HR Happy Hour Network

Moments That Matter and Shape Employee Trust: Lessons from SHRM 2026
Host: Steve Boese
Guests: Tom Fischer, Marketing Leader
Brian Elfrink, Product Leader
Troy Hupp, Product Leader for Employee Verifications
Erin Derby, Sr. Director, Partners and Alliances

Summary
In this special episode of the HR Happy Hour recorded live at SHRM 2026, Steve Boese brings together insights from four conversations with leaders from Experian Employer Services to explore how compliance, HR technology, and connected systems influence the moments employees remember most. From onboarding and employment verification to workforce compliance and HR technology ecosystems, this episode examines how organizations can reduce friction, build trust, and create better employee experiences during life's biggest moments.
Whether an employee is starting a new job, buying a home, relocating, or navigating changing regulations, the systems supporting those experiences matter more than ever.

Topics include:
Why compliance has become an essential part of the employee experience
How employment verification impacts major life events like home purchases and government benefits
The growing importance of connected HR technology ecosystems
Why automation should enhance—not replace—human service
How organizations can balance innovation, compliance, and employee trust
Practical advice for evaluating HR technology partners
Why the "back office" increasingly defines the employee experience


Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.
Nearly 9 in 10 HR leaders say they don't have a strong leadership bench. Workhuman's Future Leaders gives organizations a smarter way to build one. Future Leaders is the first talent intelligence solution to identify high-potential VP+ talent already within your workforce—up to four years before promotion. Using proprietary AI and real-time recognition data, it uncovers the leadership signals hidden in everyday work long before traditional succession planning can. It's a smarter, data-driven approach to building tomorrow's leaders. Learn more at Workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

How Leaders Can Build AI-Native Organizations
Host: Steve Boese
Guests: Brian Solis, Head of Global Innovation - Dave Wright, Chief Innovation Officer, ServiceNow

Summary
On this episode of System of Record, Steve Boese is joined by Dave Wright and Brian Solis, co-authors of Infinite: How Leaders Transform Businesses with AI, for a conversation about what it really takes to become an AI-native organization. Rather than focusing on AI tools alone, they explore why successful transformation requires organizations to rethink leadership, redesign workflows, and build cultures that can continuously adapt.
The discussion challenges leaders to move beyond using AI solely for efficiency and begin leveraging it to create entirely new ways of working. From organizational design to workflow orchestration, the episode offers practical insights into what separates companies that simply adopt AI from those that use it to reinvent their business. Whether you're leading HR, IT, operations, or enterprise strategy, this conversation provides a thoughtful framework for preparing your organization for the next era of work.

Topics include:
Why AI represents a fundamentally different transformation than previous technology waves.
What it means to build an "infinite company" designed for continuous adaptation.
How leadership must evolve to support AI-driven organizations.
Why workflow design is becoming one of the most important competitive advantages.
The difference between using AI for operational efficiency and using it to drive innovation.
How organizational culture, trust, and curiosity influence successful AI adoption.


Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.
We talk a lot on this show about where HR is headed — and one of the most exciting developments I’ve seen lately is what Workhuman is doing with Future Leaders. Future Leaders is the first talent intelligence tool of its kind, helping companies identify high-potential VP+ talent already inside their organization — up to 4 years before they step into the role. And it’s not based on gut instinct or visibility. Using real-time recognition data and proprietary AI, it reveals who’s already influencing and elevating the people around them. Future Leaders from Workhuman is setting a new standard for internal talent development. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

Leadership Development, No Budget Required
Host: Sabrina Baker

Summary
Small businesses run on homegrown leaders, high performers promoted into management with zero support for the completely different skill set that role actually requires. Sabrina argues that leadership development is already happening in every organization, whether intentional or not, because new leaders learn by watching everyone above them. If those role models are bad, the org just keeps reproducing the same gaps.
With no budget for formal programs, she walks through ways to build leadership development into work that's already happening: asking questions instead of handing managers answers, using real business misses as leadership case studies in team meetings, running one-on-ones that surface what managers actually need, pulling engagement survey data to make the case for support, and running informal lunch-and-learns during meetings that already exist.
None of it requires CEO sign-off or a line item just intention about turning everyday moments into development.

Key Topics
Promoting from within can enhance morale and engagement.
Onboarding programs are crucial for small businesses.
Leadership development can happen informally through daily interactions.
Assuming individual contributors will be great leaders is a mistake.
Real business problems can be used as learning opportunities.


Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.
We talk a lot on this show about where HR is headed — and one of the most exciting developments I’ve seen lately is what Workhuman is doing with Future Leaders. Future Leaders is the first talent intelligence tool of its kind, helping companies identify high-potential VP+ talent already inside their organization — up to 4 years before they step into the role. And it’s not based on gut instinct or visibility. Using real-time recognition data and proprietary AI, it reveals who’s already influencing and elevating the people around them. Future Leaders from Workhuman is setting a new standard for internal talent development. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

AI and the Next Evolution of Performance Management
Host: Steve Boese
Guest: Brian Hancock, Partner at McKinsey & Company

Summary
On this episode of At Work in America, Steve Boese sits down with Brian Hancock, Partner at McKinsey & Company, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of human resources.
Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for people, Brian explains how organizations can use it to strengthen the human side of work - from improving performance management and coaching to creating more meaningful employee experiences. The conversation explores where AI can reduce administrative burden, provide better insights for managers, and help employees grow while maintaining trust and transparency. Steve and Brian also discuss one of the biggest challenges organizations face today: balancing personalized employee experiences with concerns around privacy, surveillance, and ethical AI use. As companies continue investing in AI-powered HR technology, leaders must ensure these tools enhance relationships instead of replacing them.
Whether you're an HR leader, people manager, or executive preparing your organization for the future of work, this episode offers practical insights into using AI responsibly while keeping people at the center of every decision.

Topics include:
How AI is changing day-to-day HR operations
Ways AI can support better coaching and manager effectiveness
How organizations can build trust while introducing AI-powered tools
The importance of balancing personalization with employee privacy
Why successful AI adoption depends as much on culture as technology
What HR leaders should be preparing for as AI capabilities continue to evolve


Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.
We talk a lot on this show about where HR is headed — and one of the most exciting developments I’ve seen lately is what Workhuman is doing with Future Leaders. Future Leaders is the first talent intelligence tool of its kind, helping companies identify high-potential VP+ talent already inside their organization — up to 4 years before they step into the role. And it’s not based on gut instinct or visibility. Using real-time recognition data and proprietary AI, it reveals who’s already influencing and elevating the people around them. Future Leaders from Workhuman is setting a new standard for internal talent development. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

How AI and Assumptions are Shaping Hiring in 2026
Hosts: Mervyn Dinnen
Guest: Ken Ward, Talent Acquisition Leader

Summary
On this episode of HR Means Business, Mervyn is joined by talent acquisition leader Ken Ward to explore what today's hiring market looks like from the perspective of an experienced executive candidate.
Drawing on more than 30 years in talent acquisition, Ken shares what he's learned while navigating his own career transition, including how AI is changing recruitment, why judgment still matters more than technology, and how senior professionals can rethink visibility, networking, and career positioning. He also discusses how studying counseling has changed the way he approaches leadership, decision-making, and professional resilience.
The conversation offers a thoughtful look at hiring from both sides of the table and challenges many of the assumptions surrounding AI, executive recruiting, and the future of talent acquisition.

Key Takeaways
Why senior talent acquisition professionals face unique challenges in today's hiring market
How AI is influencing recruiting—and where human judgment remains essential
The changing role of LinkedIn, personal branding, and professional visibility
Why hiring decisions should prioritize curiosity and critical thinking over certainty
How counseling skills can strengthen leadership, recruiting, and career resilience
Practical advice for experienced professionals navigating career transitions

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.
We talk a lot on this show about where HR is headed — and one of the most exciting developments I’ve seen lately is what Workhuman is doing with Future Leaders. Future Leaders is the first talent intelligence tool of its kind, helping companies identify high-potential VP+ talent already inside their organization — up to 4 years before they step into the role. And it’s not based on gut instinct or visibility. Using real-time recognition data and proprietary AI, it reveals who’s already influencing and elevating the people around them. Future Leaders from Workhuman is setting a new standard for internal talent development. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.