Nine To Thrive HR

In this episode of Nine to Thrive HR, host Cindy Koetzle speaks with OrgChart CEO Tom McCarty about why strategic workforce planning is more important than ever as organizations face rapid growth, transformation, and the growing influence of AI. The conversation explores how leaders can better prepare for the future by defining a clear long-term vision, understanding their current organizational structure and talent landscape, and continuously monitoring progress through scenario planning and agile decision-making. They also discuss the limits of spreadsheet-based planning and the value of visual, real-time workforce data in helping HR leaders move beyond administrative tasks and into more strategic, human-centered conversations that support both business goals and employee success.

The workplace is shifting again and HR is caught in the middle. In this episode, we explore isolved’s HR’s New Balancing Act: 7 Trends to Watch in 2026 report and what it reveals about today’s talent market, the rise of AI in HR and the growing importance of trust and clarity.

From rethinking hiring and upskilling to simplifying benefits and protecting employee data, this conversation breaks down how HR leaders can balance business needs with employee expectations and turn change into a strategic advantage in 2026.

After surveying over 1,000 HR leaders, AbsenceSoft's 2026 State of Leave and Accommodations report revealed that the nature of leave and accommodations requests has fundamentally shifted in ways most compliance professionals aren't prepared for. For the third year running, caseloads continue climbing, but it's not just the volume that's changed. The types of requests employees are making, the tools HR teams are using to manage them, and the compliance risks lurking in seemingly helpful shortcuts are creating a perfect storm. If you're still managing your programs the way you did three years ago, or if you think AI is just a future concern, this conversation will change how you think about risk, resources, and what it takes to stay compliant in 2026.

Host Cindi Koetzle welcomes David Ly, CEO and Founder of Iveda, for a practical conversation on how AI is moving from buzzword to business-critical tool in HR, learning, and operations. Drawing on more than two decades in AI-powered video and vision technology, David explains why AI is suddenly “everywhere” now—affordable computing power, accessible interfaces, and off-the-shelf solutions—despite having been in the background of our lives for years in tools like streaming recommendations and automated data organization. He and Cindi explore how AI can transform onboarding and training by using video, computer vision, and augmented reality to capture best practices from tenured employees, provide real-time guidance to new hires, and act as a “force multiplier” for coaches and trainers. They also tackle employee concerns about job loss, reframing AI as a shift in roles rather than a replacement for humans, and discuss how better training, fewer errors, and faster support ultimately improve customer experience and ROI.

Host Cindi Koetzle welcomes Robert Hargrove—author and founder of the Harvard Leadership Research Project, Masterful Coaching. Hargrove offers a window into his current experiences of HR practitioners existing in organizations' pre strategic business partner model. A bold reminder to continue the work of capability building to prepare, partner and perform alongside the business to elevate strategic HR roles into trusted, collaborative and valuable players. After Hargrove shares his observations of underutilized HR professionals, they talk change management, crafting a shared vision and building alignment—the latter demanding far more time, intention, and relationship-building. If you are interested in learning more about the Strategic Human Resource Business Partner model certification course, check us out at hci.org