wealth of knowledge, frameworks, tools, and practical examples on managing change effectively. Discover how to make your HR initiatives successful with proven strategies and valuable insights from the field.

    1h 8m
  • 8 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A podcast for people leaders, HRs and entrepreneurs seeking actionable insights to enhance people operations in your organization. Join HR experts sharing real-life examples and resources to empower your journey!

Information

  • Creator
    Vara Lakshmi
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Vara Lakshmi
  • Show Website
    People Ops Playbook