From Projects to Products with Special Guest Mercedes Sullivan
On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Mercedes Sullivan, VP of People Transformation at McKinley!
Mercedes shares her unconventional journey as a touring professional tennis player, which eventually led her to become an IT and HR transformation executive. Plus, her fun story on how experimenting with an AI boyfriend named ‘Mateo’ sparked a curiosity for AI in the future of work.
The group explores the intersection of AI and human connection, the ethics of automation, and why treating employees like athletes could unlock performance potential across the enterprise. Mercedes also shares her paradigm-shifting mindset of moving from “projects to products”, her vision for governance in an AI-powered workplace, and why HR must lead the way in keeping humanity at the center of innovation.
Connect with Mercedes:
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercedessullivan/
Article about Mercedes, Tennis to Corporate career: https://www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/from-court-to-corporate-world-the-touring-teams-influence/
Connect with the show:
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0
X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR
BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0
--------
55:17
--------
55:17
2025 Payroll Profession Confidence Index Tour
On this very special episode, Julie and Pete take a tour of the 2025 Payroll Profession Confidence Index (PPCI) report!
They share details and color commentary around the results of the 2nd annual PPCI, walking through the unique research set and its key findings and themes, including guidance for leaders and C-suite executives. The 2025 PPCI assesses the health of the payroll profession and its operations globally, delving deeper into the performance of payroll operations against the Five Pillars of Modern Payroll, introduced in the 2024 inaugural report. Plus, Pete unveils a groundbreaking new Modern Payroll ROI Framework and POV to help leaders measure, prove, and shape a new narrative around payroll’s strategic contributions and impact!
Download the 2025 PPCI: https://www.payrollinfluences.com/researches/2025-payroll-profession-confidence-index-report
About the PPCI:
The Payroll Profession Confidence Index (PPCI) is the first-of-its-kind payroll research designed 'by payroll and for payroll' to amplify the collective voice of its professionals and raise awareness for the value and impact of the critical profession. The PPCI takes the sentiment-based pulse of payroll professionals and measures the health and value-driven impact of their operations to better understand how to nurture the future of the payroll profession and raise the eminence and impact of every payroll professional worldwide. The PPCI remains entirely free of sponsorship or any monetization, and 100% anonymous with no personal information required to participate or to access the final report.
About Payroll Influences: www.payrollinfluences.com
Founded, curated, and led ‘by payroll and for payroll, ‘Pi’ is the world’s premier virtual forum dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of the critical payroll profession and empowering its current and future leaders to shape its next chapter. We believe payroll professionals are the most essential workers on the planet and, until now, have lacked an ecosystem dedicated to advancing their eminence and influence. Our mission is to provide THE premier forum to unite the world’s most essential professionals through a community of like-minded leaders eager to explore, share, learn, and advance as payroll executives!
Connect with the show:
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0
X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR
BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0
--------
1:09:16
--------
1:09:16
Creating Veteran Ready Workplaces with Special Guest Eddie Dunn
On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Eddie Dunn, Founder and Exec Director at Civilian Ready Foundation, Interim President at Vets2Industry, long time talent executive, Army veteran and veteran advocate to the show.
Eddie shares insights on creating veteran-ready workplaces and bridging the gap between the highly skilled veteran community and the civilian workforce. Eddie discusses the critical importance of confidence, community, and clarity during a veterans’ transition, and why employers must move beyond standard hiring practices to truly tap into veterans’ immense leadership capabilities and unique skillsets. From redefining transition as a wellness practice to advocating personalized career pathways, Eddie offers valuable guidance for HR leaders, employers, and transitioning service members alike.
Connect with Eddie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiedunn/
Civilian Ready: https://www.civilianready.org/
Vets2Industry: https://vets2industry.org/
Connect with the show:
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0
X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR
BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0
--------
54:12
--------
54:12
Payroll Congress Debrief 2025
Fresh home from Orlando, Florida, Pete and Julie debrief on the ‘Super Bowl of Payroll,’ the 43rd annual Payroll Congress! They share a recap of the biggest week in payroll, including POV’s on key learning sessions, keynotes, and insights from the week. The new products and innovations making headlines, plus their thoughts on trends and takeaways from conversations around the event!
Connect with the show:
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0
X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR
BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky. social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0
--------
43:49
--------
43:49
Celebrating The Function That's Never Celebrated with Special Guest John Bernatovicz
On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome John Bernatovicz, founder and CEO of Willory, and author of ‘HR Like a Boss’!
John shares his inspiring journey behind his mission to elevate the HR profession with a passion rooted in resilience, community, and a vision to transform how people feel at work. From his early days at ADP to building a thriving consultancy and bestselling book – ‘HR Like a Boss’, John offers a candid take on the state of HR and payroll. John shares his lens on the value of investing in people, embracing technology, breaking down silos, and leading HR ‘like a boss.’ John shares why emotional intelligence and business fluency are the must-have skills for every HR leader. Plus, pro tips on ‘boss moves’ HR can make in the wake and face of constant volatility.
Connect with John:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbernatovicz/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Willory/videos
Willory: https://willory.com/
www.HRlikeaboss.com
Book: https://www.amazon.com/HR-Like-Boss-Amazingly-Awesome/dp/1586444417
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-like-a-boss-by-willory/id1531388217
Connect with the show:
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0
X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR
BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0
Join Pete A. Tiliakos and Julie Fernandez as they combine their unique HR and payroll industry knowledge, experience, and POV’s for highly authentic conversations that unpack the key trends, challenges, and opportunities facing HR and Payroll leaders today!
South Africa