Cracking the Code on Merit: A Guide to Inclusive Hiring
In this episode of People + Strategy, Thomas A. Cole, chair emeritus of the Sidley Austin law firm, reflects on the leadership lessons that shaped his 47-year career. He reveals why true meritocracy depends on character, humility, and what he calls “selfless ambition.” Cole explains how leaders can avoid the trap of building weak benches, why feedback is a gift, and how credentialism can hold organizations back. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to grow talent and teams that make better decisions to create inclusive workplaces.
For more on merit and inclusion in the workplace, register for BLUEPRINT: https://conference.shrm.org/blueprint
Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr
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Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r
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Speaking the CEO’s Language: How HR Can Connect Strategy to Metrics
In this episode of People + Strategy, Bob Goodwin, president of Career Club, unpacks why HR leaders must speak the language of CEOs and CFOs to secure influence in the boardroom. Drawing on research, case studies, and his work with executives, Bob reveals how financial fluency, business acumen, and data-driven storytelling can elevate HR from a “soft” function to a strategic driver of growth. Learn how CHROs can bridge the disconnect with the C-Suite to stay indispensable in an era of cost pressures and AI disruption.
Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr
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Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career.
Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r
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Culture Over Ego: How Booking.com Aligns 24,000 Employees Worldwide
What does it take to create a thriving, low-ego culture in a global organization with 24,000 employees? Paulo Pisano, CHRO of Booking Holdings and CPO of Booking.com, shares how he connects culture to strategy, leverages customer dashboards and engagement metrics to benchmark success, and drives alignment across international teams. Discover why resisting the influence of the HiPPO (highest paid person’s opinion) is essential for effective decision making and gain practical insights to elevate your own organizational culture.
Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr
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Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r
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Becoming an Employer of Choice: Lessons from Cook County
In this episode of People + Strategy, Velisha Haddox shares her journey from commercial litigator to CHRO of the Cook County Government in Illinois, revealing the critical role of consistency, transparency, and executive support in driving change. Hear how Cook County’s HR team reduced attrition, modernized job architecture, and enhanced employee benefits to attract top talent. Discover actionable strategies for turning around HR departments, fostering executive alignment, and becoming an employer of choice, even in complex public sector environments.
Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr --- Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r
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The Power of Risk-Taking in HR Leadership and Career Growth
In this episode of People + Strategy, Stephen Childs, CHRO at Panasonic Automotive discusses the importance of embracing risk in the workplace, especially as the HR role continues to grow. Childs shares how he built influence across the C-suite and how volunteering for tough assignments throughout his career accelerated his development. Discover how Panasonic Automotive scaled from 400 to 8,000 employees, navigated major acquisitions, and cultivated a resilient culture — demonstrating business accretive as a result.
Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr
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Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r
People and Strategy is a podcast from the SHRM Executive Network delivering in-depth conversations with HR executives and people leaders to advance the field of human resources by providing engagement and thought leadership to senior executives. Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network at https://www.shrm.org/executive.
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