Take a listen to a lively community conversation about TECH!

We've never had better technology at our fingertips, and that includes solutions for the workforce. We're a bunch of bright, smart, innovative people with an appetite for tech - we've shown that in our consumer and personal lives. So why can't we get tech to do all it's capable of when it comes to the workplace? Why does work still feel so.....clunky? 1993? Mainframe?

Maybe we've made it too complicated. More likely, we're not taking the right approach. Does HR need to be a technologist to shape and support the digital workplace, or do they just need to be technology-aware problem solvers?

Jess and Leapgen's President and Chief Service Officer, Mike Brennan, welcomed Ray Nunn and Reid McLaughlin of Covalence Consulting to our Now of Work Community. They unpacked the differences between deployment and implementation, talked about how to get tech to produce the right outcomes and the mindset required for true transformation.

How do today’s business leaders leverage HR Technology to help people work more efficiently? Stacey Harris is the Chief Research Officer and Managing Partner of Sapient Insights Group, where she oversees their industry research work including the esteemed Annual HR Systems Survey and White Paper, now in its 24th year. No one knows more about the VAST OPPORTUNITIES of technology to add value to the HR function, to business, and to PEOPLE who stand to work better. In fact, she wrote a book about it! 

Jess Von Bank and Jason Averbook have a great chat with Stacey about the evolution of HR Technology, how HR and IT can better organize themselves around common transformation goals, and measuring impact on business.

PLUS: Here are a few good references for today's chat with Stacey: 

-Sapient Insights Group: 2021-2022 HR Systems Whitepaper: https://bit.ly/3daofro

-Stacey's book: Introduction to HR Technologies: Understand How to Use Technology to Improve Performance and Processes:  https://amzn.to/3rzBE4y

Our relationship to work has shifted from “work for me or die,” to the power of a collective voice, to individual employees gaining power to meet their own needs, with managers as their co-pilots.

In this economy, fulfillment is the ultimate KPI, and building collective purpose serves to create connections between diverse populations in organizations through mutual paths forward.

In this episode, our host, Jess Von Bank, welcomes Aaron Hurst, foremost global expert on the science of purpose and fulfillment at work. In 2014, Aaron brought global awareness to the rise of history’s fourth economic era, the Purpose Economy. At the core of it is this concept that purpose-driven work is here to stay.

TUNE IN for their fascinating conversation about the PURPOSE OF WORK

The Founder & CEO of Raven Intelligence, Bonnie Tinder, along with Mercer Senior Principal, Jim Holincheck, join Jess Von Bank and Jason Averbook for this special epeisode of the Now of Work Digital Meetup! They talk about all things Enterprise Software Implementation, Projects & more!

Raven Intelligence is a free online community that helps customers select the best consulting partner for their HR software project and ensure success. It was created to help customers make an informed decision about their Enterprise Software Implementation partner. As someone who has been in the HR Technology space for 25+ years, Bonnie saw a need to help raise awareness and transparency into project work. While analysis on cloud software features and functions is voluminous, the analysis of the actual project work to get those systems implemented was non-existent…until now. Raven Intelligence is fulfilling that need, while making the selection process easy & more fun. Choose your partner confidently knowing all of your options.

Jim Holincheck has more than 30 years of experience in the HCM technology industry. He has spent his entire career working with customers to strategize, select, implement, support, and optimize their usage of enterprise applications. He leads our Workforce and HR Technology practice. As a seasoned industry veteran, Jim brings a wealth of practical insight to the role.Before joining Mercer, Jim joined Workday in 2012 and led Services Strategy and Marketing before moving into the product management organization to launch the Customer Deployment (Adoption) Applications team. Tune in!

Leapgen's CEO and Head of Marketing kick off another Monday morning with a fresh mindset on the NOW of Work, May the 4th be with you.

For more information on the NOW of Work Click Here

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Music

Joakim Karud - Hype

"One thing that we've been looking at and starting to see is this blending of societal culture and organizational culture. We're starting to identify ourselves in very a left and right way...This is starting to get a little bit dangerous, in how we build organizational culture." 

Fascinating chat with Dan Riley, Co-Founder of RADICL, and our Jess Von Bank. On our NowofWork podcast, they peel back the layers of organizational culture, including talking about visible and invisible belief systems, hiring for culture, and what happens if we rally around purpose. 

Check out RADICL's formative work:

https://www.radiclwork.com/

Connect with Dan:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-riley-57b9431/

In this podcast episode Jason Averbook and iCIMS's CEO, Steve Lucas explore the evolution of building a winning workforce, COVID hiring trends, and how work must get done in the Now of Work.

For more information on Steve Lucas and iCIMS Click Here

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Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Thrilled to welcome Daniel Crosby, Ph.D., who writes books with the coolest titles: 

• Everyone You Love Will Die 😥 
• You're Not that Great 🤷‍♀️ 
• The Laws of Wealth 💰 
• The Behavioral Investor 💲 
• ...and now The Soul of Wealth. 💛 

Today he'll chat with our Now of Work community about the impact of financial stress in the workplace, why financial education isn't enough to promote financial wellness at scale, and hot new research on money, happiness, and incentivizing talent. (Heads up, talent acquisition, total rewards, wellbeing, culture, DEI, and talent development pros… this is gold for HR.)

This is such a FRESH conversation

Representation is a problem when it comes to work. Until we solve it, we’re shortchanging people, business, and customers. Every business - EVERY. BUSINESS. - should be intensely focused on creating environments of belonging, a thriving and humble culture, and empathy-driven leadership. All done in a way that helps people feel brave, valued, and an integral part of building impactful business.   

Jess Von Bank was thrilled to talk to tech co-founder Katharine Zaleski, President of PowerToFly. They dug into why the diversity recruiting and retention platform made a strategic decision (hint: a human decision) to broaden their focus to help more than women, how they help employers tackle massive diversity recruiting goals at scale, and how her career led her from the world’s most impressive newsrooms (Huffington Post, NowThis, The Washington Post) to creating inclusive workplaces.   

POWER EPISODE ALERT. Listen up

The new Now of Work is constantly changing. With people at the heart of the workforce, they make global work and productivity churn at a rapid pace. Inclusion is a big part of that. "DEIB is always evolving and I try to stay immersed in what’s happening and what’s next," Brook Sims tells us. Brook is the COO of MAC Diversity Recruiters and we are excited for you to hear more from our chat with her.
You may remember that we featured Brook's company on our social media channels a few months ago, as one to watch, and their growth is proof. MAC provides recruiting services to large companies in fields like engineering, investment banking, and information technology. They believe that a diverse workforce powers the future and that employers should be reflective of the communities in which they exist and serve. Their mission is to "lead the transformation of the workforce by being the bridge that provides access and opportunity to the most exceptional talent and helps clients achieve increased profitability, innovation, and success."
MAC recently launched their sister company, MAC Digital, which specializes in Marketing, eCommerce, and Software talent recruitment with a focus on AI, and ensuring that AI is implemented in an inclusive way.
Before leading MAC, Brook was an Executive Recruiter and Head of Diversity at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and First United Bank. Jess and I can't wait to chat with her about the changes she's seeing in DEIB, what happens when AI is added to the mix, and what steps leaders can take to ensure a more inclusive future. 

Employees care, and they want to work for employers who care...About the world around them, that is. Philanthropy belongs in the employee experience conversation as we continue to blur the line between work and life, and take a whole person approach to designing work around people.  

Social giving and social impact are more important than ever as we wrap a year of lingering chaos, market turbulence, persistent change, and ETERNAL HOPE. We love that GIVING BACK is working its way into conversations around culture, employee wellbeing, employee experience, and workforce benefits.  

In this episode we dive into this topic on our LAST Digital Meetup of 2021. Alex Zea, Leapgen Client Partner, joins Jason Averbook as co-host. We're excited to welcome One Donation to talk about EMPLOYEE GIVING.   

We hope you’ll join us with your most festive self as we GIVE THANKS.

9.3.2023 📲 
"Starting a group text for Ragnar Wisconsin Trail. This started as a full team that fell apart, and we rebuilt it with THIS team...so thank you for throwing your hat in with people you don't know to have an incredible adventure together. 
We're running as a team of 7. There are options for racing one runner short, I'll share later, but we're all good.
Trail racing is different, and Nine Mile Forest is a %@#! hairball. The trails are full of rocks and roots and hairpin turns. If you have trail shoes, use them. If you don't, your usual running shoes will do just fine. Just make sure you have some grip left...." 📲 
My group text a year and a half ago when I recruited Barbara to get a full-enough team to race the Wisconsin Trail Ragnar Relay. 
My race team fell apart, I took over captainship, and I wasn't about to waste perfectly good training and let my 10th Ragnar go to the wind. She wasn't just a worthy recruit; she's the epitome of endurance racing. If you know the Leadville 100, you now understand Barbara. (She wrote a book about running Leadville, we'll ask her about it.)
We had time to chitty chat at our campsite between legs during that race: when I learned she coaches Life Time Inc. executives on mind, body, and spirit, I was pretty much sold for life on Barbara.
She's a soul you want to meet. This episode isn't about high performance on and off a race course from a world-class ultrarunner, it's about you.

"Is there a business on the planet who can say they were actually READY FOR COVID? Is there such a thing? There is, and Tina Seashore, Vice President of Global Rewards at Oshkosh Corporation, explains how that's possible. What digital transformation and workforce experience work had they already done that made them well-positioned for disruption? How does HR look at Oshkosh? How did they deliver community, socialization and connection for a global workforce in fewer than 8 days? What left the company saying THANK HEAVEN FOR HR LEADERSHIP as they navigated a world health pandemic? A transformation story not to miss. Listen up!"

For more information on Tina Seashore Click Here

Register today for our Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Marc Moschetto grew up in the shadow of Apollo, a nerd to the nth degree for science and space travel. A kick motor is an engine on a spacecraft used to fire a higher level of orbit. His agency, Kickmotor, helps companies get to their next level of funding, next level of growth, achieve a level of scalability, or simply find their evolving story and and decide how they're going to tell it. Since we’re talking to one of the best storytellers we know, Jason Averbook wants to know how organizations can parlay best practices from marketing to serve and support the new distributed workforce. How do we leverage things we’ve learned in digital marketing and engagement, like knowing whether your message is resonating even when you can’t sit around the table with your audience (workforce)? HR has always had a lot to learn from marketing communications, and Marc breaks it down. How are you going to tell your story? Know your market. Have the right content strategy. And educate people so they can do their own research and come to their own conclusions. Take a listen to one of our favorite podcast guests yet.

For more information on Marc Moschetto & Kickmotor Click Here

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Leapgen's Jason Averbook presents new HR guideposts to Oracle's HCM User Group.

For more information on OHUG Click Here

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Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

The Now of Work demands transformation, change enablement, growth mindset and innovation. How do people and business leaders get from reactive to proactive, from disaster recovery to thoughtful strategy, from mobilizing to maneuvering?  

Best-selling author and renowned innovation expert Simone Ahuja reveals the secret to winning in a "disrupt or be disrupted" market: innovate from within. She joined Jess Von Bank in our latest episode to explore the disruption of HR, how companies can intentionally and strategically disrupt to innovate, and how creating intrapreneurs within your own organization can drive radical and healthy innovation.

We don't have to go alone. When we think of change at work, Dan Riley encourages us to think of change as a team sport. "It's a long-game mindset. It takes all of us. TOGETHER." RADICL is all about inspired change. They provide employee experience advisory solutions to organizations that go beyond traditional engagement, performance management, and leadership development. Essentially, they unlock what people are thinking, feeling, and how they are connecting with an organization’s purpose.

Jess Von Bank and I were excited to chat with Dan because here at Leapgen, we share a similar mission to motivate teams, to humanize work, and to make work better. I talked about this recently in BusinessMatters Magazine sharing that "Work has changed forever, meaning companies must adapt...The right approach is putting people first, valuing who they are, and empowering deep connections." Dan echoes this statement, saying "We know change doesn't stop. We never arrive. Work keeps changing. We keep changing. This is work. This is life. But most importantly, a shared optimism that we CAN and WILL achieve ALL of the above - if we do it together."

Take a Listen!

Do you read every email you get from your employer and HR department? Imagine if you got a text notification instead at the beginning of your shift? Because they know when your shift starts and that you’re primarily mobile. Or imagine if you were a salesperson who spends most of your time in Salesforce, so that’s where personalized communications go for you! Right in the newsfeed in the system where you spend most of your time.
In other words, imagine if your employer really knew you and met you where you are? Instead of spamming the workforce with everything you might possibly need but can’t possibly read? 
Intelligent communication has the power to shape and create exceptional, frictionless Employee Experiences. This not only boosts efficiency and productivity, making it easier for employees to perform, but also demonstrates care and empathy during critical moments that matter.
Jess Von Bank and I loved chatting with Nicole Alvino, CEO of Firstup and Sabra Sciolaro, their CPO, on our Digital Meetup. Nicole and Sabra joined us in discussing: how organizations can make intelligent communication an integral part of your Employee Experience plan, their highlights from our recent webinar, and their newly launched white paper.

Thomas Otter joined Leapgen’s Digital Meetup last week, and an hour just wasn’t enough. 

Thomas uses a brilliant analogy for the IT strategy of any organization (are you a sunflower, daisy, cactus, or dandelion?) and explains who the power couples should be when C-level executives collaborate to modernize their function and the business overall. 

Sure, we’d love see to see HR and IT partner more often and more successfully, but Thomas thinks you should probably check in with Marketing if you want to take notes from a function who has successfully aligned delivery and technology to innovate the way they deliver value to the business. 

He canceled 14 dates to spend his Friday night with us, and we guarantee this conversation was worth every minute of the time. Learn about the future of work tech directly from The Very Guy who helped scale SAP SuccessFactors to more than 50 million users and drove an HR Tech research agenda for Gartner that helped shape an industry. Enjoy!

Connect with Thomas:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasotter/

"Everything I do, I believe in challenging the status quo... I believe in thinking differently." Chris Long is an experienced and forward-thinking leader in human resources and people strategy, with over 20 years of expertise. Recognized for his innovative strategies in improving company performance, Chris provides specialized consulting, advisory, content, and research services through Elev8’s unique offerings like Acceler8, Calibr8, and Articul8. These modern solutions offer businesses a different approach to achieving success in an ever-changing competitive environment. As a highly sought-after speaker, Chris has made it his mission to help organizations journey into the future of work. Elev8 is not a conventional advisory company. It is a collaborative exchange of ideas, knowledge, experimentation, and support for: growth, scale and change. They bridge the gap between buyers and vendors bringing together forward-thinking insights to help optimize HR tech investments, Strategies & Processes, and People Operations for maximum effectiveness in today's environment. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from Chris Long! Let's challenge the status quo and think differently together!

We had Mr. New York Times Himself on this Digital Meetup!

If you didn't catch it, Kyle Lagunas and Hebba Youssef were a NYT feature not so long ago with a pretty blasphemous exposé revealing employees aren't the only ones who hate HR -- HR hates HR. Ahhhh, who doesn't love an irreverent headline. 
Kyle explains. HR is over it -- since the pandemic for sure, maybe before. Anyone else feel that? They're burned out managing everyone else's burnout. They can't be strategic because no one will let them solve tactical messes. The C-suite keeps pulling the Almighty Chair at the Table out from under them. 
And so ironically, they're the ones we're all looking at to drive Talent Transformation for the business, AI strategy in a new human-machine teaming era of work, and sustainable work models for the future. 
Transformation Realness with Kyle on this latest episode!

In this episode, Workday's CMO, Leighanne Levensaler, and Leapgen's CEO Jason Averbook discuss her perspective on the Now of Work, loving your people and what that means through the lens of a leading vendor in the world.

For more information on Leighanne Levensaler and Workday Click Here

Register today for our Weekly Digital Meetup

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Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

What does the CHRO of the future look like? We all know that the pandemic has stretched us in unforeseen ways; requiring leaders to take on different tasks and develop new skills. But what role has technology, data analytics and automation played in it?

We had the opportunity to talk shop with HR Executive & Founder, Lisa Buckingham. Lisa is the global expert on jobs, work, and people!

We dove into the trends that Lisa is seeing in today's HR world, what she learned from her role as CHRO at Lincoln Financial Group, and talked to her about her HR Tech Conference keynote, titled: Meet the CHRO of the Future....a Technology Expert.

Take a listen!

The Digital Meetup welcomes special guest Gerry Crispin.

Gerry has a bunch of well-founded data and well-formed suspicions about what education is likely to produce in the next 10 years if we don't intervene as employers.

Do we need to further pique interest? Gerry borrows from the 10 principles of Burning Man, including radical inclusion and transparency as a means to demonstrate fairness. Maybe this applies to his thinking around candidate experience and expectations, but what else does it apply to?

Takeaways

• Recruiters need to adapt and upskill to stay relevant in a changing landscape.
• Strategic talent work, such as workforce planning and addressing diversity, should be a focus for recruiters.
• There is a lack of collective leadership in the recruiting industry.
• Recruiters should embrace technology and think bigger about their role in the future of work.

"I'm losing my patience," said Jason Averbook. "I'm losing my patience with HR organizations who aren't changing." Jason and Jess Von Bank pulled zero punches in this fiery conversation. If your plan, they explain, is to bring everyone back to the office or your plan is waiting until this is all over, you're missing the greatest opportunity you'll ever have to make the biggest impact we'll ever make in the history of work. 

This means thinking about employee experience not as a technology interface but as whole person wellbeing; it means cease & desist on archaic talent management models, and it means meeting the most basic (living wages and pay equity, fairness, safety, health = all of this is surviving) AND the most aspirational needs (culture, belonging, working for purpose, inspired leadership = all of this is thriving) of the entire person. 

"I've lost my patience with it. How many more reports, how many more studies of mental health, how many more discussions do we have to have about HUMANS to understand our part in the role of HUMAN RESOURCES? They're not workers, they're humans, and they're struggling. HR, you have to act."

Tune in for more great content on the NOW of Work. 

Wonder what the future of work holds? Nela Richardson, Chief Economist at ADP and co-head of the ADP Research Institute, alongside Marcus Buckingham, shared her predictions during our Digital Meetup!

In my opinion, Nela Richardson is one of the best researchers in the world on the economy, jobs, and work. If you are thinking about the workforce, job trends, HR, or HRTech, listen to this interactive chat with Jess Von Bank, Nela Richardson, and I. 

the global economy, work and labor market trends, the impact of Generative AI on the job market, and what the future holds. Nela also dives into what ADP is doing to prepare HR for the changing world of work. Understanding the Future of Work is to understand macro trends in the global economy and labor market. So far, 2023 checks the box on a lot of macro trends, including slowing global growth with advanced economies contributing the least, the return of inflation, rising wages in pockets, but a decline in productivity and a smaller labor force. 4B people now have access to the internet, or half the world population. That's four times what it used to be, illustrating a growing digital economy. 

Headed to HR Technology Conference on Oct 10-13? Still on the fence? Reason #117 to go (you could say #1 reason): The Women in HR Technology Summit is included in your premium pass, and it's the only conference program like it.

Jeanne Achille is the Program Chair for Women in HR Tech, and she covered the origins of this powerful summit with my co-host, Jess Von Bank! HR is dominated by women, even at executive levels where the numbers normally skew toward men. So why this summit and these topics?

Jess and Jeanne also discussed the programming for Women in HR Tech, which includes six sessions and keynotes designed to provide valuable insights into topics that impact everyone in the workforce, including how to generate new leadership opportunities for women, and how to build cultures of trust. 

In this episode, you'll get an exclusive sneak peek of the speakers and content from Heather Bussing, Jennifer Dole, Marilyn Pearson Hendricks, and Sarah J. Rodehorst. They all popped into our Now of Work community meetup to preview conversations around technology-supported gender equality, driving organizational change, the power of culture, and pay equity.

Jason Averbook discusses the NOW of Work in the HR Tech Industry with Jeanne Achille; PR & Marketing Expert Chair, #SelectHRTech Conference Chair, Women in #HRTech #HRTechConf U.S. & Asia.

https://devonpr.com/ | jeanne@devonpr.com

Join Digital Meetups Live: http://www.bit.ly/nowofwork

NOW of Work Slack: https://t.co/vDnLcUudJk?amp=1

Take a listen as Jason Averbook and Jess Von Bank continue their conversation with Trish McFarlane and Steve Boese of H3 HR and the HR Happy Hour. The conversation continues with personalization and prioritization when it comes to how, when and where we work. That’s just one long-awaited and surprise benefit of the pandemic driving everyone out of traditionally defined and structured workplaces and known, well-worn norms. But wait: just because we “went digital” during Covid, does that mean we just push things remote and online and say we’re digital now? NOPE. Remote doesn’t mean digital, tech doesn’t equal digital, online doesn’t imply digital. Digital requires a new EXPERIENCE, and that requires intentional design, a unique approach, and an elevated experience.

For more information on H3 HR Click Here

Register today for our Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Skot Waldron joins Jess Von Bank on the NOW of Work to talk about branding in good times and bad, leading under stress, the communication and culture development strategies that can bring your workforce closer than ever, and the intersection of external brand and internal brand. With special commentary on personal branding for job seekers in the wild & woolly New World of Work. Enjoy this Digital Dose!

For more information on Skot Waldron Click Here

Register today for our Weekly Digital Meetup

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Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

As leaders we might be okay alone, but we're much more powerful when we work together. We started our Friday Digital Meetups in 2020 to do just that, build community at a time when we needed togetherness. Three years later, that sentiment still holds true. To thrive in today's rapidly changing Now of Work, we need each other and we need to be REAL about our wins and challenges, to move forward. 

Today, Jess Von Bank and I hosted a 'Community Be Real Session' on our Digital Meetup! We held an open, honest and unscripted discussion about being human. Our listeners shared their wins and challenges at work and at home. Together we discussed the support we each need most as leaders to thrive and humanize our workforce experiences.

Digital Strategy is top of mind for all CHROs as we enter 2021 with fresh eyes. In this episode, Leapgen’s own shares tips and strategies to make the transition to digital as smooth as possible.

Alex is a Digital Experience Evangelist and one of Leapgen’s most tenured employees coming to us from Morgan Stanley. Harry has 20+ years experience in Human Capital Management as a practitioner, software provider, thought leader and consulting expert.

What Harry and Alex propose in this episode is a major shift in mindset and approach to shaping a better digital workforce. Although they only tease at their content in this podcast, you can catch them at their session this week at the FUEL 2021 Kickoff event where they will be sharing models, processes, and key strategies to thrive in the new now or work.

Don’t miss their keynote or this event, register today:

https://bit.ly/3oVVpyX

Harry West: https://www.linkedin.com/in/westharry/

Alex Zea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexdzea/

We couldn’t help but notice an exciting launch this week. Spotlyfe, we see you! In fact, we hope this keeps trending; show us more solutions employers can offer employees *right now* to help in this post-pandemic work environment. It’s about time we humanize work by truly seeing the people stepping up to do it every day.

It’s really up to CEOs/Chief People Officers/CHROs to SAVE people or watch them GO. The Great Resignation doesn’t have to impact you like it does your competition if you step up, meet people where they are, offer help, and provide basic resources to help people thrive at work and in life.

That's why we’re so excited to see our friends Josh Schwede, Scott Fowle, Tara Cooper and their team bring something fresh and innovative to market. We’re not even calling it HR Tech; this is a way to help the people you employ WIN AT LIFE.

Talent development is nuanced, with career “engagers,” motivators, individual values, and skill gaps of each employee determining potential career opportunities. So how can it be scaled for an entire workforce? You democratize it, says Anne Fulton, CEO and Co-founder of Fuel50. “We love what our science brings to the business,” putting information about potential fit for a particular job in the hands of employees, the very people who should own their own future. At a time when talent optimization and internal mobility are more critical than ever for business agility and even business continuity, bringing rigor and science to decisions about talent just makes good business sense. Anne Fulton might call it business science. Enjoy this fascinating conversation between Jason Averbook and Anne Fulton.

For more information on Anne Fulton and Fuel50 Click Here

Register today for our Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Jason Averbook, Jess Von Bank, and the NOW of Work Community continue the weekly Digital Meetups with this episode recorded live on March 27, 2020.  These interactive sessions take place every Friday at 10 am Pacific - We encourage you to participate in the weekly dialogue and share your insight!

Join Digital Meetups Live: http://www.bit.ly/nowofwork

NOW of Work Slack: https://t.co/vDnLcUudJk?amp=1

"My parents were born to sharecroppers in Southern Georgia. (They) would have to miss school to pick cotton during harvest season. I saw these messages of bias, racism, and oppression, even as a child...Whatever environment you're in there's a label that is either thrust upon you or that you cling to for recognition. So, I've always been intrigued by this work. When you’re imbued with empathy… when you see injustice around you, you can either be part of the solution or part of the problem. And my goal is to be part of the solution."

Marc is the SVP of Racial & Social Equity and Culture at California Life Sciences. His goal is to make the life sciences industry more diverse and equitable. He also spearheaded the first DEI program at Vail Resorts, creating an intentional cultural shift within their employee and customer experience efforts, to create a more inclusive space for their workforce and clientele.

What a week! We hosted a successful webinar on Deploying HR Tech to Fuel People & Purpose. If you tuned in, thanks for the support. The time is NOW to redesign HR tech for people, not for HR, using a whole person approach and human-centered design thinking. 

On today's Digital Meetup, Jess and Jason share key highlights from the webinar; specifically how a deployment approach fills the gap between implementation and value, between technology as a tool and as a human enabler. 

We are redefining workforce experience as so much more than it was before, requiring a new approach to the solutions that can enable it. Speaking of workforce experience, how would you define it? We asked our team, and got a variety of interesting responses. 

We'll dig into what workforce experience looks like today, the hierarchy of needs when it comes to it, and why we need to reorganize HR. PLUS, we'll introduce a new Management Reset Masterclass created by our friend, Jason Lauritsen. His free training series is designed to support managers who are navigating their way through all of the changes in the Now of Work.

Please join us in welcoming Andrew Hartman, Founder Time Boss!

Burnout, stress, and anxiety are omnipresent in the modern workplace. But it doesn't have to be this way for business leaders looking to make an impact while balancing their professional and personal lives.

Andrew Hartman is the Founder of Time Boss, an organization that helps leaders and their teams reinvent their relationships with time to get more done with less stress and anxiety. For the last 2 decades, Andrew has been a high-level professional managing his own schedule while working in marketing tech firms and software startups. About 5 years into his career, he began to burn out when he found there was more to do than there was time in the day. At 27, as the stress and anxiety built up, Andrew lost his sense of smell for six months.

“I decided to learn everything I could about making massive progress on my strategic priorities while maintaining my mental health so my family and well-being wouldn't be left in shambles.”

So, Andrew started implementing new habits to manage his time, allowing him to close the computer at the end of the day without stress. And it worked.

He has taken all he has learned over the years to build a simple system that helps business leaders avoid the same mistakes and chaos. The Time Boss Model is a distilled version of 15 years of learning. Andrew has run the experiments, made the mistakes, learned what works and what doesn't.

TUNE IN as we explore the common issues faced in time management among professionals, the addiction to the stress cycle, and practical tips for effective time management and setting healthy work boundaries.

Jason Averbook is joined by Mollie Lombardi, Founder and Principal Analyst at MollieLombardi.com and m.Research.

For more information on Mollie Lombardi and m.Research Click Here

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Introducing the latest episode of our Now of Work Digital Meetup Podcast, Jess Von Bank and Jason Averbook kick off this episode diving into the power of vulnerability and authenticity by sharing personal anecdotes from the perspective of their kids on evolving world of technology.

They explore the challenges faced by solution providers in a market driven by specific use cases, and share insights on how to break free from traditional categories. Don't miss out on this uplifting and inspiring episode that will leave you energized and ready to embrace the opportunities presented by technology.

Get ready to be inspired!

Join us as we wrapped up our week at HR Tech Conference with lots of smiles and gratitude. It was a wonderful week reconnecting with many of our friends, colleagues, and clients in the HR & HR Tech community, after so long! Big thanks to everyone who visited our booth, connected with our team of consultants, attended our mixer or one of our panels. 

No better way to wrap up HR Tech week in Las Vegas than chatting LIVE with Reejig's CEO, Siobhan Savage. We had such a wonderful and thought-provoking conversation with Siobhan. She really knows how to spark a conversation! Didn't have a chance to listen LIVE? Take a listen now! 

Leapgen's CEO and Head of Marketing kick off another Monday morning with a fresh mindset on the NOW of Work.

For more information on the NOW of Work Click Here

Register today for our Weekly Digital Meetup

Music

Joakim Karud - Hype

Renowned global industry analyst Josh Bersin joined us for a powerful and real conversation about the global market, the labor economy, technology investments, and why he hates talking about the FUTURE OF WORK. “These things you are trying to accomplish don’t just require new skills; they require new job models, new job titles, new job descriptions...” Every company is trying to figure out how to adapt to the Future of Work, which is the NOW OF WORK. Take a listen to hear more!

We also get an early look at Josh’s new book Irresistible, written for business leaders who want to create thriving organizations. The book lays out seven practical management principles. Plus, don’t miss Josh Bersin’s opening keynote at HR Technology Conference & Exposition: "The Disruption Never Stops: What’s New and What’s Ahead in the HR Tech Market at HR Tech 2022."

THEN: She became Miss North Dakota for a big reason: to use her voice as a young Black woman on a platform with influence and reach in a place not expecting to see someone like her. Rosie Nestingen tells Jess Von Bank, our Head of Marketing and Now of Work community host, about the day she arrived at a school assembly to share her inspirational youth message with grade school kids. The principal greeted her: "I love your message, I love your story, but you should know your audience. There is ONE diverse person in our community. The only family who isn't German is Norwegian."

NOW: What it must feel like doing diversity recruitment. You can't hire your way into workplace diversity. (Repeat that 100 times.) You CAN welcome marginalized employees by addressing belonging, inclusion, and retention. That's the real work, the harder work, and it also requires knowing your audience. "Where are we really at, if we're being honest?" You don't create workplace diversity in a Big Bang; you do it in repeatable, measurable, incremental ways that show PROOF of the PROMISES you make."

This is Rosie's approach in her mission to attract and retain more diverse technology talent within Best Buy. She's not on the DEI team, she's on the technology team. DEI isn't a TEAM, it's a WAY OF BEING. Important #NowofWork podcast conversation; listen up!

Connect with Rosie Nestingen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosienestingen/

Lara Jones is a powerhouse speaker, award-winning Grit Performance Expert, and the creator of the groundbreaking Global G.R.I.T. System™. As the founder, and CEO of Be a Legend, Inc., and GritGlobal™, Lara has propelled companies into multimillion-dollar empires with her unparalleled expertise.With prestigious accolades like the WORLDWIDE STEVIE® Awards, Lara has transformed the performance of leaders, teams, and organizations. She has collaborated with Fortune 100 companies, the US military, and renowned celebrities, delivering exceptional programs and workshops.Lara's deep understanding of high achievers' psychology and her award-winning Communication and Emotional Intelligence Workshops have empowered countless individuals. Her book, "Hunt or Be Hunted: How Anyone Can Develop Grit and Lead Like a Legend," unveils her transformative Global G.R.I.T. System™. Beyond her professional achievements, Lara is a devoted wife and mother. She actively supports veterans' transition to entrepreneurship and provides emotional support to parents who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to learn from Lara Jones and unlock your true potential!

How would you rate your Workforce Experience on a scale of one to 10? Would you give it a 10? Would you say, without hesitation, that it is REMARKABLE? That's the goal; an experience where both PEOPLE THRIVE and business moves forward.

On today's Digital Meetup, we're excited to dig into the topic of DESIGNING A REMARKABLE WORKFORCE EXPERIENCE TO FUEL PEOPLE AND BUSINESS. JOIN Jess and I TODAY AT 1PM ET, as we welcome Special Guest: Greg Pryor, Senior VP, People & Performance Evangelist at Workday.

Our chat is a warm-up to next Tuesday's Workday Navigator Series event, focused on delivering a meaningful and frictionless employee experience.

Everyone is buzzing about Leapgen’s Fuel 2021 Kickoff this week. If you haven’t yet, register today and join us for 2 days of action-packed content that will continue to transform the industry and HR best practices.

On this episode, Jason reviews his predictions for 2020, which were made before the pandemic hit, and answers the question, “are these still relevant after the post-pandemic shutdown?” His answers are insightful, timely, and inspire action. He also sets the stage for CHRO’s to have a beginner’s mindset in 2021 and rediscover a people-centric model that drives high engagement. Jason offers hope for what the new year will bring and how it will strengthen organizations.

2021 is the year of RE: renew, refresh, review, revolve, renovate, reinvent. It is our opportunity to build a better workforce experience that drives engagement, value, and impact. This conversation gives listeners a glimpse at Jason’s keynote as he makes predictions for 2021 and helps HR departments not only rebuild, but reimagine what is possible in the new now of work.

Enjoy the chat and we hope to see you at our Fuel kickoff event!

Register for FUEL 2021: https://bit.ly/3oVVpyX

Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonaverbook/

Jason Averbook discusses the NOW of Work and ServiceNow with Wayne Chattaway; Co-Founder & CEO of The Anti.

For more information on Wayne Chattaway & The Anti Click Here

Register today for our Weekly Digital Meetup

Jennings Wynn is a CUSTOMER champion for recruiting solutions that deliver results, but he's also a PEOPLE champion for equity, diversity, creating spaces for belonging, and inclusive workplaces. He has deep expertise in Employee Resource Groups and the real value they can bring the business, he talks about the use of pronouns and inclusive language and workplace practices, and he tells a rich story around the real history and significance of #Pridemonth.  

So before the final weekend of Pride celebrations commence, Jennings joins our Digital Meetup to tell us WHY THIS MATTERS in our efforts to humanize work. When it comes to #DEI and corporate values, what does a brand look like when it's not just talking the talk?  We love our Fridays together! 

Join the team at Leapgen for this important conversation.

Connect with Jennings:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennings-wynn-6908409a/ 

There's a big shift in HR Tech. The solutions are no longer about HR, they are about work, life, people — how we function and thrive. HR is learning how to better leverage technology to not only manage the workforce but to deliver learning, skills, holistic wellbeing, collaboration, and leadership. In other words, HR tech is becoming LIFE tech, in the flow of work. And the investments are only getting bigger. 

George LaRocque, Founder of WorkTech, joins this week’s Digital Meetup following his HRTech Conference keynote. In a market with almost $18B in VC investment, more than 21,000 vendors, and 30 brand new unicorns, what’s driving innovation? How do you cut through this kind of noise and build a business case for the right investment? 

In Jason's Spotlight Session at HR Tech this week, he explained that solutions require prioritization, sequencing, and roadmapping. We have to connect PEOPLE to PURPOSE — or the solutions don’t matter! When you think about any investment you're making...you need to ask, are you doing this with purpose? The only real reason people think that purpose is soft is because they are uncomfortable with what it might reveal.

We dig into it all on TODAY'S SPECIAL HR TECH WRAP EDITION of our Digital Meetup.

Online~REGISTER here: http://bit.ly/35qB28h

AI is all the buzz, but it's particularly interesting to think about its impact on software development and coding. As a coder, AI is about about 70% accurate. Not bad, will only get better—but can it do its own regression testing? And if humans aren't doing the actual coding, isn't it harder to do code review? No one better than HackerRank to help us understand how software development changes with AI, how coders and engineers become orchestrators of AI agents, and how we reconsider necessary skills like prompt engineering.

This week saw a Tale of Two Leaders, and the contrast could not be more stark. “Why is small talk even legal,” Elon Musk tweeted as workers began being slashed before he said they would. Compare this to CEO Patrick Collison’s communication to affected employees in Stripe's RIF this week. The best leadership communication we have ever seen, hands down. And the generosity shown? Unprecedented.

Jess and I chatted about both approaches as we kicked off our show. We were also joined by Serena H. Huang, Ph.D., a brilliant people analytics leader who helped pioneer people data for workforce outcomes at organizations like GE, Koch, The Kraft Heinz Company, and now PayPal. People data for business can help people thrive, not just survive at work. She also shares how we can improve employee health and well-being using data analytics, what leaders can do when they don't have data, and how to create a work environment where people not only survive but actually thrive from a psychological safety, inclusion, wellbeing, and purpose standpoint.

Take a Listen!

Employee development is a bright light in a competitive labor market. It not only helps with retention, developing talent can build trust, loyalty and connection to your organization's greater purpose. 

...And just like everything in the past 18 months, it is critical for leader to rethink how to approach employee development in the #NowofWork. Does digital culture, the distributed workforce, and hybrid models of working help or hurt our efforts to focus on people, their needs, and how they can be nurtured and developed to drive value as businesses innovate and evolve?

We into this topic on today's Digital Meetup! Jess Von Bank and Jason Averbook will be joined by Ben Brooks, a Top 100 HRTech Influencer. We'll talk about the role of tech in developing people at scale, the acceleration of skills development brought on by automation, and the difference between employee coaching and traditional talent management. Ben is the CEO of PILOT, a career management technology platform that helps business leaders and employees to make work more satisfying and fulfilling. 

Connect with Ben

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbrooksny/

Ben's Company

https://pilot.coach/

Meet David Gloss, Head of Team Effectiveness at AIIR Consulting!

As most of us may know, burnout has become more prevalent than ever before. And the solution isn't to avoid it, but rather it's about finding ways to mitigate its impact since it's something that everyone will experience. Teams, whether they are intact or cross-functional, play a vital role in shaping a company's culture and productivity levels. This has always been true, but as the pace of change continues to accelerate, the ability of teams to establish connections, build trust, and adopt healthy ways of working becomes an even stronger indicator of employee health and performance.

David Gloss, Head of AIIR Consulting's Team Effectiveness Practice, leads a dynamic group that is dedicated to helping clients assess, measure, and enhance team performance across enterprise systems. Whether clients choose to tap into the expertise of AIIR's exceptional Consultants & Coaches or opt to license their Enterprise Team Effectiveness (ETE) system for internal use, they can rest assured that they have a reliable and trusted partner by their side. 

Dave's 15-year career as a business leader, has been driven by successfully scaling venture-backed tech companies and creative agencies. He's gained invaluable insights into what it takes to both succeed and come back from failure in rapidly changing industries and markets. He leverages the psychology of high performance to empower clients with the knowledge and strategies needed to overcome challenges such as difficult acquisitions, managing big personalities, revitalizing frozen teams, and breaking free from stagnant growth.

Counting down to FUEL! There are just 4 more days until our team goes LIVE to share 12 powerhouse sessions designed to give HR leaders like you the tools to make your functions more digital in the Now of Work! We want to make sure that YOU maximize the offerings of our 2-day experience, which features top HR and HR Tech industry experts, networking, cutting-edge research, and transformative client success stories.

On TODAY's Now of Work Podcast, Jess Von Bank and I share more of the inside scoop. We've lined up 6 industry experts featured at FUEL to preview their sessions. This includes:

-FUEL Kickoff 2023: Let's Make This The Best Year of our Careers Ever, led by Mike Brennan, Leapgen Co-Founder, and me. We share our thoughts for 2023 and lay the framework for a powerful two days!

-Go-Begin: How McCarthy Gets the Most Out of its Solutions through Ongoing Releases, Optimization: Led by Rachel  Hendricks, our Organizational Change Consultant, and Jason Sowder, Director of HR Operations at McCarthy. Learn how McCarthy deployed and sustained their digital strategy by putting their people first.

-Using a Workforce Experience Council to Design & Drive Change in Your Organization with Vail Resorts: Lead by our WX Lead, David Henschel, and Sinead O'Donnell, a Change & Communications Leader at Vail Resorts. Learn how to make communications drive excitement and action. Make change 'a way of being’ by harnessing the power of a Workforce Experience Council.

-Service Design: How Providing Great Workforce Experiences Actually Makes HR More Efficient with Kristin Rhebergen, our Digital HR Advisor & WX Lead. Learn how to infuse human-centered design into your service delivery model.

And DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR FUEL! http://bit.ly/3FwPIRX

What is the value of a knowledge management system in providing an elevated experience and fostering digital conversations of trust in the Now of Work? If you’re trying to support interactions over transactions, foster bi-directional communication that feels personalized and frictionless, and truly meet your workforce where they are in the new Digital Workplace, this episode with Randy Womack and Melissa Swisher of Socrates.ai is a must-listen. As Randy says, "people are what makes a company GREAT." It’s all about building conversations of trust for the "professional customers” that are your people. Listen in to a conversation about conversations...

For more information on Melissa Swisher, Randy Womack and Socrates.ai Click Here

Register today for our Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

In this podcast episode, Jason Averbook and Unit4's Mike Ettling discuss the Now of Work

For more information on Mike Ettling and Unit4 Click Here

Register today for our Weekly Digital Meetup

Music

Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Please join us in welcoming Skai Dalziel and Joe Facciolo, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Guusto! Today's discussion will delve into Guusto's history of building a culture of recognition from the head office to the frontlines.

Old pals, Skai Dalziel and Joe Facciolo, go all the way back to 1988 when they grew up together in a small town just north of Toronto. They both attended the University of Western Ontario, where Joe studied Psychology and Sociology, while Skai studied Engineering and Business. After graduating, they both traveled the world for a few years before returning home in the midst of the global financial crisis.

In 2008, they kickstarted their first business venture, Dining Tours (think high-end food and wine crawls). Despite local success, they were unable to expand without strong relationships with restaurants in other cities. Around 2012, Skai and Joe noticed that restaurants would often receive calls from people requesting to send a drink to a friend for a celebration or to show appreciation to a client. However, the staff would often refuse to take credit cards over the phone. Aha! There should be an app for this!

From 2012 to 2017, the pal duo built Guusto from the ground up. They partnered with a clean drinking water foundation that fueled their motivation. They pitched the product of Guusto to the Dragon's Den but walked away without a deal. They were also the first to raise equity crowdfunding in Canada. Around that time, they started working with HR leaders to build more robust employee recognition tools. They focused all their energy on customers and solving their problems.

After receiving a 1-star review on Glassdoor in 2019, Guusto recognized the irony of selling employee recognition tools but not using them internally. After this epiphany, Guusto completely transformed their business. The secret ingredient? CULTURE! Culture is the ultimate advantage.

Trish McFarlane and Steve Boese do incredible work to support HR and the HR Technology space. That’s why Jason Averbook and Jess Von Bank hosted them on the Now of Work, and why they had a billion questions. “When do we get to stop talking about Covid?” “What do the unemployment claims, jobs reports, and reported dismissals need to show us before we can claim economic recovery?” “How does the talent pot get re-sorted and re-mixed when HALF of American small businesses won’t survive Covid and when entire industries and verticals are being shattered?” “How did the pandemic act like a GREAT CLEARING when it came to workplace redundancies?”
Those were just a few questions bantered about, and then came RANT #1 in EPISODE 1 of 2 in this conversation with Steve and Trish. Concerns for employee health - not just physical but MENTAL health - became very real and highly exacerbated during the pandemic. These are not new problems; now they’re newly acknowledged. It’s time for employers to do more to support the whole person, and work tech plays an important role.

For more information on H3 HR Click Here

& for more information on HR Happy Hour Click Here

Register today for our Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Meet Will Sealy, Co-Founder & CEO, and Daniel Macklin, President of Summer!

Summer is a certified B Corporation combining innovative technology and policy expertise to serve student loan borrowers across the country. Built by borrowers, for borrowers, Summer provides an end-to-end workplace student loan solution that is proven to reduce employee turnover and guaranteed to save employees thousands by simplifying student loans for everyone.

Summer partners with employers to deliver a tailored benefit that empowers employees to save for education, better manage their student loans, find forgiveness options, and lower monthly payments.  Summer has helped over 148,000 borrowers save an average of $333 per month on their student loan payments and save over $45,000 over the course of repayment. In addition, Summer recently announced $1.15B in total projected savings for members.

Their company has made huge progress since its founding, and continues to make great strides amid a complex and critical landscape.

They covered:

• The scale of student loan debt and college costs crisis. It's not just a “student problem,” but rather one that impacts adults of all ages, and 80% of families in America
• The impact employers can have in the immediate term to help employees’ overall financial wellness by introducing student loan and college cost planning solutions
• The massive potential for employers to boost talent attraction and retention by addressing this critical concern for their workforce

The origin story of making this episode happen all started with a social media thread. This one, in fact: https://bit.ly/3RvUNBE

Industry advisor, Steve Goldberg posted something about onboarding as IMMERSION in job, team and culture --- which got my co-host Jess Von Bank's quick response and the attention of Meg Bear, President & SPO of SAP SuccessFactors, and Gordon Ritchie, Principal Consultant, Skills Architecture & Transformation at Skill Collective.
So we decided to take this conversation to the community. We hashed out one of the most important moments that matter for your workforce — and the biggest ROI opportunity for business. Jess likes to call it Onboarding & Ongoing. How can we treat this critical step in the talent journey as a strategic launchpad and not a tactical checklist? Especially as so many organizations profess to become skills-based, to prioritize employee well-being, and to create true connection to corporate values?

Our Now of Work Digital Meetup hosts Jason Averbook and Jess Von Bank, closed out our last digital meetup of 2023 with our NOW Community.

Along with our active community members in the chat, Jess and Jason held an overview of 2023 regarding HR and HR Tech industry shifts, buzz words like Gen AI, and where they think (or hope) the ball will continue rolling in 2024.

Jason Averbook and Jess Von Bank are back in action and they were so happy to catch up with our Now of Work community.

The past couple of months of conference season have been a whirlwind of innovation, thought-provoking conversations, and valuable connections and we are eager to share our experiences and check in with all of you. 

And in this episode, Jason poses a critical theory: that skills may be considered more valuable than credentials. Along with the amazing insight and ideas form our live attendees in the chat, Jess and Jason break down their own thoughts on the value that employees bring to the workforce and how the future of work is molding to be more human-centric.

Tune in!

Employers are struggling to make work matter -- matter enough to keep, inspire, engage, and attract incredible talent. That means WORK needs to feel incredible.

How do employers create incredible workplaces? Do new realities of remote, hybrid, distributed, digital work help or hurt efforts to create an inspiring, connected, even addicting workforce experience?

In this episode, Jess Von Bank and Jason Averbook dig into these pressing questions with Brandon Miller, CEO of 34 Strong, which provides human development solutions to organizations, and has built the best places to work since 2013. They not only believe that everyone deserves a great place to work, they believe that any workplace can be great!

When an organization focuses on building an employee's strengths, data shows that they become 3 times more engaged at work. Engagement is not only linked to well-being and customer satisfaction, it also strengthens retention.

Feel free to rewatch the recording to see Jess & Jason's epic Halloween Costumes!

Connect with Brandon:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-miller-873a6bb/

34 Strong: 

https://34strong.com/

Malcolm Gladwell avoids face-to-face interviews....too "dangerous." Interesting, right? The psychology of meeting strangers was a whole body of research he conducted over a two-year period, and we can't help but think of it when we consider a new HR Tech category that's heating up in the Age of AI: INTERVIEW INTELLIGENCE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIgm5ap3SPM

On this episode we meet Mark Simpson, Founder & CEO of Pillar. What's the impact of AI on the interview process, and what are all the insights and data we get from interviews?

In this podcast episode, Jess Von Bank meets with Peter Newhouse, Global Head of Reward for Unilever & Ken Charman, CEO of UFlexReward discuss employee rewards in the workforce in the Now of Work

For more information on Unilever's UFlexReward systemClick Here

Register today for our Weekly Digital Meetup

Music

Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Driving transformation in any organization is a journey, even an uphill battle. Driving transformation in an industry absolutely begging for disruption is uniquely challenging. Healthcare is one of those industries -- HR is constantly challenged with talent shortages, workforce burnout, demands for improved well-being and workforce experience, lagging innovation, and evolving measures of success for consumer satisfaction and patient delivery outcomes.

Designing an effective, inspiring, caring workforce experience matters a LOT in healthcare. That's the job of Tobias Washington at CHRISTUS Health, and he shared his story and their organization's journey on this episode of the Now of Work Digital Meetup.

Tobias is the System Director of Digital Employee Experience & Digital HR Transformation at CHRISTUS Health. He is an amazing leader working in the healthcare space, that is truly transforming how HR and work is done. 

The world of events doesn't look like it did before, but what will return, what's changed, and what's BETTER? The physical event business has already bounced back, but like the workplace, it's more innovative, more digital, more hybrid, more communal and human. There are more virtual participation options, smaller meetups and watch parties surrounding bigger events, and enhanced engagement opportunities. There are pros (hybrid and digital experiences are more accessible!) and cons (making a case for physical attendance & investment is harder when virtual is an option).

But what do people really want? Zoom or hugs? Expo halls or a virtual collaboration? Big stage keynotes to inspire, or micro-content from the comfort of their kitchens?

Kathryn Frankson is a world-class digital experience creator, event marketer, and storyteller. She just executed one of the largest events of her career, and there's more up her sleeve. She offers insights on the world of digital experiences and events. Our virtual #NowofWork community is ready to host LIVE & IN-PERSON MEETUPS; no one better to help us sort it out. ;) Take a listen to learn how! 

Jason Averbook and Jess Von Bank share personal and work-related highs and lows, exploring their experiences of success, loss and powerful spelling capabilities.

With a twist, Jaycee Grider, Visual Design Consultant and podcast producer at Mercer, joins as a guest to share about her upcoming, first-time trip to Burning Man.

Whether you're a word enthusiast, a fan of personal stories, or simply looking for a delightful conversation to brighten your day, this podcast is a must-listen.

You know how Spotify Wrapped is where Spotify listeners dive into their top listening moments of the year? We had our own version! We shared our own top listening moments of 2023 from the perspective of a few of the analysts who cover #HRTechnology. 

Hosted by Jason Averbook and Jess Von Bank, we'll hear from analysts like Jim Holincheck, Madeline Laurano, Pete Tiliakos, Sarah White, Steve Goldberg, and Tara Cooper just what went down in 2023. What innovation got us excited, what are we over-rotating on, and what needs better solutions than we've come up with so far? Where is the ball going in 2024? Any guesses?

Hear it straight from the people who pay more attention to #WorkTech innovation than anyone else. It's a Special Edition of our Now of Work Digital Meetup

Jason Averbook is joined by Yvette Cameron to discuss the Now of Work

For more information on Yvette Cameron Click Here

Register today for our Weekly Digital Meetup

Music

Joakim Karud - That Day

Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Once referred to as "the secret weapon to restoring sanity in the workplace," Cy Wakeman is not your average leader. The New York Times Best-Selling Author keeps audiences on the edge of their seats as a riveting International Keynote Speaker and Thought Leader on Leadership & Management, and workplaces in check as a Drama Researcher. 

What is a Drama Researcher anyways? And what's drama got to do with work? A LOT, Cy explains in a fascinating chat with our Now of Work podcast host, Jess Von Bank. "If we had more adulting at work, we wouldn't have to be so resilient, because part of what kills our resilience is all of the drama and hassle at work," Cy shares. Using her background as a counselor, and love of good mental processes Cy was once asked to get emotional waste our of the workplace, and she hasn't stopped since. Her clients include organizations like NASA, NBC Universal, Viacom, CDC, Google, Facebook, Bank of America, Cisco, Pfizer, and FedEx. 

"I saw how (companies) celebrated if we saved like one minute of time in a process, and you multiply that by 100 a day; and WOW, we've got a big breakthrough...I thought if we taught people how the world works and how the mind works, and use good mental processes, we could eliminate hours of emotional waste every single day and make the work at hand more effortless." 

Cy and Jess cover a good amount of ground in their chat, including topics like:

-Communication and miscommunication at work
-Employee wellness: Who should be responsible for it, the employer or employee?
-What happens when organizations meet evolved individuals?
-How organizations can be better designed to collaborate, foster collective genius, and remove hassle

LISTEN TODAY  & JOIN US THIS FRIDAY as we welcome Cy Wakeman to our Digital Meetup to talk about restoring sanity in the workplace, and her NEW BOOK: Life's Messy, Live Happy: Things Don't have to be Perfect for You to Be Content.

Pre-order Cy's book here: https://amzn.to/377WzU5

What do neurodiverse people need to feel welcome, be treated fairly, and celebrated at work? Often when most think about workplace diversity, race and gender are top of mind. But, please don’t stop there. Between 30-40% of the population are neurodiverse. Neurodiversity, or brain diversity, describes people who think differently. This includes members of the workforce with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, and autism.

How do we define, understand, and de-stigmatize neurodiversity? JOIN US TODAY as we honor Autism Acceptance Month with a Special Edition Digital Meetup discussing neurodiversity in the workplace. AT 1P ET, Jess and I will speak with a special guest panel that includes: 

-Michael Hofer, Global HR Transformation Executive at SAP and Neurodiversity Advocate

-Jose Velasco, Autism at Work Program Director at SAP

-Silvia Velasquez Casado, MBA/MPA Candidate at MIT Sloan/Harvard Kennedy School: Jobs for the College-Educated Neurodiverse

-Ed Thompson, Founder & CEO of Uptimize, focused on Talent that Thinks Differently 

Thinking differently can mean having a fresh perspective,  a stellar imagination, an uncanny ability to challenge norms, or habits that make you an incredible problem solver or innovator. These are a few of the assets we think about when we imagine equitable workplaces for neurodiverse talent. 

Thanks for listening! 

Michael Kannisto runs a think tank called MindemicLab, which utilizes scenario planning, wargame simulation, and predictive modeling to help organizations develop strategies that will be effective across multiple possible futures.

Michael began his career as a research chemist, but quickly realized that while molecules always act predictably and consistently, people rarely do. He has spent much of his career in corporate Human Resources exploring the uncertainty that comes along with having humans in the workplace. Large, successful, well-funded organizations frequently experience failure when purchasing technology or implementing new policies. This is mainly the result of unanticipated changes that occur along the way. Michael started MindemicLab as a resource to help others “rehearse” alternative futures, and thus increase their likelihood of success.

Prior/ongoing work in this area includes deep dives into The Future of Work, The Future of Early Career Recruiting and The Future of Disability.

• Plastic Love by Mayiya Takeuchi
• Virtual HR Technology Conference

Jess Von Bank has long been a fan of ⁠Mercer⁠'s Global Talent Trends report, even before she worked at Mercer. The research is vast and deep, the insights cut to the chase. That's thanks to ⁠Kate Bravery⁠ and a big, brilliant research team. Kate joins the Digital Meetup to share ⁠Mercer⁠'s 2025 Global Talent Trends, the hottest priorities for HR this year, the real impact of AI on the future of work and how the global workforce feels about ALL of it. Could just call it TRUTH BOMBS. She was our #1 most listened to episode last year by a 300% margin. Easy to see why.🎙️

Jason explores why HR must play a more active role in the ownership of the new Digital Workplace Strategy starting NOW.

For more information on the NOW of Work Click Here

Register today for our Weekly Digital Meetup

Music

Unwritten Stories - Future Solutions Future Bass

Jason Averbook, Jess Von Bank, and the NOW of Work Community continue the weekly Digital Meetups with this episode recorded live on April 10th, 2020. These interactive sessions take place every Friday at 10 am Pacific - We encourage you to participate in the weekly dialogue and share your insight!

Register today for our Weekly Digital Meetup

Music

Joakim Karud - That Day

Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Are you ready to revolutionize how hiring managers and recruiters collaborate? This episode, we're thrilled to host David Nason and Master Burnett from HireBrain, where they share their innovative approach to reimagining how jobs and requirements are both defined and filled.

Fresh off a win at HR Tech’s Pitchfest in October 2024, they are ready to break down the pillars of hiring and talk about what it takes to build a solid foundation for talent that aligns hiring managers, recruiters, candidates, and most importantly, the business.

Tune in to explore how you can remove blindspots and bias from hiring while creating a better hiring experience for everyone involved.

With less than 2 weeks away from FUEL, our 2023 kickoff event designed to give HR leaders, like you, the tools to make your functions more digital in the Now of Work, Jason & Jess shared a sneak peek at 3 of the upcoming sessions, led by our consultants.

You may have heard about our 3rd annual, 2-day event, packed with value. We've lined up 12 transformative sessions, content, and research and would be happy if you joined us on January 31 & February 1 by registering with the following link: bit.ly/2DF9rCH

Our FUEL sessions will feature top HR and HR Tech industry experts, client success stories from Vail Resorts & McCarthy Building Companies, new workforce experience research with Conduent, and an innovative session with Reejig, discussing YOUR #1 talent metric!

Take a listen to this digital meetup to get the inside scoop on the following FUEL sessions:

• HR Tech Trends in 2023: Making Sense of it All, with Kyle Holliday
• Your Playbook for Change Enablement: Building a Sustainable Framework for Being More Digital, with Aziza Young
• Workforce Experience Architecture: Designing Your Tech Stack With Your People At The Center, with Alex Zea

See you soon!

Take a Listen!

Katrina Kibben joins Jess Von Bank on the NOW of Work. They talk about the age-old problem of crappy job descriptions and the new NOW OF WORK problem of finally getting it right. How do you possibly describe what it's like to work for your company when everything is changing, everything is distributed and virtual, but the open jobs you're still hiring for are more important than ever? She has a tried-and-true process for getting to the heart of the matter, which means she's a great writer, a great storyteller about work and the people who do it, a no-bullshit kind of woman, and a pretty insightful human being. Which means we covered a lot of other stuff, too. Take a listen!

For more information on Katrina Kibben and 3 Ears Media Click Here

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Music

Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Chuck Gose, founder of ICology, is a long-time listener and now a first time guest on today's Meetup! "As someone who’s admired the conversations and efforts from the sidelines, it’s an honor to step into the guest seat and talk all things internal communications and employee experience." Together, Jess and Chuck get right into the critical intersection of AI, HR, marketing, and internal communications, emphasizing the importance of understanding employee needs and experiences. The conversation also highlights the role of technology in personalizing employee experiences and the need for organizations to listen actively to their workforce to drive meaningful change.

In less than a week, many people here in the U.S. will gather around their dinner table with food, family, and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. The annual occasion often encourages us to think deeper about what we are grateful for. We all have something or someone that sparks a sense of thankfulness in our heart at this time of the year.

Gratitude may be easy to call to mind at home, but what about at work? What can you find gratitude for at work, within your team, or as you lead with purpose? How can we embrace recognition and celebration to bring more humanity to work? How does all of this tie into workforce experience and human fulfillment?

We couldn't wait to chat with Derek Irvine at Workhuman as we continue to recognize #NationalGratitudeMonth. As the Executive/Senior VP at Workhuman and author of Making Work Human, Derek helps teams WIN by creating amazing cultures. "Cultures that support and reinforce their strategies, cultures that ensure high performance, cultures that encourage recognition of effort, and that celebrate success."

Workhuman is known globally for integrating gratitude, workplace data, and human insights into a robust performance management platform. Their software helps global companies motivate and empower their teams to do amazing work and help explain how culture, blended with tech, can equal great team success.

Take a listen as Jess, Derek, and I tap into the topic of gratitude and how we can maximize it at work!

Leadership is never easy. It demands all of you. We talk a lot about bringing our whole selves to work, leading with empathy, the power of authenticity in creating cultures of connection. What if you're a leader who also happens to be an LGBTQ person? 

You require safety and support, especially if you seek to create judgement-free, compassionate workplaces where people can show up as who they are. WHAT A WIN THAT WOULD BE. Fully empowered humans leading with their authentic selves, using their unique voice to lead and inspire others. That's the type of executive coaching Chris Rollins provides, he tells a powerful story, as we continue to honor and celebrate Pride Month. 

Listen in as we talk with Chris about the power of authenticity, leading with empathy, building coaching cultures, and being an LGBTQ+ leader

TALENT WARS are fun, aren't they? They challenge us to find better, engage better, recruit better, DO BETTER. When talent is calling the shots, we up our game! We polish off our Employee Value Proposition and employer brand, turn our efforts toward inclusion and retention to keep the talent sieve from leaking out the back door. We try to rectify the Glass Door reviews that took a hit when we were looking the other way....We sharpen the weapons of a good talent war.

But how do companies reposition and bolster their employer brand to attract talent that's FRANKLY HAD ENOUGH? People want more, expect more, deserve more, and our BS detector has been sharpened through lingering pandemics. What about recruiters trying to do their jobs through it all? They're in the highest demand of all as open jobs soar and employers scramble to hire; how do they upskill themselves, make themselves marketable, or just keep up with high req loads?

We have so much to talk about with Craig Fisher ON TODAY'S DIGITAL MEETUP FRIDAY, AUGUST 6. JOIN Craig, Jess Von Bank and Jason as they dig into THE WEAPONS OF TALENT WAR.

Craig is the founder of the employer brand and recruitment tech/process strategy firm, TalentNet Media. He has led Global Marketing, Employer Brand, and Recruiting Innovation at Allegis Global Solutions and talent acquisition teams at the Fortune 500 level.

We're a tad obsessed with AI, tech, and tools when it comes to the future of work. All good. But it's good to revisit the human psychology of work once in a while, remember how people learn and communicate, and understand culture and engagement at its foundation. Music and art come in handy as a universal language and concept—ironic, maybe, since we'll throw AI at that to see what happens, too. How can we make the best of all worlds? It's fun to think about tech-enabled humanity where art, music, and original creativity is amplified and celebrated, not obliterated.

Such a fun conversation with SongDivision. They believe music builds culture and connects people, Benji Harris, Client Executive, showed us how and we also played a little 'Name that Song' while we were at it.

How do we shift from counting people to making people count? We were so thrilled to have Steve Goldberg as our featured guest on this Digital Meetup! We’re big fans of Steve's work, both with him leading product strategy at big global companies as well as leading the implementation of HR software at some of the largest enterprises in the world.

Steve had many insights to share about how we can help people through technology. “The employee experience is so much more than the experience of using a vendor’s technology. Employee experience is whatever your employees are thinking, feeling, doing at work,” Steve shares. We also talk about how to inject more empathy into technology, how to better humanize work, and if technology will really replace people. If so, when and where will that happen in the future of work?

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How can we restore sanity at work? Plain and simple—ditch the drama! Foster wellness and collective genius. Sounds simple, right? But can we make it happen given our current work models and business structures? Jess and Jason are excited to talk about this with Cy Wakeman on today's Digital Meetup!

Once referred to as "the secret weapon to restoring sanity in the workplace," Cy is an International Speaker on Leadership and Management, whose clients include organizations like NASA, Google, Bank of America, Cisco, Pfizer, and FedEx. Using her background as a counselor, and love of good mental processes, she also helps improve the workplace as a Drama Researcher. Yes, that's a real role, which she takes seriously and her methods deliver impactful results.

In a new #NowofWork podcast chat with Jess, Cy explains "If we had more adulting at work, we wouldn't have to be so resilient, because part of what kills our resilience is all of the drama and hassle at work."

The New York Times Best-Selling Author will share tips on restoring sanity at work AND give us a sneak peek of her NEW book, available on March 29! It's titled: Life's Messy, Live Happy: Things Don't have to be Perfect for You to Be Content. Cy shared, "I've faced divorce, homelessness, obesity, (grief)—deaths. This is a personal book on the lessons I've learned so far that I'd like to invite people to reflect on."

Pre-order Cy's book here: https://amzn.to/377WzU5

In this episode we preview the spring keynote speakers on our Weekly Digital Meetup. The brilliant Jackye Clayton is up FIRST.  Her keynote—One Size Doesn't Fit All for Diversity Recruiting is the type of conversation that will change work for good. Jackye, a DEI expert and strategist,  will dig into the tactics needed to successfully scale diversity at your company. She'll also talk about sourcing candidates, how all career trajectories aren’t the same, and the best HR Tech to consider when diversifying.

Jason asks the question "how did you get into HR in the first place?" and it is definitely interesting to hear the vastly difference, and yet relatable, stories of our listeners. 

We also wish our very own Jess Von Bank a happy birthday with a special musical number. 

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Connect with Jackye: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackyeclayton/

Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonaverbook/

Connect with Jess: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessvonbank/

The countdown is upon us! We're just about two weeks away from 2023. During this Digital Meetup, we close out 2022 with an HR and HR Tech market wrap. We're also focused on looking ahead and have an energizing discussion about 2023 insights.

Jess Von Bank and I were very excited to welcome Scott Berg of Needham & Company as our special guest. Scott is a Senior Equity Research Analyst covering enterprise software.

Listen to hear his thoughts on the future of the HCM market and find out if there's still investment going on in the space. Are we in an era of consolidation? Does he see existing software vendors who are not in HR entering the HR space? Scott will also share his predictions for 2023.

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Jason Averbook is joined by HR Thought Leader Josh Bersin to discuss Josh's recent article, The Big Reset: Making Sense of the Coronavirus Crisis. Josh also goes over how vendors should support their clients during this challenging time, and how The Bersin Academy is upskilling professionals remotely.

Bersin Academy Click Here

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In this episode, Jess Von Bank sits down with Bill Banham to discuss how to choose your wins, silver linings, and embracing all the opportunities that disruption brings. Experience expectations have changed in 2020 and we as an industry must adapt and relearn what the workforce needs. Work is distributed more than ever and we must be able to support and meet people where they are with true experience design.

For more information on Bill Banham, HRGazette & InnovateWork Click Here

Register today for our Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

Women want a 'no-a$$holes' rule when it comes to work.   

Does that surprise you? Just one finding in a massive Leapgen study of nearly 3,000 working adults in the U.S. This timely research data is RICH because we were bold enough to EXPLORE: race, gender, income level, job function, employment status, age, and the usual, of course. But also whether you manage others, how long you've been in your job, how big your company is, and whether your household has multiple streams of income. 

The workforce is complex; people are complex; organizations need to be willing to explore those complexities if they are to deliver a meaningful, personalized, relevant and truly people-first culture. One that will keep people.  

Jess Von Bank, Head of Marketing and Brand Strategy for Leapgen, and Kristin Penney, General Manager of Leapgen's Luminate practice and Research Director for this study, break it down and issue BIG CHALLENGES to address the BIG QUIT. 

Know your people just like this, be prepared to act, and equip managers to better support people. TAKE A LISTEN

We welcome Madeline Laurano back to our Meetup!
Are we getting a little broad and loose with the term Talent Intelligence? -- YEP. Madeline will explain. She'll also share new capabilities around #interview intelligence, hot-off-the-press insights from Workhuman, and a new research effort with Torin Ellis on reducing #bias with #AI.

Jess Von Bank and I introduced Sam Beiler to our interactive chat. Sam is the CEO/ Co-founder of Boostpoint, which uses AI to target and place highly personalized recruitment ads on social media.
Their platform combines technology, social media, text messaging, and recruiting strategies to help leaders attract more qualified candidates, simplify hiring, and boost their employer brand. 
We could not wait to chat with Sam about AI's impact on recruiting and social media, how bias and privacy laws can impact recruitment practices, and how the face of recruiting and job hunting has changed. "AI should be the connecting point between humans and the organization. Not the sole replacement," Sam shared. 
Jim Holincheck, Principal of Transformation Services here at Mercer/Leapgen also joined in on our discussion to share highlights from our recent Generative AI for HR webinar. Did you catch it? Jim and I provided a recap of the webinar, which included how Generative AI is transforming HR leadership and what actions leaders should take to support the growth of their organizations. 
With over 54% of organizations dipping their toes into the Generative AI pool, but only 18% implementing it, you'll definitely want to give this episode a listen!

UNLEASH World is a wrap, and it was a vibrant display of community, learning and innovation. Teeming with content, rich with innovative voices, and a spectacle of creative solutions from some of the best HR technology providers in the world, the show was just that: A SHOWING OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE when it comes to people and work.

UNLEASH World was emceed by David Green and our own Jess Von Bank, and for this episode, David is Jess' special guest co-host. They shared everything they learned and observed of the event circuit, where the brightest minds and problem solvers came together to shape the future workplace.

Meg Bear has the same mission we embrace: change work for good. But to change it for the better in long-term and sustainable ways, we have to be willing to roll our sleeves up. Get a little dirty. Think a little bigger. And put humans at the center.

Every organization is attempting to do just that by addressing and supporting DEI, well-being, and personalized experiences for the workforce. They're attempting by creating agility and organizational resilience while they do. And they're pushing the envelope around skills and the future state of work. Where to begin?

It starts now! We Welcomed Meg Bear, President and Chief Product Officer at SAP SuccessFactors, to our #NowofWork Community for a fresh perspective on how to truly move the needle. Take a listen! 

How are we redefining Employee Engagement in the Now of Work? Jason Lauritsen talks to Jess Von Bank about the human side of employee engagement, performance management, and employee experience. A foremost author, speaker, and thinker about Employee Engagement, Jason helps organizations around the globe think about the human first and build from there. Listen to Jason and Jess explore how we think about designing and managing work in 2020 and beyond.

For more information on Jason Lauritsen Click Here

Register today for our Joakim Karud - That Day | Ash O'Connor - Vibe

We're kickstarting 2024 with special guest Kate Bravery, Advisory, Knowledge, and Insights Global Leader at Mercer. She joins Jess Von Bank and Jason Averbook to get into the details of global trends as we move into 2024.

Together they address topics such as:

• Key findings from Mercer's Global Talent Trend Study,
• Preventing fear by gaining trust and building psychological safety in the workplace
• Advancing technology such as human-machine teaming.

And so much more! Tune in.

Jason Averbook summarizes what he's hearing from global HR leaders and practitioners, and discusses the importance of mindset and alignment in the NOW of Work.

For more information on the NOW of Work Click Here

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Music

Unwritten Stories - Future Solutions Future Bass

Imagine if our obsession with happy customers started with an obsession for workforce experience? When you get employee experience right it has a ripple effect that washes over your customers.   

What does it take? DESIGN, DESIGN, DESIGN! It's the key component—the backbone. Then comes data and a deployment mindset; not a bunch of #HRtech implementations.  This is why Jess Von Bank and I are excited to welcome two of our most brilliant minds to today's Digital Meetup.

Leapgen designers, Emily Dahl and Ryan Malkes, will join us at 1PM ET for some straight talk. You ARE redesigning WORK, aren't you? You should be.  

JOIN OUR LIVE CONVERSATIONS EVERY WEEK: REGISTER HERE: http://bit.ly/2LoMGn4