Pulse by HRBench

HRBench
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BUSINESS

Getting a pulse on your workforce in high-stakes environments is a challenge few talk about, but it’s the reality for HR leaders today. Pulse brings you real conversations with HR leaders navigating the pressure, pace, and potential of operating in high-stakes environments. From post-acquisition chaos to boardroom reporting, these unfiltered stories reveal how people leaders drive impact through data, strategy, and grit. Brought to you by HRBench, the people analytics platform for high-performance HR teams.

Episodes

  1. 3 HR Analytics Pitfalls That Kill Credibility w/ Emily Granholm

    FEB 4

    3 HR Analytics Pitfalls That Kill Credibility w/ Emily Granholm

    HR leaders have reports, but still struggle to drive action. In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, Emily Granholm breaks down what it takes to make HR a strategic business function, especially inside PE-backed companies, where the board expects clear financial impact. You’ll learn the three most common analytics pitfalls that derail HR credibility, plus a practical approach to turning reports into decisions executives will fund. Emily also shares how to make insights board-ready, how to frame retention and time-to-fill in financial terms, and why psychological safety and employee listening are critical leading indicators before turnover spikes. Join us for how to make HR a revenue enabler. Chapters 00:00 | Introduction 03:00 | The 3 HR analytics pitfalls that kill credibility 06:30 | Finance vs HR data: headcount, severance, and alignment issues 09:00 | From dashboards to decisions: making data actionable 12:45 | Making HR insights board-ready 16:45 | Retention is a lagging indicator: what to measure earlier 20:45 | HR, AI, and the shift from reactive to proactive 23:45 | Closing: positioning HR as a revenue enabler Connect with Emily Granholm: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilygranholm/

    27 min
  2. Scaling in 90 Days: The HR Playbook for Efficiency, AI, and Leadership w/Kelly Oliver

    12/15/2025

    Scaling in 90 Days: The HR Playbook for Efficiency, AI, and Leadership w/Kelly Oliver

    What does it take to lead people in high-stakes, private-equity-backed environments, where efficiency matters, managers are underprepared, and AI is reshaping how work gets done? In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, Kelly Oliver, a veteran HR and business leader whose career spans leadership roles at Microsoft, Oracle, HP, Salesforce, and most recently as Head of HR at a PE-backed cybersecurity company. In this episode we explore: Why scaling efficiently now requires HR to understand how the business makes moneyWhy most managers are unprepared for today’s environment, and what effective manager enablement looks likeHow HR can use data, QBRs, and performance visibility to influence executive decisionsWhy AI should live behind the scenes, not between people, and how HR must lead AI strategy without losing the human connectionWhat it means to “be better than a bot” in an AI-driven workplace This is a practical, executive-level conversation for HR leaders navigating growth, profitability pressure, and rising expectations from boards and PE sponsors. Episode Chapters 00:00 | Intro: Leading HR in PE-Backed, High-Pressure Environments01:58 | Meet Kelly Oliver: From Engineering to Head of HR.04:00 | The Real Question: How Do You Scale an Organization Efficiently?06:07 | Why Everything Is Now a 90-Day Window08:56 | HR’s Role in Revenue-Driven Execution11:35 | Performance Heat Maps and HR’s Early Warning Signals12:31 | Why Every HR Team Should Run a QBR17:56 | Managers Are Unprepared & Here’s Why19:28 | Manager 101: What Leaders Actually Need to Learn21:36 | Managing the “What” vs. the “How”27:27 | How AI Is Already Changing the Manager Role29:08 | Where AI Belongs: Back-End Efficiency, Not Front-Line Humans32:14 | Why HR Must Be Central to AI Strategy35:02 | AI Literacy for HR Leaders: Lean In or Fall Behind38:02 | Human Connection Still Matters More Than Ever40:46 | Final Challenge: Be Better Than a Bot Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/k-oliver/ Good Signs Consulting: http://goodsignsconsulting.com/ HRBench: https://www.hrbench.com/

    43 min
  3. Why HR Must Lead the AI Conversation w/Kristin McDonald

    12/08/2025

    Why HR Must Lead the AI Conversation w/Kristin McDonald

    AI is reshaping how we work, and HR should be at the forefront. In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, we sit down with Kristin McDonald, a veteran HR tech strategist and self-proclaimed “HR tech nerd,” to unpack what it means for HR to lead in the age of AI. Kristin shares: Why AI literacy is now table stakes for HR leaders How to build an AI roadmap that drives business value What traps to avoid during tech implementations How to evaluate AI vendors (and when to build vs. buy) The role HR plays in AI governance, data readiness, and org-wide enablement Whether your exec team is pushing AI adoption or you’re simply trying to modernize your HR tech stack, this conversation will give you the clarity and confidence to lead from the front. Chapters 00:00 | Intro: Why AI in HR is a Strategic Imperative01:39 | Meet Kristin: A Self-Proclaimed HR Tech Nerd02:11 | AI Overload: Trends, Buzzwords & Real Questions04:05 | Strategic Tech Stacks: It’s Not About the Shiny Tools06:32 | Before You Buy: The Internal Questions HR Must Ask08:54 | Integrations & IT: Don’t Buy Without These Partners10:25 | Point Solution vs. All-In-One: What Actually Works13:12 | Implementation Pitfalls: What HR Gets Wrong17:12 | Where Should HR Tech Live, IT or HR?21:07 | The Case for a Single AI Agent Experience22:12 | Why HR Must Lead AI Adoption (and How to Start)27:57 | How to Become AI Literate as an HR Leader30:24 | Getting a Seat at the AI Table: HR’s Influence Playbook35:43 | How to Build an AI Roadmap That Actually Works38:15 | Quick Wins vs. Long-Term AI Strategy39:42 | AI Governance: The Hot Topic No One Wants to Own42:18 | Final Advice: Learn Together, Lead with Confidence Connect with Kristin McDonald on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinmcdonald1/

    44 min
  4. Trauma, Growth & Performance: Why HR Must Lead the Change

    11/30/2025

    Trauma, Growth & Performance: Why HR Must Lead the Change

    What if the performance issues you’re seeing are really signs of trauma? In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, Dr. John King shares his powerful story, from surviving childhood trafficking and losing everything at age 45, to building a framework for growth, healing, and leadership in high-performance environments. This isn’t just John’s personal story. It’s a roadmap for HR. We explore: Why trauma isn’t just something that happens to you,  it lives in you Small physiological shifts that can spark recovery and performance: from cold showers to grounding mats The “second question” leaders must ask to build trust and safety How HR can walk with employees through life’s hardest seasons, and why doing so drives long-term loyalty and growth If you want to create a workplace that supports growth, this conversation is your starting point. Episode chapters: 00:00 | Intro: Dr. John King’s Turning Point at Age 4504:33 | It Started with a Snickers Bar: The Moment He Realized Trauma Lives in the Body07:03 | Tree Hugging, Sunlight & Cold Showers: Tools from the Trauma Toolbox10:30 | The 1% Rule: Why Micro-Habits Matter More Than Big Fixes13:24 | Daily Tactics for Leaders: Helping Teams Stay Clear, Calm, and Productive15:50 | Culture vs. Policy: How to Build a Trauma-Aware Workplace That Works18:07 | Grace in Action: Authentic Leadership, Missed Meetings, and Halloween Costumes20:04 | The Authenticity Check: When to Call It Out and When to Coach Through23:02 | Late Shifts and Childcare: What HR Misses When We Don’t Ask “Why?”25:12 | Walking with the Wounded: Supporting Grief, Divorce, and Life’s Disruptions29:31 | Trading Health for Hustle: Why HR Must Help Teams Re-Evaluate Success32:04 | Choosing Authenticity Over Gordon Gekko: A Lesson in Self-Awareness33:05 | Soft Skills Aren’t Soft: Why HR Needs More Training in Human Tools35:53 | Care for the Caregivers: The Hidden Burnout Inside HR36:56 | Final Word: You Can’t Heal What You Ignore 🔗 Connect with Dr. John A. King on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnaking/ 🔗 Visit Dr. John A. King’s website: https://drjohnaking.com/ 🔗 Learn more at HRBench.com

    38 min
  5. Spot the burnout before its turnover: Empathetic HR leadership w/ Stacie Baird

    11/24/2025

    Spot the burnout before its turnover: Empathetic HR leadership w/ Stacie Baird

    In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, we sit down with Stacie Baird, Chief People Officer at Community Medical Services, to talk about the early warning signs of burnout, and what HR can do before it turns into turnover. With over 30 years of experience in high-growth, PE-backed organizations, Stacie shares how CMS has built a proactive strategy around burnout, engagement, and retention.  Reducing turnover by 27% in the process. You’ll learn: What burnout looks like in HR How to use pulse surveys to track burnout symptoms in real time What “vicarious trauma” means and how to create space for recovery Why CMS built a “Good Job Score” to align values with engagement How to use data and empathy to influence the C-suite Episode chapters: 00:00 | Welcome to the live episode with Stacie Baird01:27 | Meet Stacie: 30 years in HR, trauma-informed, PE-backed leader03:57 | What burnout looks like in HR teams and how to spot it06:03 | Understanding vicarious trauma and emotional load in HR09:36 | Creating space for recovery in high-pressure environments12:18 | Using pulse surveys to measure burnout symptoms in real time14:48 | Role-based engagement data and tagging events to track impact17:00 | The “Good Job Score”: Aligning values, leadership, and feedback20:06 | CMS’s turnover pilot: Identifying early exits and fixing onboarding gaps24:42 | Real-time dashboards + data stories during exec meetings27:58 | How to communicate data with empathy and influence leadership32:21 | Self-regulation and care for HR leaders: “You can’t pour from an empty cup”33:03 | Getting higher participation in engagement surveys34:34 | Communication strategy across 80 locations37:04 | Predictive analytics at CMS and building trust in the data38:31 | Final thoughts + why CMS calls HRBench their top vendor If you’re an HR leader trying to stay ahead of burnout, disengagement, and early exit, tune into this episode. 🔗 Connect with Stacie Baird: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staciebaird/ 🔗 Check out the HX Podcast: https://staciebaird.com/the-hx-podcast 🔗 Learn more at: hrbench.com

    41 min
  6. How Kimray Connects Culture to EBITDA With HR Data and Insights

    11/17/2025

    How Kimray Connects Culture to EBITDA With HR Data and Insights

    What happens when you lead with culture and back it up with real-time workforce data? In this episode, Kevin Trowbridge, Director of Compensation at Kimray, a 75-year-old manufacturing company that’s rewriting what modern HR looks like. From starting every hiring process with a culture-fit interview to implementing job families that re-energized frontline engagement, Kimray is a case study in values-led, data-powered HR. You’ll hear how they’ve achieved a 3.5% turnover rate, built internal mobility into their compensation structure, and used HRBench to empower leaders across the business. All without hiring a dedicated analytics team. If you care about retention, workforce planning, or tying HR to EBITDA, this one’s for you. We discussed: 00:00 | Intro: Culture, Retention, and Data at Kimray02:08 | Why Kimray Leads With Culture in Every Decision04:00 | Recovery-Friendly Workplaces and Community Impact05:14 | The Culture Fit Interview Comes First06:31 | Why Employees Stay: 3.5% Voluntary Turnover07:45 | Pay Transparency and Career Pathing on the Frontline09:38 | Building a Flexible, Cross-Skilled Workforce10:46 | Retention Through Recognition and Tribal Knowledge12:30 | Competing for Talent in a Tough Labor Market13:48 | From Culture to Data: Linking HR to Business Value14:31 | Real-Time Turnover + Engagement Insights with HRBench19:52 | How Data Access Changed the HR Team’s Mindset21:49 | Expanding Access to the C-Suite and VP Level24:23 | Ending Advice: Tell the Story Behind the Numbers Connect with Kevin on Linkedin. Build your own custom people analytics dashboard at ⁠HRBench⁠.

    26 min
  7. The HR Playbook for PE-Backed Growth: Key Lessons for HR Leaders

    11/03/2025

    The HR Playbook for PE-Backed Growth: Key Lessons for HR Leaders

    How should HR leaders show up in high-growth, PE-backed companies? In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, we unpack the HR playbook for private equity environments with seasoned HR leader Nicole Logue. Nicole shares lessons from operating across the entire PE lifecycle, from pre-acquisition to exit, and how HR can lead through each phase. We discuss: How HR can learn how the business makes money (and why it matters)What your role should look like at each stage of the businessHow to get involved in, and influence, the PE value creation plan Whether you’re navigating your first deal or scaling through your third, this episode will help you become a sharper, more strategic HR leader in a PE-backed business. Chapters: 00:00 | Intro: What This Episode Covers02:25 | Why high-growth environments are a playground for HR04:46 | How HR can learn how the business makes money10:25 | Building strategic partnerships w/ finance, sales, and beyond17:27 | HR’s role across the PE lifecycle: Pre-acq, post-acq, and exit25:57 | Aligning people strategy to the market play27:25 | PE timelines: Quick flips vs. long holds31:26 | PE Value Creation Plan33:07 | How HR leaders can get invited into strategic conversations35:20 | Final advice: Learn fast by being willing to be wrong37:30 | Closing 🔗 Connect with Nicole Logue on LinkedIn. Build your own custom people analytics dashboard at HRBench.

    38 min
  8. Data with Purpose: How HR Analysts Drive Executive Action

    10/20/2025

    Data with Purpose: How HR Analysts Drive Executive Action

    What does it take to turn HR data into decisions? In this episode of Pulse, we sit down with Courtney Brown, HR Analyst, to break down how she uses data to drive action across the employee lifecycle. From recruiting to onboarding and engagement surveys. Courtney shares how her early career in the CFO’s office shaped her mindset toward data integrity and decision-making, how she helped build a survey system for the entire UC system, and how she now uses onboarding checklists and hiring metrics to help managers improve their processes. Whether you’re building your first HR dashboard or trying to boost your survey response rates, this episode is packed with tactical insights for HR teams looking to connect people data to business strategy. Everything we discuss in the episode: 00:00 - Intro: Bridging HR and finance through data with Courtney Brown02:40 - What the CFO’s office taught Courtney about strategic data thinking05:19 - Data integrity, storytelling, and the executive lens07:58 - Survey design 101: Start with the decision you want to drive10:39 - Boosting survey response rates by respecting employees’ time13:18 - Communicating the why behind a survey builds trust and participation14:18 - Scaling survey systems from UC to Oracle — templates, pulse checks, and trust17:38 - Can AI design your surveys? Courtney’s perspective on balancing tech and human touch18:21 - Using data to improve onboarding: checklists, feedback, and first-week productivity21:14 - How qualitative signals help assess alignment and retention 🔗 Connect with Courtney on LinkedIn. 🎧 Powered by HRBench: the people analytics platform built for executive decision-making.

    33 min
  9. From Engagement to Execution: Making HR Insights Matter w/ Alex Thompson

    10/06/2025

    From Engagement to Execution: Making HR Insights Matter w/ Alex Thompson

    In this episode of Pulse, I speak with Alex Thompson, SHRM-CP and get his insights for making your work visible, trusted, and strategic. Alex has sat on both sides of the table, first as an HRBench customer, and now as an Implementation Manager. This provides a unique perspective, as he gets to speak with a lot of HR teams to understand what are successful strategies in the current environment. In this episode, we explore how to: Building trust with executives using consistent, defensible HR data Employee survey designs that drives change Supporting frontline workers when they don’t sit at a desk Pairing anecdotal insights with metrics to manage up effectively Using HR data to drive better boardroom conversations and QBRs Whether you’re building out your first people analytics program or looking to level up how you deliver HR insights to leadership, this conversation has strategies and tactics you can use today. Episode discussion: 00:00 - Welcome + Episode Preview01:18 - HRIS Implementation: What Most People Miss03:34 - Managing Up: How to Get Execs to Trust HR06:23 - Communicating Insight: Beyond Just “Here’s the Data”10:06 - Turnover + Culture Fit: Spotting Root Causes in the Data12:54 - Engagement Surveys: How to Avoid Fatigue and Inaction15:25 - Survey Delivery for Frontline Workers: What Actually Works19:03 - Field Managers + Feedback: Breaking the Bottleneck22:30 - Final Advice: QBRs, Boardroom-Ready HR, and Getting Started Connect with Alex Thompson on LinkedIn. 👉 Learn more at HRBench.com

    26 min
  10. No Data, No Decisions: Dani Woods on Building Trust in HR Data & Driving Strategy

    09/22/2025

    No Data, No Decisions: Dani Woods on Building Trust in HR Data & Driving Strategy

    What do executives really want from HR data — and how do you earn their trust? In this episode of Pulse, Logan talks with Dani Woods, an experienced HR leader, people strategist, and founder of Lotus Welle. Dani shares what it takes to build credibility in high-pressure environments, especially when the data is messy, the systems are disconnected, and the expectations are high. If you’ve ever been caught flat-footed in a board meeting, questioned on a report you didn’t build, or tasked with making HR strategic “yesterday” — this one’s for you. You’ll learn: How to build trust with execs — even when the data isn’t perfect The real metrics leaders scan for (hint: it’s always about risk) What to do in your first 90 days with messy people data What HR pros need to ask during M&A Why AI won’t replace HR, but will reshape it The mindset shift from data executor to strategic partner Whether you’re in a PE-backed org, planning for M&A, or reporting to the board — this is a masterclass in becoming an HR strategist. [00:00] - Intro: From HR Assistant to Global Director by 27   [01:37] - Building Trust in HR Data — One Number at a Time   [04:46] - You Will Get Challenged — Here’s How to Respond   [06:19] - Why Your HR Data Might Be Lying to You   [10:21] - The Metrics That Matter to the C-Suite   [12:23] - Inheriting a Data Mess? Start Here.   [13:56] - From Task-Doers to System Architects   [20:00] - The Questions HR Needs to Ask in Every Acquisition   [22:16] - No Data, No Decisions — Dani’s Final Advice   Connect with Dani on LinkedIn or her Website. HRBench is the people analytics platform purpose-built for high-performance HR teams. Book a demo here.

    27 min
  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Getting a pulse on your workforce in high-stakes environments is a challenge few talk about, but it’s the reality for HR leaders today. Pulse brings you real conversations with HR leaders navigating the pressure, pace, and potential of operating in high-stakes environments. From post-acquisition chaos to boardroom reporting, these unfiltered stories reveal how people leaders drive impact through data, strategy, and grit. Brought to you by HRBench, the people analytics platform for high-performance HR teams.

Information

  • Creator
    HRBench
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © HRBench
  • Show Website
    Pulse by HRBench