By HR for HR

WRKdefined Podcast Network
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By HR, For HR is a podcast hosted by VirgilHR CEO Jocelyn King that brings practical insights from HR leaders on recruiting, performance management, compliance, leadership, AI, and more. Each episode shares real-world lessons you can apply immediately to elevate your organization and strategy.

  1. 3h ago

    Matthew Owenby: The Reality of Workplace AI - Cutting Through the Hype with Value-Driven Strategy

    In this episode of By HR for HR, host Jocelyn King sits down with Matthew Owenby, Chief Human Resources Officer at Aflac, to explore how progressive benefits strategies and deep business alignment redefine modern HR leadership. Matthew outlines Aflac’s value-driven philosophy of caring for employees so they can care for the business, detailing their innovative on-site healthcare program that brings doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and mental health professionals directly to corporate campuses. He shares how offering preventative care and early medical detection yields $3 million to $6 million in avoided healthcare costs annually, providing a compelling template for HR leaders seeking to build high-impact, cost-effective wellness initiatives in their own organizations. The conversation dives into what separates administrative HR managers from strategic CHROs who hold a true seat at the executive table. Matthew emphasizes the necessity of becoming a "ferocious student of the business" by mastering corporate financial filings, listening to investor calls, and understanding key metrics like earnings per share and total shareholder return. By framing HR solutions directly around executive goals and corporate values, HR professionals can effortlessly secure CEO buy-in for bold initiatives, rather than viewing wellness and benefits solely through a traditional cost-center lens. Finally, Matthew offers a grounded, pragmatic perspective on artificial intelligence and workplace transformation. Drawing parallels to past industry hype cycles, he encourages HR practitioners to maintain a healthy skepticism toward grand vendor promises while focusing on practical AI tools that solve specific operational problems. He wraps up the episode by sharing how Aflac preserves its employee-first culture across a global footprint through long-form conversational recruiting, reminding listeners that sustainable organizational culture relies on clear human values and intentional hiring choices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Matthew Owenby: The Reality of Workplace AI - Cutting Through the Hype with Value-Driven Strategy

  2. Aug 13

    Theresa Hummel-Krallinger: Humour, Resilience, and Stand-Up Skills: Unlocking Better Leadership

    Jocelyn King sits down with Theresa Hummel-Krallinger, President and Chief People Officer of High Five Performance, speaker, stand-up comedian, and author of Make Waves. Theresa discusses the core thesis of her new book, emphasizing the necessity of lifelong career ownership and employability in an evolving, AI-impacted job market. She shares how proactive career agility and continuous learning help working professionals navigate market uncertainty, while offering insights into how parents and leaders can mentor the next generation through career planning discussions.   The dialogue explores Theresa's unique dual career in organizational development and stand-up comedy, illustrating how humor serves as a serious business tool for driving workplace culture and employee resilience. She explains the physiological and psychological benefits of shared laughter in training environments, noting how humor enhances information retention and strengthens interpersonal relationships. Theresa also cautions against forced workplace fun, sharing memorable missteps where leadership failed to align culture initiatives with their specific audience, and explains how humor acts as an essential coping mechanism during times of organizational dysfunction.   Drawing on her specialized work in leadership training for highly technical staff—such as biostatisticians and pharmacologists—Theresa outlines why technically brilliant individuals often struggle when transitioning into people management. She highlights the necessity of equipping introverted, data-driven managers with concrete tools for self-awareness, active communication, and navigating difficult conversations. Closing with the story behind the Emmy Award displayed in her office, Theresa delivers an inspiring message on stepping outside comfort zones to achieve both personal and professional growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Theresa Hummel-Krallinger: Humour, Resilience, and Stand-Up Skills: Unlocking Better Leadership

  3. Aug 6

    JJ Owns: Gen Z in the Skilled Trades: Rethinking Recruitment Beyond the Resume

    In this episode of By HR for HR, host Jocelyn King connects with JJ Owen, Executive Director of Skills Jam, to explore how organizations can adapt their talent acquisition strategies to engage the next generation of skilled trades talent. JJ breaks down the fundamental shift in how Gen Z consumes information as an "algorithmic generation" that leans into platform suggestions rather than traditional search behavior. He outlines why traditional recruitment funnels—such as lengthy email campaigns and resume upload requirements—often fail with younger workers, and explains why text-based recruitment and early career exploration are far more effective for downstream hiring success. The conversation dives deep into practical content creation and campaign execution for employer branding on platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Drawing from real-world examples, including a narrative campaign with Carrier featuring a father-son HVAC team and a viral TikTok post leveraging trending Sabrina Carpenter music to highlight concert production trades, JJ demonstrates how showing real day-in-the-life work demystifies trade careers. He emphasizes that effective social content does not need to be overly polished, as authentic and unproduced footage consistently resonates better with Gen Z audiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    JJ Owns: Gen Z in the Skilled Trades: Rethinking Recruitment Beyond the Resume

  4. Jul 29

    Leah Stiegler: Navigating Complex Labor Laws

    In this episode of By HR for HR, host Jocelyn King is joined by Leah Stiegler, Principal at Woods Rogers, to unpack the complex, high-stakes intersection of employment law and everyday workplace management. Together, they explore pressing compliance challenges facing modern HR teams, including the surprising rise of union organizing in non-traditional sectors like tech and healthcare driven by social media transparency and targeted digital advertising. Leah also shares critical advice on balancing corporate brand protection with employee rights, emphasizing why consistent policy enforcement is essential when managing sensitive or political online conduct. The conversation then delves into critical performance management pitfalls, breaking down why relying solely on "at-will" status fails in legal disputes and how unsupportive performance improvement plans can trigger "sham PIP" presumptions in court. Finally, Leah and Jocelyn examine the double-edged sword of AI in human resources, warning against over-reliance on generative tools for delicate employee communications while highlighting the hidden risks of unconscious bias in automated recruitment screening. Leah Stiegler is a Principal at Woods Rogers where she specializes in management-side labor and employment law, partnering with employers to navigate complex compliance, workplace investigations, and administrative agency claims before the EEOC, DOL, and NLRB. A former federal judicial clerk in Norfolk, Virginia, Leah earned her J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law after completing her undergraduate studies at Virginia Tech. Recognized as one of Virginia Lawyers Weekly's "Influential Women of Law," Leah blends deep legal knowledge with practical corporate guidance, helping organizations manage employee relations, mitigate risk, and build resilient workplace cultures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Leah Stiegler: Navigating Complex Labor Laws

  5. Jul 23

    Peter Phelan: Becoming a Cultural Change Agent: Turning Taboo Topics and Dry Benefits into Engagement

    In this episode of By HR for HR, host Jocelyn King sits down with Peter Phelan, a former Chief People Officer turned culture strategist, executive headhunter, and HR’s resident humorist. Peter shares his journey from studying HR in Ireland during the 1990s to climbing the corporate ranks in the tech sector, before taking a leap a decade ago to found his company, Values Culture. The conversation centers on the surprising intersection of comedy and human resources. Peter discusses his unique niche performing at New York City comedy clubs and major industry events like the Transform conference in Las Vegas. He explains his strict philosophy of "HR positivity"—never self-deprecating the function, but rather using clean, empathetic humor to address the absolute chaos that HR professionals face daily. Listeners will also get an inside look at Funny HR People, an open mic night Peter co-emcees in New York that serves as a therapeutic, community-building space for local HR teams. Beyond the stage, Peter delivers practical advice on how injecting humor can serve as a catalyst for accelerating trust with corporate stakeholders, easing executive tension, and humanizing rigid workplace dynamics. He highlights the boundaries of workplace comedy, the importance of reading the room, and how to safely poke fun at overblown HR buzzwords. Finally, Peter shares a classic personal story from his time at Bloomberg, proving that even within highly intense, conservative corporate structures, a single practitioner can use wit to turn dry benefit rollouts into memorable cultural moments. Peter Phelan is the founder of Values Culture, where he specializes in culture strategy and executive search for people and talent leaders. Widely known as "The Culture Doctor," he is a passionate speaker and comedian dedicated to lifting the spirits of global HR practitioners. You can connect with Peter on LinkedIn or check out his upcoming community events at www.valuesculture.com and www.funnyhrpeople.com. Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR is an HR compliance software designed by practitioners to deliver automated, instant compliance answers regarding federal, state, and local employment laws. To discover how to shield your organization from legal risk while freeing your team up for strategic initiatives, visit www.virgilhr.com and follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Peter Phelan: Becoming a Cultural Change Agent: Turning Taboo Topics and Dry Benefits into Engagement

  6. Jun 18

    Bethany Muzzi: The Metrics That Matter: Connecting Employee Turnover to Hard Business Outcomes

    In this episode of By HR for HR, host Jocelyn King sits down with Bethany Muzzi, an HR professional who built her leadership foundation in the high-stakes healthcare environment during COVID-19 before transitioning into the fast-paced construction industry. Bethany shares her "sink or swim" lessons and explores how human resources acts as a universal anchor across vastly different sectors. The conversation unpacks the distinct tactical shift required when recruiting frontline and blue-collar talent compared to corporate white-collar roles. Bethany explains why chasing candidates no longer works and how companies must instead transform their employer brand into a talent magnet. From replacing generic internal point systems with high-quality, branded apparel that field workers actually want, to pivoting away from transactional referral bonuses that incentivize bad hires, Bethany reveals what authentic, employee-driven engagement looks like in practice. Listeners will also discover actionable advice on how HR practitioners can advocate for themselves internally and transition from admin support to invaluable strategic operators. Bethany discusses leveraging critical business metrics like turnover to prove HR's impact on financial outcomes, managing the chaotic staffing lifecycles of project-based bidding, and using out-of-the-box creativity to stand out in competitive job markets. Bethany Muzzi is an accomplished human resources leader with a background in communications, marketing, healthcare administration, and industrial personnel management. She currently drives strategic HR, recruitment initiatives, and culture development in the construction sector. You can connect with Bethany directly via email at bmuzzi@rcconst.net or locate her professional profile on LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Bethany Muzzi: The Metrics That Matter: Connecting Employee Turnover to Hard Business Outcomes

  7. Jun 11

    Kara Kelley: Building Sustainable Revenue: Why HR Solopreneurs Can’t Go It Alone#19 - Kara Kelley: Building Sustainable Revenue: Why HR Solopreneurs Can’t Go It Alone

    In this episode of By HR for HR, host Jocelyn King connects with Kara Kelley, a fractional HR business partner, entrepreneur, and founder of the HR Consultants Mastermind Community. Kara shares her journey of launching her firm, Clinical HR, in the medical and dental compliance space right at the onset of the pandemic, navigating the chaotic waves of early COVID-19 compliance mandates, and scaling her business into a highly visible industry authority. The conversation breaks down the fundamental mistakes new HR professionals make when transitioning from corporate roles into independent consulting. Kara offers a masterclass in the power of "niching down," explaining why trying to serve every small business ultimately dilutes your message. She provides an insider perspective on escaping traditional time-for-money pricing traps, shifting instead toward value-based models that reflect the peace of mind and tangible financial risk mitigation a specialized advisor delivers. Listeners will learn what it truly means to step out from behind the laptop and evolve from a "hidden helper" into a "visible authority" through highly intentional, industry-focused networking. Kara shares practical mindset shifts for moving past layers of imposter syndrome, using a "face-it-till-you-make-it" framework built on continuous execution and pipeline consistency. Finally, she delivers a piece of brutally honest advice for anyone aspiring to build a sustainable, recurring-revenue practice: you cannot do it alone, and finding a dedicated, objective peer community is your ultimate key to long-term success. Kara Kelley is a seasoned fractional HR consultant, business advisor, and speaker specializing in culture and compliance advisory within the healthcare sector, particularly dentistry. Passionate about empowering fellow practitioners, she is the founder of the HR Consultants Mastermind Community, which supports over 3,500 aspiring and independent consultants globally. You can connect with Kara directly via email at kara@clinicalhr.com or join her thriving professional network by searching for the HR Consultants Mastermind on Facebook and LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Kara Kelley: Building Sustainable Revenue: Why HR Solopreneurs Can’t Go It Alone#19 - Kara Kelley: Building Sustainable Revenue: Why HR Solopreneurs Can’t Go It Alone

  8. Jun 4

    Steve Browne: HR Without Boundaries: Leading People First over Policy

    In this episode of By HR for HR, host Jocelyn King sits down with Steve Browne, a 40-year human resources veteran, to explore the profound evolution of the profession from the restrictive, top-down days of "Personnel" to modern organizational design. Steve reflects on his expansive career and shares why he is presenting on "HR Without Boundaries" and "The Heart of HR" at the upcoming SHRM conference. The conversation dives deep into how forward-thinking companies are shifting from enforcing rigid manuals to applying purposeful, directional structures. Steve discusses his unique approach at his company, where they have completely bypassed high-potential ratings, decoupled compensation from traditional performance management, and eliminated departmental silos in favor of highly collaborative "areas of work." Listeners will also gain tactical insights into navigating technology advancements like AI. Rather than building policies out of fear or managing to the exceptions, Steve explains how leveraging tech can actively engage a modern workforce, including the youngest generations. Finally, Steve delivers a powerful reminder for anyone looking to step into a leadership role: get away from your desk, get out with your staff, and treat every workplace challenge as a human situation first. Steve Browne is a globally recognized HR leader, speaker, author, and practitioner with four decades of experience in the profession. Known for his hands-on, people-centric philosophy, he is a passionate advocate for lifting others up and driving connective communities across the global HR landscape. You can find and connect with Steve across all major social platforms, including LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and BlueSky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Steve Browne: HR Without Boundaries: Leading People First over Policy
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About

By HR, For HR is a podcast hosted by VirgilHR CEO Jocelyn King that brings practical insights from HR leaders on recruiting, performance management, compliance, leadership, AI, and more. Each episode shares real-world lessons you can apply immediately to elevate your organization and strategy.

Information

  • Creator
    WRKdefined Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved by WRKdefined
  • Show Website
    By HR for HR