The Simplifiers Podcast

Mary Baird, PHR

Mary Baird, CSEP - Creative Entrepreneur, Business Coach and Undercover Superhero has one goal in mind...to simplify your life. Each episode breaks down topics in business + life and SIMPLIFIES them! Interviewing smart people from all over the world, we will discover new insights, simple action items and spark fresh ideas to help you DO. THE. THING! in an educational, informational and entertaining way. Cash flow, simplified. Productivity, simplified. Becoming a vegan, simplified. Sort my life out, simplified. Whether you're just starting a small business or seeking simplicity and clarity in a NOISY world, tune in for advice and inspiration on creativity, marketing, mindset, branding, fear, motivation, sales, wellness and deep contentment. Episodes are released every Tuesday and Friday, for simplicity sake.

Episodes

  1. JAN 27

    How to stand out on LinkedIn - with Haley ONeill (ALL-STAR)

    Raise your hand if you're currently looking for a job right now? You might be curious… How do I get more recruiters to notice me? How do I elevate my credibility in my sector? Or maybe you're wanting to speak at more industry conferences? How might you better achieve your professional goals this year? Well, it's time to rethink how you show up on LinkedIn... more specifically, how to stand out on this professional platform as a thought leader. My all-star special guest today is recruiter Haley ONeill and she's simplifying how to stand out on LinkedIn. With over 109k followers at the time of recording this episode, (now 150k+ as of Jan 2026!) Haley has solidified herself as one of LinkedIn's top voices in Recruiting, which I can imagine, keeps her talent pipeline quite full when she's hiring for new roles.*  If you're looking to take your career to the next level, learn from Haley the very best insider secrets to elevate your personal brand on LinkedIn, get connected with others, and become a thought leader in your industry.  *NOTE: Haley ONeill is now Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition Strategy & Process Innovation at Marriott International, as of January 2026. Here's how.  My all-star special guest today is Haley ONeill and she's simplifying how to stand out on LinkedIn. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: Why it's important to have a personal brand presence on LinkedIn and how to define your WHY. What the first, practical steps are after you define why you want to stand out on LinkedIn. How to create content on LinkedIn that is simple and easy, helping to elevate your voice. What advice she gives to those that are afraid of coming off as "bragging or boasting" when they post about their own achievements. …and ultimately, how to measure your success with all the effort that will be necessary to stand out on LinkedIn. What metric matters the most? Q: Are you ready to learn how to stand out on LinkedIn? If yes, this one is for you. It's time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/409-how-to-stand-out-on-linkedin---with-haley-oneill-all-star

    52 min
  2. JAN 20

    How to build entrepreneurial culture within HR teams - with John Bernatovicz

    HR teams are being asked to do more than ever before — move faster, support burned-out employees, and navigate constant change. And yet, many HR functions are still operating with a compliance-first mindset that slows innovation and limits impact. What if HR didn't function like a back-office department… but instead, like a startup inside the organization? My special guest today is John Bernatovicz, and he's simplifying how to build entrepreneurial culture within HR teams. John has built his career blending entrepreneurship and HR, and he believes the future of HR depends on autonomy, agility, ownership, and a problem-solving mindset — not just policies and procedures. Here's how. My special guest today is John Bernatovicz and he's simplifying how to build entrepreneurs culture within HR teams.  We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What it actually means for an HR team to have an entrepreneurial culture — and why it matters now more than ever. One practical shift leaders can make to move HR teams from enforcing rules to solving problems creatively. What the "20 things you MUST do first" really mean in his book HR Like a Boss — including 3–4 of the most impactful ones, like defining your purpose and practicing real self-care outside of work. What would change first if HR operated like a startup — from how we hire, to how we measure success, to how we experiment. …and ultimately, advice for CHROs who want to empower their teams to think like founders, not function owners — even when budgets, compliance, or legacy systems slow them down. Q: Are you ready to learn how to build entrepreneurial culture within HR teams? If yes, this one is for you. It's time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/408-how-to-build-entrepreneurial-culture-within-hr-teams---with-john-bernatovicz

    47 min
  3. JAN 13

    How to design workspaces where every brain thrives - with Nikki Drader-Mazza

    When leaders talk about workplace design, they often focus on the physical space. But the environments that shape how people think, collaborate, and perform are just as much about processes, expectations, and unspoken norms. If we want every brain to thrive at work, we have to examine the systems that quietly determine who gets supported — and who's left to adapt. My special guest today is Nikki Drader-Mazza, and she's simplifying how to design workspaces where every brain thrives. This conversation challenges how we think about neurodiversity, inclusion, and what it actually takes to build workplaces that work for more people — not just the non-neurodiverse majority. Here's how. My special guest today is Nikki Drader-Mazza and she's simplifying how to design workspaces where every brain thrives.  We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: What we really mean by neurodiversity and the newer term "neurodistinct" — and why the language we use matters more than we might think. Why "workspace design" isn't just about the physical office, and which parts of the work ecosystem most influence whether every brain can thrive. Why it's critical to examine the assumptions baked into systems designed for the non-neurodistinct population — and the risk of leaving those systems unchallenged. Why stigma around accommodations still exists, and how leaders can begin to dismantle it in meaningful ways. …and ultimately, the first assumption or system leaders and HR teams should take a hard look at when designing workplaces where every brain can thrive. Q: Are you ready to learn how to design a workspace where every brain thrives? If yes, this one is for you. It's time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/407-how-to-design-workspaces-where-every-brain-thrives---with-nikki-drader-mazza

    45 min
5
out of 5
96 Ratings

About

Mary Baird, CSEP - Creative Entrepreneur, Business Coach and Undercover Superhero has one goal in mind...to simplify your life. Each episode breaks down topics in business + life and SIMPLIFIES them! Interviewing smart people from all over the world, we will discover new insights, simple action items and spark fresh ideas to help you DO. THE. THING! in an educational, informational and entertaining way. Cash flow, simplified. Productivity, simplified. Becoming a vegan, simplified. Sort my life out, simplified. Whether you're just starting a small business or seeking simplicity and clarity in a NOISY world, tune in for advice and inspiration on creativity, marketing, mindset, branding, fear, motivation, sales, wellness and deep contentment. Episodes are released every Tuesday and Friday, for simplicity sake.