True Stories at Work: fresh from HR

Michelle Aronson

True Stories at Work is a podcast where we discuss the best things about working in Human Resources: the people, the stories and the things that happen at work that we didn’t even know about …workplace confessions!

  1. OCT 20

    It’s Not Enough to Know, You Have to Grow: Kristen

    In this episode of True Stories at Work, host Michelle Aronson sits down with Kristen, an attorney with a fascinating career path that began at a west coast startup. Kristen shares her journey through different work cultures—from startups to law firms—highlighting the challenges of creating a culture that aligns with personal values and the importance of self-awareness in leadership. She discusses her eye-opening experiences, including an outrageous comment from a managing partner comparing employees to toilet paper. Kristen also shares insights on the impact of poor workplace behavior, the importance of mental health, and the need for genuine leadership. Want to learn a bit more? Kristen shared some favorite books, which include: The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership, Between the Hour of Dog and Wolf, and Thinking Fast & Slow. She shared them because they are all about people at work – everyone always says that businesses should be making smart decisions, but humans are the ones running the businesses. These books remind us to bring humanity into the workplace... everyday. No workplace confessions to share, so consider sharing yours :) 00:00 It’s Not Enough to Know, You Have to Grow: Kristen 00:05 Introduction 01:55 True Stories at Work 25:30 Culture + Strategy Lab 26:01 Workplace Confession? 26:38 Haiku for Kristen Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me. Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Host: Michelle Aronson

  2. JUL 1

    Love and Learning Curves in HR: Tracy

    In this episode of True Stories at Work, host Michelle Aronson introduces Tracy, an HR executive who got her first HR job the good old fashioned way, nepotism... but absorbed everything and grew from that first big break. Tracy reflects on her early 'black and white' thinking and the pivotal moment she was forced to report to a coworker she couldn't stand, only to discover a valuable mentor and friend. She shares her personal growth journey, echoing Taylor Swift's advice to sometimes look in the mirror to find the problem. Tracy's story also includes a romantic twist: meeting and marrying her husband at work, and how she navigated that tricky situation. The discussion includes navigating love and career, dealing with managerial missteps, and the stark challenges HR professionals face pre- and post-pandemic. Tune in for a blend of juicy, heartfelt, and insightful moments that reveal the true human side of HR. 00:00 Intro 01:27 Tracie's Story 04:25 Stories at Work 27:46 Workplace Confessions Needed 28:45 Culture + Strategy Lab 29:21 Haiku for Tracie Resources Curious about love at work, here are some links to get started: 2024 Workplace Romance Research What Coworkers Really Think About Office Romances | Psychology Today How to Approach an Office Romance (and How Not To) Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Ask a question+ make a suggestion Host: Michelle Aronson

  3. 11/25/2024

    HR Secrets Revealed: Imperfect Humans at Work: Leah Part 1

    In this episode of True Stories at Work, host Michelle Aronson introduces Leah, a management-side attorney with great insights and stories about the human side of work. Leah takes us through her journey from dreaming of being the boss to finding her path into employment law. We explore the imperfections of humans at every level of the workplace, including two executives caught in an intimate embrace after hours on a conference room table. We discuss some legal challenges of remote work (mouse jigglers, anyone?) and the evolving impact of AI on HR practices, while emphasizing the importance of keeping human connection at the heart of performance management. Don’t miss the workplace confession about a stairwell romance, brought to life by an AI voice. And stay tuned for the next episode where we discuss the off-limit dinner party trifecta of: sex, tech, and politics! 00:00 Introduction 02:33 Leah's Story 10:34 Stories at Work 30:18 Workplace Confessions 32:32 Culture + Strategy Lab 32:47 Haiku for Leah A bit about Leah: Leah Stiegler is a principal and management-side employment lawyer at the Virginia-based law firm Woods Rogers. She stars in her own YouTube series, What’s the Tea in L&E, where she and a colleague tackle – with good humor and straightforward advice – topics that HR leaders really need to navigate. What is your favorite piece of leadership advice? Strive for servant leadership. A manager who is willing to put on flame-resistant overalls on the manufacturing floor is going to be one with fewer complaints against him. A few favorite HR resources: Bloomberg Law helps me in my practice, local SHRM chapters are always incredible for networking. Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Host: Michelle Aronson

    33 min
  4. 10/14/2024

    From Forensic Finance to HR Heights: What Truly Impacts Numbers is People: Jolene

    Have you ever wondered about how your people and culture influence your business financials? In this True Stories at Work episode you get to meet Jolene who began in Financial Forensics on wall street to turning around companies through HR... using culture as her gateway drug into shaping companies for the better. You'll hear how moving 33 times during the grades K-12 impacted her ability to connect quickly and build trust. Jolene shares her union negotiation tactics, call to action for leaders to be authentic, and how to solve HR problems by looking at them from a different angle. You will also learn how she used those connection skills during her union negotiations. We discuss the challenge of entitlement, catty behavior at work and how incredible it can be when you don't do things the way you've always done them. And don't miss the workplace confession, read in an AI voice, to hear some of the more subtle ways that culture drives financials by reducing theft or sabotage at work. Timeline 00:00 Introduction 02:19 Jolene’s Story 08:07 Stories at Work 30:27 Workplace Confession 36:15 Culture + Strategy Lab 36:30 Haiku for Jolene Resources Curious about the cost of culture on your company + the value of authenticity at work, here are some links to get started: Not Just Soft Skills: Corporate Culture as a Key Company Value Driver | Columbia Business School Managing Authenticity: The Paradox of Great Leadership (hbr.org) What is Authentic Leadership? (The Theory and Model) (youtube.com)   Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Host: Michelle Aronson Editor: Bella Hutchins

    37 min
  5. 09/11/2024

    Bring The Zing: The Art of Building a Strong Culture: Stella

    In this episode of True Stories at Work, host Michelle Aronson sits down with Stella, an HR executive, who shares her journey from sales to Human Resources during the 2009 housing crisis. Stella opens up about the art of building a strong company culture, highlights the core values driving her employees, and reflects on her career journey across three different industries. Don’t miss the workplace confession to find out what happens when three people try to hide in the same closet—for very different reasons! 00:00 Introduction 03:12 Stella's Story 09:12 Stories at Work 22:22 Workplace Confession: The Closet Incident 24:48 Culture + Strategy Lab 25:04 Haiku for Stella   Resources Curious about the importance of culture or where to begin building one, here are some links to get started: Corporate Culture In A New Era: Views From The C-suite (harvard.edu) Changing Company Culture Requires a Movement, Not a Mandate (hbr.org) Stella drops some wisdom: Stella’s favorite resources? Other HR professionals. Building a network of experts as a sounding board is essential—especially if they’re smarter than you! And don’t forget to offer support in return. Stella’s best friend, a labor & employment attorney, is a prime example of how handy these connections can be. Nurture your network so you're always one connection away from the answer or advice you need. Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Host: Michelle Aronson Editor: Bella Hutchins

    25 min
5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

True Stories at Work is a podcast where we discuss the best things about working in Human Resources: the people, the stories and the things that happen at work that we didn’t even know about …workplace confessions!