ON THE PULSE with IMA

IMA / tentwentytwo
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On the Pulse with IMA gives HR leaders clarity and confidence to navigate the rapidly evolving employee benefits landscape by staying ahead of what’s next before it hits their desk. Each episode features IMA experts and industry innovators who translate data, trends, and emerging ideas into clear, actionable strategies that help employers make meaningful decisions for their people. 

  1. 6d ago

    Why the Easiest Benefits Solution Isn’t Always the Right One: Insights from Tom Polenzani

    If rising costs, stacked renewals, and a flood of funding options have made benefits decisions harder to navigate, this episode shows what HR leaders and CFOs should expect from their advisors, where the pressure shows up first, and how to raise the standard for the advice they receive. Resources Mentioned: • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, alternative funding, and advisor partnerships. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the- pulse-report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Tom Polenzani, Employee Benefits National Sales Leader at IMA Financial Group, to discuss why benefits decisions have become more expensive, more complex, and more central to the C-suite. Tom explains how stacked fully insured increases are pushing mid-market employers toward alternative funding, why CFOs struggle with the loss of a fixed premium number, and what happens when organizations move without understanding cost drivers or getting every decision- maker in the room. They talk about information overload, the difference between dumping data and giving a recommendation, and why education over a three- to five-year horizon matters more than a one-year renewal conversation. Tom also shares what employers should do before the next renewal hits the desk, including getting a second opinion without a 45-page RFP, asking whether the marketplace is being fully explored, and expecting an advisor who understands the business, not just the plan. Whether you are facing another double-digit increase, considering self-funding or a captive, or questioning whether your current advice is still serving you, Tom offers a practical standard for what good counsel should look like when the stakes are this high. Guest Bio: Tom Polenzani is Employee Benefits National Sales Leader and West Region Sales Leader at IMA Financial Group. Based in Pasadena, California, Tom has spent more than 25 years in insurance and human capital management, working with HR leaders, CFOs, and ownership teams to navigate cost pressure, funding strategy, and complex plan design. He previously served as Managing Director at Bolton and as President of Polenzani Benefits. His work focuses on helping employers look beyond a single renewal cycle, educate stakeholders, and build programs they can sustain over three to five years. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:43: Introduction to rising cost, complexity, and why the easiest solution is not always the right one. 00:43 – 01:12: Show intro and welcome. 01:12 – 02:34: Getting to know Tom: Pasadena home, family, and recharging at Newport Beach. 02:34 – 04:28: What disruption looks like day to day: outsized cost, more C-suite involvement, and longer planning cycles. 04:28 – 07:27: What HR leaders and CFOs need to understand now that they did not need five or ten years ago. 07:27 – 10:03: Where pressure shows up first: moving to alternative funding when the CFO no longer has a fixed premium number. 10:03 – 12:09: What happens when organizations change funding without understanding cost drivers or claim volatility. 12:09 – 15:53: Information overload, missing decision-makers, and why advisors need to be more directive. 15:53 – 17:07: What clients finally see once they understand they can design the program instead of accepting a packaged plan. 24:17 – 25:22: Why resources and client advocacy matter, and what makes this work rewarding. 25:22 – 28:24: What to do before renewal numbers hit the desk: a second opinion without a 45-page RFP. 28:24 – 31:31: What employers should start questioning, including staying on the same program for more than three years without a conversation. 31:31 – 33:19: Why advisors must understand the client’s business, not just the benefits plan. 33:19 – 35:41: One thing to refuse to accept: a broker who is not exploring multiple carriers, TPAs, and stop-loss options. 35:41 – 38:21: How to know you have a strong advisor: they understand your business, work hard for the result, and are available when you need them. 38:21 – End: Closing thoughts on mid-year collaboration, trust, and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, alternative funding, and advisor partnerships. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the- pulse-report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

  2. Aug 25

    AI, Capacity, and the People Advantage: Insights from Greg Boothroyd

    If leaders are spending more time worrying about AI’s cost impact than its growth potential, or if performance, culture, and leadership feel harder to manage in a rapidly changing workplace, this episode shows how organizations can use technology to create capacity, free people for higher-value work, and strengthen the human elements that drive results. Resources Mentioned: Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Greg Boothroyd, Chief People Officer at IMA Financial Group, to explore how organizations can approach the future of work with greater intention. Greg explains why leaders often focus too narrowly on the cost side of AI instead of its revenue and growth potential, how technology should free capacity rather than replace people, and why the uniquely human elements of work (empathy, relationship-building, judgment, and coaching) will become even more valuable. They discuss IMA’s People Powered strategic pillar, the importance of role clarity and performance differentiation, how culture is shaped by the experiences leaders create, and why investing in managers as coaches is essential for sustainable growth. Whether you are evaluating AI tools, redesigning work processes, strengthening performance management, or building leadership capability, Greg offers a practical starting point for using this moment to strengthen what makes organizations effective. Guest Bio: Greg Boothroyd is Chief People Officer at IMA Financial Group. He joined IMA in 2025 from Vail Resorts, where he served as Vice President of HR Business Solutions and Chief of Staff to the CEO. With more than 15 years of human resources experience across multiple industries and leadership roles, Greg leads IMA’s people strategy with a focus on talent investment, culture, leadership development, performance systems, and aligning people practices with business growth. He holds an MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and a BA in Sociology from the University of Michigan. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:34: Show intro and welcome to On the Pulse with IMA. 00:34 – 01:48: Getting to know Greg: being a dad to Grant and Henry, tree houses, go-karts, and wake surfing. 01:48 – 03:51: The future of work: leaders over-focusing on AI cost versus revenue and growth potential. AI as a task aid, not a job replacement. 03:51 – 05:36: What leaders get wrong about AI (treating agents as employees) and why technology is best viewed as a productivity enabler, like Excel or factory robots. 05:36 – 08:04: How to identify what to automate versus keep human: start with the value a role delivers, break work into tasks, and protect empathy, vulnerability, and relationship-building. 08:04 – 09:43: Beyond simply giving employees AI tools: HR’s opportunity in organization design, work design, process mapping, and creating capacity. 09:43 – 11:41: Making work more human: machines do the machine stuff, people do the people stuff. The critical need for better data plumbing. 11:41 – 13:36: Building a high-performance culture: clarity of who is on the team, shared goals, accountability, mutual respect, and teamwork. 13:36 – 15:02: Why differentiating outcomes based on individual contribution matters and how rewards systems send cultural signals. 15:02 – 17:02: Why well-intentioned leaders struggle with performance conversations and how to equip managers with the skills to have them. 17:02 – 18:52: IMA’s People Powered initiative: role clarity, career growth, leaders as coaches, and performance tied to rewards. 18:52 – 21:07: Key learnings from People Powered: people as the true differentiator, relationship culture as secret sauce, and the reality that what got you here will not get you there. 21:07 – 23:33: How the HR function must evolve: people strategy linked to business strategy, creating capacity for strategic work through better technology and process. 23:33 – 26:14: Preserving and evolving culture at scale: culture is what people believe, and beliefs are shaped by the experiences leaders deliberately create. 26:14 – 28:45: What’s missing in most leadership development: the 70/20/10 model, on-the-job application, and treating senior leaders as coaches for their teams. 28:45 – 30:22: Why every leader benefits from coaching and continuous improvement, and what it signals when someone believes they do not need it. 30:22 – 31:50: The biggest disconnect: distraction by the latest AI model versus knowing where human capital is deployed and whether that allocation drives growth. 31:50 – 33:56: What will distinguish organizations that thrive: thoughtful use of technology grounded in core value, investment in leadership capability, and strengthening humanity (judgment, relationships, creativity, and coaching). 33:56 – 37:26: What gives Greg the most optimism: intergenerational learning (interns teaching prompting, experienced leaders bringing craft knowledge), and choosing the perspective that change equals growth. 37:26 – End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce strategy, leadership, AI, and organizational performance. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026• Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits and people strategies.• 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce strategy, leadership, AI, and organizational performance. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026• Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits and people strategies.

  3. Aug 25

    Lifestyle Medicine and Building a Healthier Workplace: Insights from Val Tivnan

    If traditional wellness programs feel like checkboxes that have not moved the needle on rising healthcare costs or chronic disease, this episode shows how lifestyle medicine addresses root causes and helps organizations build workplaces where people can actually thrive. Resources Mentioned: Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Val Tivnan, Vice President of Population Health Strategy and Wellbeing at IMA, to explore why traditional corporate wellness programs have struggled to reduce costs or improve chronic disease outcomes, and what a more effective approach looks like. Val explains the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, the difference between checkbox perks and evidence-based therapeutic programs, and the real pressures keeping employers up at night: affordability, economic uncertainty, engagement, mental health, and AI. She shares research on the Diabetes Prevention Program and workplace ROI studies, describes a free step-by-step guide she helped develop with ACLM and ACOEM, and outlines practical first steps any organization can take. Whether you are evaluating current wellness spend, looking for measurable impact, or ready to build a culture that supports healthier employees, Val offers a clear path forward that starts with knowing where you are today and taking one realistic next step. Guest Bio: Val Tivnan is Vice President of Population Health Strategy and Wellbeing at IMA Financial Group. Based in Boston, she has spent nearly 11 years at IMA and more than 25 years in the industry helping employers design strategies that improve employee health and create cultures of wellbeing. She chairs the Lifestyle Medicine in the Workplace member interest group at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and collaborated with ACLM and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine on a free guide that gives employers a practical roadmap for bringing lifestyle medicine into the workplace. Her work focuses on connecting clients with evidence-based programs, measuring results, and helping organizations address root causes rather than symptoms. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:55: Introduction to rising costs, chronic disease, and the limits of traditional wellness programs. 00:55 – 01:29: Show intro and welcome. 01:29 – 02:51: Getting to know Val: Boston base, travel with family and Boston terrier Tyson, and New England nature. 02:51 – 04:54: Val’s role at IMA, 25-plus years in the industry, and how she helps clients build cultures of wellbeing. 04:54 – 08:06: What lifestyle medicine is, how Val discovered it through Dr. Beth Frates and ACLM, and the six pillars. 08:06 – 11:06: What keeps employers up at night: affordability, economic uncertainty, engagement, mental health, and AI. 11:06 – 13:07: Why traditional checkbox wellness programs have not delivered the results employers hoped for. 13:07 – 14:46: The evidence: Diabetes Prevention Program results and a workplace study showing strong ROI. 14:46 – 15:42: Why lifestyle medicine is finally resonating: it targets root causes employers are paying for. 15:42 – 17:28: The free workplace guide Val helped create with ACLM and ACOEM, and how employers can use it. 17:28 – 18:22: Employer feedback on the guide and the reality that many meaningful steps require little or no budget. 18:22 – 20:26: Val’s work as an adjunct professor and the soft skills and psychological safety she emphasizes with students. 20:26 – 21:56: Optimism about the younger generation and their stronger advocacy for health and better leadership. 21:56 – 25:08: Practical first steps: know where you are today, look under the iceberg, use data, and align the environment with the message. 25:08 – 26:01: The single best action in the next 90 days: get the free guide and identify one realistic next step. 26:01 – 27:05: What gives Val the most optimism: documented, multi-year client results and healthier, more engaged workforces. 27:05 – End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. • A Guide to Bringing Lifestyle Medicine into Workplaces – A free, step-by-step resource developed in collaboration with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The guide helps employers move from assessment to implementation with practical tools and a clear roadmap.• 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce wellbeing, chronic disease management, and population health strategy. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026• Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits and whole-health strategies.• A Guide to Bringing Lifestyle Medicine into Workplaces – A free, step-by-step resource developed in collaboration with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The guide helps employers move from assessment to implementation with practical tools and a clear roadmap.• 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce wellbeing, chronic disease management, and population health strategy. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026• Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits and whole-health strategies.

  4. Jun 22

    Preparing for the Workforce of the Future: Insights from John Hearn

    If AI, cyber risk, healthcare costs, and workforce change feel like separate challenges, this episode shows why they are connected and how HR can help lead the response. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including AI, workforce strategy, healthcare cost management, leadership, and organizational change. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] The Obstacle Is the Way – Explore Ryan Holiday’s practical framework for turning obstacles, uncertainty, and resistance into a path forward. Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with John Hearn, Chief Operating Officer at IMA Financial Group, to discuss how HR leaders can help organizations prepare for a workforce being reshaped by AI. John explains why leaders need to look beyond short-term tools and first define what the workforce, customer relationship, and operating model must look like in three to five years. They explore how ambiguity and change fatigue can stall action, why organizations should move before they have perfect information, and how protected AI environments, clear policies, workforce upskilling, and stronger human connection skills can create a foundation for responsible innovation. John also breaks down the cybersecurity and data risks of unmanaged AI use, the need to balance speed with enterprise scale, and the role HR can play in bringing operations, IT, and leadership into a disciplined strategic conversation. The discussion also turns to healthcare cost pressure and why employers must be willing to challenge conventional approaches rather than let a misaligned system control their choices. For HR leaders navigating AI, workforce planning, healthcare costs, and organizational change, John offers a practical case for acting now, leading strategically, and treating disruption as an opportunity. Guest Bio: John Hearn is Chief Operating Officer at IMA Financial Group. He brings decades of experience across risk management, insurance, employee benefits, and business leadership. In his role, John helps guide IMA’s operations and long-term strategy, with a focus on scalable growth, workforce development, innovation, and client impact. He is also a recognized voice on healthcare reform and employer strategies for challenging the status quo, managing cost trends, and creating better outcomes for organizations and their employees. His current work includes helping leaders think more intentionally about AI adoption, cyber risk, organizational change, and the skills companies will need to remain relevant in the years ahead. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:37: John’s family background, twin sister, travel to 47 states, and personal introduction. 01:37 - 03:58: The workforce of the future, end-to-end processes, and building a foundation for AI. 03:58 - 06:36: Leading through ambiguity, acting with incomplete information, and overcoming change fatigue. 06:36 - 08:53: Protected AI tools, employee upskilling, and the growing importance of human connection and “power skills.” 08:53 - 10:46: How HR can frame AI as a strategic business issue for CEOs and boards. 10:46 - 14:57: The Smith Corona lesson, future workforce questions, and why organizations must scale prudently. 14:57 - 19:43: Healthcare cost pressure, systemic misalignment, and helping employers regain control. 19:43 - 23:26: Cyber threats, unprotected AI use, and the risk of exposing proprietary or protected information. 23:26 - 26:37: Balancing speed and scale, supporting innovators, and turning individual AI experiments into enterprise standards. 26:37 - 29:44: Three near-term actions for HR: convene the right leaders, strengthen AI governance, and plan for the future workforce. 29:44 - 32:51: Why AI could help solve workforce shortages and create new productivity opportunities. 32:51 - End: John’s encouragement for HR leaders to take a strategic role in organizational transformation. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including AI, workforce strategy, healthcare cost management, leadership, and organizational change. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] The Obstacle Is the Way – Explore Ryan Holiday’s practical framework for turning obstacles, uncertainty, and resistance into a path forward. Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

  5. May 30

    Taking Control of Healthcare Costs: Insights from Andrew Agress

    If rising healthcare costs, renewal increases, and pharmacy spend feel impossible to control, this episode shows how employers can explore smarter funding strategies, stronger partnerships, and more transparent solutions. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, alternative funding, pharmacy strategy, and workforce wellbeing. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Andrew Agress, Executive Vice President of Employee Benefits at IMA Financial Group, to discuss how employers can respond to rising healthcare costs with greater control, transparency, and confidence. Andrew explains why traditional fully insured and HMO models are becoming harder for some employers to justify, how self-funded and level-funded strategies are opening new possibilities for mid-market organizations, and why pharmacy transparency remains one of the biggest opportunities for savings. They also explore the importance of trusted relationships, HR communities, aggregation and harmonization for private equity and shared-ownership structures, and the role of a broker partner who brings proactive education instead of simply reacting to renewals. Whether you are facing renewal pressure, looking for better data, or wondering if alternative funding is right for your organization, Andrew offers a practical starting point for taking back control of healthcare costs. Guest Bio: Andrew Agress is Executive Vice President of Employee Benefits at IMA Financial Group. Based in Southern California, Andrew has spent more than two decades working with HR leaders and executives to navigate healthcare complexity, carrier negotiations, benefits strategy, and cost control. He also leads and supports HR executive communities through the National Human Resources Association and invite-only roundtables, helping leaders connect, share resources, and solve challenges together. His work focuses on helping employers evaluate smarter funding models, improve access to care, build stronger benefits strategies, and support employees and families when they need care most. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:20: Introduction to rising healthcare costs and smarter ways for employers to take control. 01:20 - 02:50: Show intro, Andrew’s Southern California base, and life as a sports dad. 02:50 - 04:55: Andrew’s career path from recruiting to employee benefits. 04:55 - 07:40: Early lessons, culture fit, and the support that shaped his career at IMA. 07:40 - 10:35: Andrew’s current role, client strategy, HR communities, and COVID-era support. 10:35 - 15:00: What client support looks like beyond the traditional broker relationship. 15:00 - 17:55: The value of HR roundtables, community, and trusted relationships. 17:55 - 20:25: The current healthcare market, cost pressure, access challenges, and employer frustration. 20:25 - 22:05: Pharmacy transparency, IMARx, and alternative solutions for cost control. 22:05 - 25:55: Fully insured vs. self-funded models, loss ratios, and HMO renewal pressure. 25:55 - 29:15: Client example: moving from fully insured to self-funded, reference-based pricing, and direct provider negotiations. 29:15 - 32:40: Aggregation and harmonization for private equity firms and shared-ownership structures. 32:40 - 35:25: The future of alternative funding, level funding, captives, consortiums, and data access. 35:25 - 38:10: The first step employers should take when evaluating funding options. 38:10 - 42:30: What keeps Andrew motivated: community, impact, innovation, and trusted client relationships. 42:30 - 45:55: Future optimism around transparency, equitable pricing, and employer control. 45:55 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, alternative funding, pharmacy strategy, and workforce wellbeing. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

  6. May 30

    Why Employees Stay: Leadership Communication Insights from Gary Butterworth

    If your organization is trying to improve retention with more perks, surveys, or exit interviews, this episode shows why the real opportunity may be the conversations leaders are not having. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce wellbeing, employee engagement, retention, and leadership communication. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Gary Butterworth, a communication expert, speaker, trainer, and former broadcaster, to discuss why employee retention often comes down to the quality of the relationship between a leader and their people. Gary explains why perks and surveys are not enough, how one-on-one conversations build trust, and why stay interviews can reveal what exit interviews often miss. They explore the difference between efficiency and effectiveness, the role of active listening, how leaders can create space for honest dialogue, and why Gary prefers to call stay interviews “bespoke career-centered conversations.” From practical questions leaders can ask to advice for handling unexpected responses, this conversation offers a clear reminder that employees are more likely to stay when they feel seen, heard, supported, and able to grow. Guest Bio: Gary Butterworth is a communication expert, speaker, trainer, former broadcaster, and longtime Toastmasters participant. His career has included radio, television weathercasting, teaching, training, and leadership communication. Known for his energy, humor, and practical approach to interpersonal skills, Gary helps leaders strengthen workplace relationships through better listening, more meaningful conversations, and communication practices that build trust and engagement. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:05: Introduction to retention, leadership communication, and why employees leave. 01:05 - 01:34: Show intro and welcome. 01:34 - 03:32: Gary shares his career journey from radio and TV to speaking, training, and Toastmasters. 03:32 - 05:51: How broadcasting, listening, and interpersonal skills shaped Gary’s communication approach. 05:51 - 08:31: Why retention is less about perks and more about leader-employee relationships. 08:31 - 11:11: Why surveys are not enough and why one-on-one conversations are more effective. 11:11 - 14:56: Stay interviews versus exit interviews, and how trust influences whether employees stay. 14:56 - 19:49: How employees can approach stay conversations and why leaders must build credibility over time. 19:49 - 23:27: Gary’s “bespoke career-centered conversation” approach and why it should be separate from performance reviews. 23:27 - 26:29: The communication skills leaders need: active listening, follow-up questions, note-taking, and curiosity. 26:29 - 29:30: How hesitant leaders can prepare through role-playing and practice. 29:30 - 34:45: Sample stay interview questions and how leaders can listen for meaning, motivation, and growth opportunities. 34:45 - 38:27: How leaders should respond when employees share unexpected or difficult feedback. 38:27 - 43:00: The future of leader-employee relationships, emotional intelligence, AI, and creating meaning at work. 43:00 - 45:38: Why communication may separate organizations that retain talent from those that struggle. 45:38 - 47:29: Gary’s final takeaway: meet one-on-one, grow your people, and build trust consistently. 47:29 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce wellbeing, employee engagement, retention, and leadership communication. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

  7. May 30

    Finding the Hidden Costs in Pharmacy Benefits: Insights from Matt Collier

    If pharmacy benefits feel like one of the least transparent parts of your health plan strategy, this episode shows how employers can look beyond the spreadsheet, ask better questions, and uncover real opportunities for savings. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including pharmacy strategy, healthcare cost management, transparency, and smarter plan design. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Matt Collier of IMA Financial Group to explore why pharmacy benefits have become one of the fastest-growing and most complex areas of healthcare spend. Matt explains why many employers lack visibility into their PBM contracts, how spreadsheet comparisons can miss important contract details, and why words, exclusions, rebate structures, audit rights, and pricing guarantees all matter. They discuss IMA Pharmacy Consulting, the importance of transparency and accountability, the role of regulation, and why employers should begin evaluating their pharmacy strategy now instead of waiting for new rules to take effect. Matt also breaks down specialty drug costs, GLP-1 coverage considerations, biosimilars, prior authorization, step therapy, IMARx, and the difference between a lowest net cost strategy and a rebate-driven approach. Whether you are reviewing your PBM contract, preparing for an RFP, or simply trying to understand where pharmacy spend is going, this episode offers a practical roadmap for taking a more proactive approach. Guest Bio: Matt Collier is a pharmacy benefits specialist at IMA Financial Group. Based in Denver, Matt has been with IMA for 19 years and has worked across financial analysis, self-funding, PBM strategy, and pharmacy consulting. His work focuses on helping employers better understand pharmacy benefit contracts, evaluate PBM arrangements, identify hidden cost drivers, and build more transparent, accountable pharmacy strategies. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 00:55: Introduction to pharmacy benefits as a fast-growing and complex area of healthcare spend. 00:55 - 01:25: Show intro and welcome. 01:25 - 02:41: Matt introduces himself, his Denver base, family life, and 19-year career at IMA. 02:41 - 03:48: How Matt moved into pharmacy benefits and helped build IMA’s pharmacy consulting capabilities. 03:48 - 05:23: What IMA Pharmacy Consulting is and why IMA built this internal expertise. 05:23 - 06:36: Common gaps employers face with PBM contracts, hidden fees, AWP discounts, and contract language. 06:36 - 09:27: Simplifying pharmacy complexity through analogies like the detailed horse, snorkeling, scuba diving, and the iceberg. 09:27 - 10:37: Why employers are asking more questions about PBMs, GLP-1s, rebates, and pharmacy strategy. 10:37 - 13:10: Why many employers still lack transparency and control in pharmacy benefits. 13:10 - 14:39: Why spreadsheet comparisons are only the surface of PBM evaluation. 14:39 - 16:03: How regulation is changing the PBM landscape and why consultants need to act now. 16:03 - 17:09: What employers can do today to begin evaluating their current pharmacy arrangement. 17:09 - 19:44: How IMA engages with clients from first review through procurement, implementation, and ongoing monitoring. 19:44 - 22:13: Where savings opportunities often appear, including contract terms, exclusions, benchmarks, GLP-1s, step therapy, prior authorization, and biosimilars. 22:13 - 23:43: Strategies for specialty drugs, specialty carve-outs, clinical programs, IMARx, and lowest net cost management. 23:43 - 25:26: Why GLP-1s are in a league of their own and how employers can think through coverage decisions. 25:26 - 27:42: Lowest net cost versus rebate-driven strategies and why higher rebates do not always mean lower total cost. 27:42 - 29:11: When employers should consider running a PBM RFP or procurement process. 29:11 - 30:48: Where pharmacy benefits are headed and why transparency, visibility, and cost management will remain critical. 30:48 - 32:40: Matt’s advice for employers: demand transparency, ask better questions, and review contracts proactively. 32:40 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including pharmacy strategy, healthcare cost management, transparency, and smarter plan design. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

  8. May 30

    Making Benefits Personal with AI: Insights from Pauline Roteta

    If employees are spending only minutes choosing benefits that can shape their financial lives for an entire year, this episode explores how AI can help make benefits more personal, more useful, and easier to understand. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including AI, personalization, employee engagement, and benefits communication. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Pauline Roteta, CEO and Co-Founder of Pasito, to discuss how AI is changing the employee benefits experience. Pauline shares how her background in finance, including her time at BlackRock and her work as a CFA and CFP, shaped her view of benefits as a critical part of an employee’s financial life. They explore why employees spend so little time choosing benefits, why one-time open enrollment communication falls short, and how personalized, year-round support can help people better understand and use the programs available to them. Pauline also explains the difference between generic AI and vertical, purpose-built AI, how AI agents can reduce manual work for employers, brokers, and carriers, and why benefits will always remain a deeply human business. Whether you are evaluating AI tools, looking to improve benefits engagement, or trying to help employees see the full value of their benefits package, Pauline offers a practical look at where the industry is headed next. Guest Bio: Pauline Roteta is the CEO and Co-Founder of Pasito, an AI-native benefits workspace designed to help employers, brokers, carriers, and employees improve the way benefits are built, delivered, and experienced. Before founding Pasito, Pauline worked at BlackRock as a Senior Investor and Portfolio Manager. She is a CFA and Certified Financial Planner, bringing a financial planning lens to health, wealth, and total rewards strategy. Her work focuses on using AI to simplify complex benefits workflows, personalize employee support, and help organizations deliver a better year-round benefits experience. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:01: Introduction to the 18-minute benefits decision problem and the promise of AI. 01:01 - 01:31: Show intro and welcome. 01:31 - 03:22: Pauline’s background at BlackRock, becoming a CFP, and the path to Pasito. 03:22 - 05:11: What Pasito does and how its AI-native benefits workspace works. 05:11 - 07:20: How Pasito evolved from decision support to a broader AI benefits workbench. 07:20 - 10:15: Surprises from the market, unified systems, and stronger employee engagement. 10:15 - 14:21: Why employees spend so little time choosing benefits and why that matters. 14:21 - 18:18: Moving from one-time open enrollment to personalized, year-round benefits support. 18:18 - 20:36: Pauline’s vision for AI as foundational infrastructure in employee benefits. 20:36 - 23:39: What people misunderstand about AI, hallucination risk, vertical AI, and agentic AI. 23:39 - 28:22: How Pauline’s finance background shapes her view of benefits, total rewards, and employee decision-making. 28:22 - 32:30: Long-term value, ROI, engagement, and how AI can help HR teams understand what employees need. 32:30 - 35:12: How brokers and consultants can use AI to reduce manual work and focus on higher-value client support. 35:12 - 38:41: Practical first steps for consultants who want to understand and apply AI. 38:41 - 43:15: How to evaluate AI partners, start with a use case, and manage change effectively. 43:15 - 47:35: What great could look like five years from now as AI reshapes benefits administration and employee experience. 47:35 - 48:26: Final reflections on AI, benefits, and the need for a part two. 48:26 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including AI, personalization, employee engagement, and benefits communication. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

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About

On the Pulse with IMA gives HR leaders clarity and confidence to navigate the rapidly evolving employee benefits landscape by staying ahead of what’s next before it hits their desk. Each episode features IMA experts and industry innovators who translate data, trends, and emerging ideas into clear, actionable strategies that help employers make meaningful decisions for their people. 

Information

  • Creator
    IMA / tentwentytwo
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean

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