Lessons From the Field

Ani Huang, Timothy J. Bartl

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Dive into concise, insightful conversations with industry leaders in our new podcast series. Each episode unveils the wealth of resources and connections available for HR Policy Association members while delivering valuable career wisdom from seasoned HR professionals who've navigated the challenges you face today. Subscribe now to transform your professional journey—available wherever you get your podcasts.

10h ago

Business-Led, People-Enabled: The CHRO as Strategist

Kroger CHRO Tim Massa sat down with host Ani Huang two days before leaving Kroger, after 16 years there and 21 at Procter & Gamble. He explains the approach that shaped his career: business-led, people-enabled. "Our product is people, and we have to apply that product to any business situation or case," he says. Tim shares how HR's insight led Kroger to walk away from acquisitions, why he brought office teams back five days a week, and why he sees middle managers missing the coaching they need. What happens when a CEO leaves without warning? Tim walks through Kroger's emergency succession plan, the 11-month search that reviewed 79 candidates, and the first days of Greg Foran, the company's first external CEO. He also covers his own succession. When his internal successor stepped back, Kroger looked outside and found Emilee De Martino. Why does an outside hire need an 11-week onboarding? A leader who doesn't learn the business, Tim says, risks "organ rejection." He closes with how CHROs can prepare for board service. Tim Massa is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Associate Experience Officer of The Kroger Co., where he led all areas of HR and labor relations for nearly half a million associates. He joined Kroger in 2010 after 21 years in HR leadership at Procter & Gamble and rose to Chief People Officer. Tim partnered with Kroger's board on executive succession, including the search that brought in CEO Greg Foran. He serves on the CHRO Association Board of Directors and is a National Academy of Human Resources Fellow. In this episode: (00:00) From P&G field sales to a career in HR (05:49) Business-led, people-enabled: M&A, COVID, and strategic influence (09:58) Pushing back on deals and telling the CEO the truth (14:52) Kroger's emergency CEO succession and 79-candidate search (17:42) Onboarding Kroger's first external CEO (21:36) CHRO succession and avoiding "organ rejection" (26:58) Board service and Tim's next chapter About the Show Lessons from the Field is a podcast from the CHRO Association, the only independent community built for Chief Human Resource Officers. Each episode sits down with today's leading CHROs and business leaders to unpack the defining moments, hard-won decisions, and career-shaping experiences behind their leadership. The series draws on the same lived experience and peer insight that make the CHRO Association a trusted resource for the leaders that boards and CEOs rely on — bringing that wisdom directly to listeners navigating their own HR careers. It's a show about how great leadership is actually built: in the boardroom, in a hallway conversation, and in the moments no one else sees. Where Policy Meets Practice. Resources Tim Massa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-massa-a9ba5b2b/ Tim Massa CHRO Association Bio: https://www.chro.org/w/timothy-a-massa CHRO Association LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chroassociation The Kroger Co.: https://www.thekrogerco.com Kroger Announcement of Tim Massa's Retirement: https://www.thekrogerco.com/ir-feed-item/kroger-announces-retirement-of-tim-massa-executive-vice-president-and-chief-associate-experience-officer/ Procter & Gamble: https://us.pg...
Oct 27

Leading Through Ambiguity: A CHRO's Take on Honesty, Grace and Talent

"You're always needed more at home." — General Mills' CHRO Jacqueline Williams-Roll on the lesson she wishes she'd learned sooner. Jacqueline Williams-Roll has spent more than 30 years at General Mills — rare in today's job-hopping world. She joined by accident, after a campus interview turned into three decades of building HR strategy from the inside out. In this episode, she tells Ani Huang what changed her as a leader in 2020, leading through both the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd in her hometown. "People can get through tough times," she says. "They can handle hard news better than unclear news if they know you have their back." Williams-Roll also opens up about what it takes to earn HR a seat at the table, how General Mills protects its culture while bringing in outside talent, and why she calls the CHRO role "the loneliest job in the C-suite." She shares the lesson that still guides her, forged during one of her hardest stretches. What does it take to develop the next generation of leaders? And how do you stay grounded while doing it? Her answer is simple: "You're always needed more at home." Jacqueline Williams-Roll is Chief Human Resources Officer of General Mills, where she leads Corporate Communications and Belonging and Community Impact. She joined General Mills in 1995 as an Associate HR Manager and has since led HR across Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, and Talent and Organization Effectiveness, including years leading HR for the international segment. She has guided portfolio transformations, from acquisitions to global systems modernization. Williams-Roll holds a B.S. from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master's in HR and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. In this episode: (00:00) Jacqueline Williams-Roll: 30+ years at General Mills (02:46) From sales to HR: finding an unexpected career path (05:53) Collective ownership: how General Mills manages top talent (07:07) A defining moment: leading through 2020 and the murder of George Floyd (10:29) Earning strategic influence: how HR gets a seat at the table (14:43) On CHROs who don't come from HR (17:08) Evolving culture while protecting the "special sauce" (22:25) Self-care and the loneliest job in the C-suite (27:23) Spotting and developing high-potential talent About the Show Lessons from the Field is a podcast from the CHRO Association, the only independent community built for Chief Human Resource Officers. Hosted by Ani Huang, each episode sits down with today's leading CHROs and business leaders to unpack the defining moments, hard-won decisions, and career-shaping experiences behind their leadership. The series draws on the same lived experience and peer insight that make the CHRO Association a trusted resource for the leaders that boards and CEOs rely on — bringing that wisdom directly to listeners navigating their own HR careers. It's a show about how great leadership is actually built: in the boardroom, in a hallway conversation, and in the moments no one else sees. Where Policy Meets Practice. Resources Jacqueline Williams-Roll — CHRO Association bio: https://www.chro.org/w/jacqueline-r-williams-roll Jacqueline Williams-Roll — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-williams-roll/ General Mills: https://www.generalmills.com CHRO Association website:
Oct 7

Monique Herena on Courage, Change and Trust

"If you never ask, the answer's always no." — Monique Herena Monique Herena didn't set out to become a CHRO — she stumbled into HR at a career fair she almost skipped on her way out with friends. Thirty years and four companies later, she's Chief Colleague Experience Officer at American Express and the longest-serving member of the CHRO Association's executive committee. In this episode, she talks with Tim Bartl about what it actually takes to lead at that level. What's the throughline? "The higher level you get, including in this job, the less you hear," she says. "So you've got to create an environment where people feel like they can speak up." That belief shows up everywhere in her story — in a late-night email to her CEO flagging a mistake before it happened, in a family built around shared risk-taking across five relocations, and in her conviction that AI is a leadership challenge before it's a technology one. What does courage actually cost, and what does it buy back? Monique R. Herena is Chief Colleague Experience Officer at American Express and the longest-serving member of the CHRO Association's executive committee, with nearly 13 years as a CHRO and more than 30 years in HR. Her path ran through executive search and consulting, Quaker Oats, Allied Signal/Honeywell, PepsiCo, and BNY before American Express. While serving as BNY's CHRO, she earned a master's in change leadership and organizational psychology from Columbia's Teachers College — and later started a family scholarship fund for change-leadership graduate students. A self-described "agitator" and systems thinker, she leads with the belief that HR's job is to accelerate the business, not sit beside it. In this episode: (00:00) The four things people say about Monique — business leader, tough, change agitator, team player (06:42) Why collective intelligence means no one gets left on the bench (13:23) The career fair that accidentally launched an HR career (26:31) Career lessons from Quaker, Allied Signal, and PepsiCo — and the email that could have cost her job (36:47) Team Herena — moving the family through Dubai, the Bahamas, and beyond (41:24) Going back to school at Columbia while running HR at BNY (45:35) AI as a leadership transformation, and Monique's final lesson on results, planning, and risk About the Show Lessons from the Field is a podcast from the CHRO Association, the only independent community built for Chief Human Resource Officers. Each episode sits down with today's leading CHROs and business leaders to unpack the defining moments, hard-won decisions, and career-shaping experiences behind their leadership. The series draws on the same lived experience and peer insight that make the CHRO Association a trusted resource for the leaders that boards and CEOs rely on — bringing that wisdom directly to listeners navigating their own HR careers. It's a show about how great leadership is actually built: in the boardroom, in a hallway conversation, and in the moments no one else sees. Where Policy Meets Practice. Resources Monique Herena — CHRO Association profile: https://www.chro.org/w/monique-r-herena Monique Herena — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniqueherena/ CHRO Association website: https://www.chro.org
Sep 22

Earn Your Seat: Adding Value Beyond HR

"Not waiting to make some difficult choices is really in your best interest, because you're going to end up making them anyway." — Kim Hauer Kim Hauer didn't plan a career in HR. It found her during a college internship at Caterpillar, when an assignment to interview an HR manager turned into a job offer. Nearly 20 years later, she was the company's CHRO. In this episode, Hauer, now Executive Vice President and Chief HR Officer at SC Johnson, tells Ani Huang about the moment that changed how she leads: fainting in a hallway overseas after saying yes to everything. "I have to lead and operate differently," she realized, "and take control of my career." Hauer explains why nobody hands you a seat at the table. "You earn your seat at the table," she says, "and if you add value, good things will come." She shares how she caught a costly mistake during an acquisition, why she moved a star performer out of her comfort zone, and how transparency during layoffs built trust instead of breaking it. What does resilience really look like when the job never stops? And what's the one lesson she hopes outlasts her career? Kim Hauer is Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at SC Johnson, a 130-year-old company with $10 billion in annual sales and 13,000 employees worldwide. She joined after nearly 20 years at Caterpillar, starting as a college intern and rising to Chief Human Resources Officer, leading HR across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. She also held roles in compensation and benefits, including a stint in Belgium. Hauer holds a bachelor's degree in management from Purdue University and is a certified HR professional. In this episode: (00:00) Introduction: you earn your seat at the table (01:13) Welcoming Kim Hauer, CHRO of SC Johnson (01:58) From Caterpillar intern to a 20-year HR career (03:39) The hallway fainting story that changed how she leads (06:24) Earning influence and a seat in the deal room (09:10) Leading a major organizational shift as a first-time CHRO (13:23) Redefining resilience and integrating work and family (20:28) Building culture through transparency, developing talent, and the lesson she hopes outlasts her About the Show: Lessons from the Field is a podcast from the CHRO Association, the only independent community built for Chief Human Resource Officers. Hosted by Ani Huang, each episode sits down with today's leading CHROs and business leaders to unpack the defining moments, hard-won decisions, and career-shaping experiences behind their leadership. The series draws on the same lived experience and peer insight that make the CHRO Association a trusted resource for the leaders that boards and CEOs rely on — bringing that wisdom directly to listeners navigating their own HR careers. It's a show about how great leadership is actually built: in the boardroom, in a hallway conversation, and in the moments no one else sees. Where Policy Meets Practice. Resources Kim Hauer Profile: ⁠https://www.chro.org/w/kimberly-s-hauer ⁠ CHRO Association website:⁠ https://www.chro.org⁠
Sep 22

Duty-Bound and Morally obligated to Speak up: A CHRO's Lessons on Influence and Growth

"It's not culture fit, it's culture add." — Jacqueline Welch Jacqueline Welch became EVP and CHRO of The New York Times just as a pandemic, civil unrest, and political upheaval converged. In this episode, she tells host Ani Huang how that collision shaped her leadership — and shares the moment a grieving employee in a restroom led her to rewrite a company's bereavement policy on the spot. "It's not culture fit, it's culture add," she says, describing how she weighs hires against the health of a team. Welch also redefines resilience away from burnout and toward staying anchored to an objective despite setbacks. She opens up about being an introvert with a decades-long journaling habit, a strict sleep routine, and a hard-won lesson from her Andersen Consulting days: once you say something, you can't take it back. What's the line between speaking up and staying quiet? Welch has spent a career finding it. Jacqueline M. Welch is Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of The New York Times, where she leads talent acquisition, career development, compensation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion for the organization. She joined the Times in January 2021 from Freddie Mac, where she served as SVP, CHRO, and Chief Diversity Officer. Earlier in her career, Welch held senior HR roles at Turner Broadcasting System, WestRock, Accenture, and Willis Towers Watson. She holds a B.A. in English from Syracuse University and an M.S. in Human Resources Management from The New School. In this episode: (00:00) The biggest surprise of a CHRO career: pandemic, civil unrest, and political upheaval all at once (03:39) A defining moment: rewriting a bereavement policy after witnessing a colleague's grief (07:13) Redefining strategic influence: being "duty bound and morally obligated" to speak up (11:05) Culture add, not culture fit: a hiring decision that tested her convictions (13:40) What resilience really means — and what it isn't (19:44) Finding grounding as an introvert: journaling, sleep architecture, and life without loneliness (24:48) The lesson she hopes outlasts her: "watch what you say" About the Show Lessons from the Field is a podcast from the CHRO Association, the only independent community built for Chief Human Resource Officers. Hosted by Ani Huang, each episode sits down with today's leading CHROs and business leaders to unpack the defining moments, hard-won decisions, and career-shaping experiences behind their leadership. The series draws on the same lived experience and peer insight that make the CHRO Association a trusted resource for the leaders that boards and CEOs rely on — bringing that wisdom directly to listeners navigating their own HR careers. It's a show about how great leadership is actually built: in the boardroom, in a hallway conversation, and in the moments no one else sees. Where Policy Meets Practice. Resources The New York Times:⁠ https://www.nytimes.com⁠ CHRO Association website:⁠ https://www.chro.org⁠
Sep 21

Strengthening the CEO-Board Relationship: A CHROs Perspective

In this episode, HRPA’s Ani Huang talks with Steve Fry (former CHRO, Eli Lilly) and Rich Floersch (former CHRO, McDonald’s) about the critical role of the CHRO in fostering effective relationships between the CEO and the board. Drawing on their extensive experience, Steve and Rich explore the common disconnects between CEOs and boards, the risks of misalignment, and practical ways CHROs can advise, support, and bridge communication to ensure strategic success. Tune in for insights on building trust, facilitating dialogue, and helping the CEO-board relationship thrive—even in complex and evolving business environments.
Sep 21

Steve Fry on Guiding Transformation from the CHRO Seat

In this episode, HRPA’s Ani Huang talks with Steve Fry about the CHRO’s role in business transformation. Drawing from lessons learned over his 36-year career, and what it meant to serve for 12 of those years as Lilly’s top HR leader during a time of deep transformation, Steve Fry shares his perspective on the role of the CHRO and HR team and how to avoid missteps. Tune in for insights from one of the profession’s most respected voices.
Sep 21

What Comes After the C-Suite?

The latest episode of Lessons from the Field takes a closer look at how Chief Human Resource Officers navigate the transition from corporate leadership to their next chapter.Join host Ani Huang in a candid conversation with Shelly Carlin, as they discuss Shelly’s journey from CHRO and Head of Total Rewards to providing her expertise to HRPA, launching a leadership program for athletes, and serving as Managing Editor of D1Softball.com, the premier source for college softball news.Whether you're actively considering your next move or simply curious about how others chart their post-CHRO paths, Shelly’s story offers thoughtful insights into successful life and career transitions.Tune in now for a dose of inspiration on life beyond the CHRO role.
Sep 21

CEO Succession is the New CHRO Power Skill

January 2025 set a record: 222 CEOs exited their roles—the highest number ever. Many were expected. Some weren’t. For CHROs, being ready for both is no longer optional—it's essential. In the latest episode of Lessons From the Field, Rich Floersch sits down with HRPA’s Ani Huang to unpack what he’s learned from his posts at McDonald’s, Kraft Foods International, and Philip Morris. From strategic foresight to crisis response, Rich shares real-world advice CHROs can’t afford to miss. Tune in now to hear how to lead through leadership change.
Sep 21

Charlie Tharp Provides Insights Into Executive Compensation

In the first of Lessons from the Field, a new video and podcast series, Ani Huang, Senior Executive Vice President of HRPA talks with Charlie Tharp, Senior Advisor at HRPA’s Center On Executive Compensation. In this episode, Dr. Tharp draws on over 25 years of corporate experience at General Electric, PepsiCo, Pillsbury, CIGNA and Bristol-Myers Squibb, plus decades of teaching, to provide his insights into executive compensation.

10 Episodes

Dive into concise, insightful conversations with industry leaders in our new podcast series. Each episode unveils the wealth of resources and connections available for HR Policy Association members while delivering valuable career wisdom from seasoned HR professionals who've navigated the challenges you face today. Subscribe now to transform your professional journey—available wherever you get your podcasts.

Creator

Ani Huang, Timothy J. Bartl
Years Active

2026
Episodes

10
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026
Show Website

Lessons From the Field

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