Shows
FrequencyHalf Feel Engaged Yet Plan to Leave: Bullshit Jobs, the Clarity Crisis and RTO as Stealth LayoffsIn this episode of Frequency, Jenni Field and Chuck Gose dig into four stories that, taken together, make a pretty uncomfortable case: that modern work is increasingly built on theatre and ambiguity.
From a personal essay that went viral, to engagement data from two continents, to the real story behind return-to-office mandates, this episode asks what happens when the structures organisations rely on stop working - and nobody says anything.
The first story is a personal essay from someone who confessed to spending an entire year at a software company doing no work - and...
2026-05-0439 min
Chatter that MattersFollow Your Passion - Elysia Racanelli and Jonathan RoyMy advice to anyone is this. If you can, follow your passion. Follow it to where it brings you intellectual and emotional rewards, a sense of purpose and place, and in this volatile world, always have a Plan B. This is why I am so excited to introduce my two guests this week. Elysia Racanelli is a family doctor by day and avant-garde singer by night, whose haunting voice and commanding stage presence will stop you in your tracks. Jonathan Roy is the son of Patrick Roy, one of the greatest goaltenders of all time...
2026-03-1239 min
Chatter that MattersDo it Yourself, But Do It. The k3 Sisters BandThis week's podcast is for all who are dealing with the reality that their future will not look like the past. There will be no neatly paved road. No ladder with perfectly placed rungs. Instead, there will be relentless headwinds, industries reshaped by technology and marketplaces rendered by global forces. Jobs will collapse, and new ones will emerge. Which is why I invited The k3 Sisters Band to join me this week. Three sisters who chose to make their destiny a matter of choice, rather than leave it to chance. Homeschooled. Fourth-generation musicians. As children...
2026-02-2629 min
UC TodayHalting Technology Fatigue with Intentional Tech DeploymentsIn this UC Today interview, host Kristian McCann sits down with Sabra Sciolaro, Chief People Officer at FirstUp, to unpack the growing problem of tech fatigue in modern workplaces.Technology is meant to make work easier — but for many employees, it’s doing the opposite. In this conversation, Sciolaro explains how constant platform changes, tool sprawl, and fragmented communication channels are creating attention fatigue, slowing execution, and draining momentum across organizations.Key takeaways include:🔵 Why tech fatigue isn’t just about “too many tools,” but about constant change, poor orchestration, and lack of clarity🔵 How att...
2026-02-0309 minUC TodayHalting Technology Fatigue with Intentional Tech DeploymentsIn this UC Today interview, host Kristian McCann sits down with Sabra Sciolaro, Chief People Officer at FirstUp, to unpack the growing problem of tech fatigue in modern workplaces.Technology is meant to make work easier — but for many employees, it’s doing the opposite. In this conversation, Sciolaro explains how constant platform changes, tool sprawl, and fragmented communication channels are creating attention fatigue, slowing execution, and draining momentum across organizations.Key takeaways include:🔵 Why tech fatigue isn’t just about “too many tools,” but about constant change, poor orchestration, and lack of clarity🔵 How att...
2026-02-0309 minUC TodayHalting Technology Fatigue with Intentional Tech DeploymentsIn this UC Today interview, host Kristian McCann sits down with Sabra Sciolaro, Chief People Officer at FirstUp, to unpack the growing problem of tech fatigue in modern workplaces.Technology is meant to make work easier — but for many employees, it’s doing the opposite. In this conversation, Sciolaro explains how constant platform changes, tool sprawl, and fragmented communication channels are creating attention fatigue, slowing execution, and draining momentum across organizations.Key takeaways include:🔵 Why tech fatigue isn’t just about “too many tools,” but about constant change, poor orchestration, and lack of clarity.🔵 How att...
2026-02-0209 min
Experience-Focused Leaders19 – How to Connect Frontline Workers to Strategy and CultureYour host Alex Shevelenko welcomes Nicole Alvino, a pioneering leader in employee experience and founder of FirstUp, a platform that connects organizations with their workforce at scale. With experience building technology solutions for some of the world’s largest companies, Nicole helps enterprises engage frontline employees, drive alignment, and create meaningful workplace experiences through personalization and innovative communication strategies.In this conversation, Nicole talks about the challenges companies face in connecting with their entire workforce, why personalized and hyper-relevant communication is critical for engagement and performance, and how leaders can foster a people-first culture while scaling globally. Sh...
2026-01-0951 min
HR Office HoursLiked, Disliked, and LinkedIn DramaIn this episode, we discuss whether middle management is dead, if HR is your friend, a ridiculous (to us) employee relations investigations, and give props to managers who mentored us. Articles we read for reference: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracylawrence/2025/04/08/burnout-by-design-how-cutting-middle-management-affects-company-culture/ https://www.fastcompany.com/91377552/middle-management-is-dead https://firstup.io/press-release/shrinking-middle-management-layer-puts-pressure-on-workplace-communication-and-engagement/
2025-11-0443 min
Cruising AltitudeThe Ripple Effect: How Employee Experience Shapes Customer Relations with Matthew Owenby, Chief Strategy Officer at AflacThis episode of Cruising Altitude features a conversation with Matthew Owenby, Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Services Executive at Aflac. Matthew and host Nicole Alvino discuss Aflac's commitment to fostering a supportive and respectful workplace culture, which translates into authentic and empathetic customer interactions. The discussion covers Aflac's hiring processes, their focus on dignity and respect, and how AI can enhance the employee experience.Quotes“ The employee experience here is built in the foundation and really a philosophy that if you take care of your employees, they're going to take care of the company and take...
2025-07-3031 minCruising AltitudeBuilding a Culture of Support and Trust: Strategies for People Leaders with Jess Harrah, CPO at KinderCareThis episode of Cruising Altitude features a conversation with Jess Harrah, Chief People Officer at KinderCare, a leading provider in early childhood and school-age education and care. Jess and host Nicole Alvino discuss KinderCare's commitment to supporting its 35,000 employees and nearly 200,000 working families nationwide. They explore the importance of employee engagement, the impact of offering childcare benefits, and the strategies KinderCare implements to maintain a positive work culture.Quotes“ We really depend on our center directors and our district leaders who are the local leadership to really be there. And again, we're a relationship business. So t...
2025-06-1127 minCruising AltitudeThe Power of Perspective: How Colgate-Palmolive Champions Diverse ThinkingThis episode of Cruising Altitude features a conversation with Sally Massey, Chief Human Resources Officer at Colgate-Palmolive. Sally and host Nicole Alvino discuss key strategies for building a stronger and more innovative workforce through upskilling, creating personalized employee experiences, and leveraging diverse perspectives. Sally shares her experiences and insights from her nearly 25-year tenure at Colgate, including the importance of communication, inclusion, employee trust, and adapting to changing employee expectations. The conversation also highlights how AI and continuous learning initiatives contribute to employee development and organizational growth.Quotes“ We upskilled everyone so that everybody understood the...
2025-05-2827 minCruising AltitudeFrom Onboarding to Retire: Crafting an Exceptional Employee Journey at EYThis episode of Cruising Altitude features a conversation with Ginnie Carlier, Vice Chair of Talent for the Americas at EY. Together, Ginnie and host Nicole Alvino discuss strategies for creating extraordinary employee experiences. They discuss the importance of wellbeing, career agility, and cutting-edge technology in shaping these experiences. Ginnie shares innovative approaches such as the Vitality Index and customizable wellbeing funds, which cater to individual employee needs. The conversation delves into the impact of AI in the workplace, emphasizing AI training and development for both new and existing employees. Ginnie highlights the significance of empathetic leadership and human connection...
2025-05-1435 min
First Up: Brought To You By ISAC*Episode 36: Spring Break
Welcome to another episode of First Up! In this special episode we are joined by ISAC's Community Outreach Specialist, Paul Oliver, to share a few suggestions and safety tips for our high school and college students going on spring break. We hope these suggestions and tips are helpful!
Have a question or story you'd like to share? Email us at Isac.firstup@illinois.gov
2025-03-1929 minCruising AltitudeNavigating Transformation at Siemens: Leadership, AI, and the Human ElementThis episode of Cruising Altitude features a conversation with Alexander Senn, Head of People & Organization at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. Together, Alex and host Nicole Alvino discuss employee engagement and organizational culture. Alex shares insights about his role overseeing people and organizational development within Siemens' smart infrastructure division. Key topics include employee segmentation for improved experience, the role of leadership in transformation journeys, and the use of AI for productivity and innovation. Alex also shares the concept of the 'Rhino View' to highlight different perspectives in decision-making, and stresses the importance of open communication and continuous leadership development. Lastly, the...
2025-03-0531 minCruising AltitudeElevate Your Workforce: Insights from the ISS Americas C-SuiteThis episode of Cruising Altitude features a conversation with CIO Alice Fournier, CMO Marjorie McCarthy, and Head of People & Culture, CHRO Lisa Mitchell-Kastner of ISS Americas, hosted by Nicole Alvino, CEO and co-founder of Firstup. Together, they talk about how their collaborative efforts enhance the employee experience through technology and AI. The discussion covers the importance of personalized communication, data-driven decisions, and AI in recruitment and onboarding processes. The episode also explores the nuances of managing a diverse and extensive workforce and the role of continuous communication and change management in successful transformations.Quotes*” If we c...
2025-02-1941 minCruising AltitudeEmpowering Healthcare Professionals with AI: Insights from VillageMD's CHRO, Meredith WilliamsThis episode of Cruising Altitude features a conversation with Meredith Williams, CHRO at VillageMD, hosted by Nicole Alvino, CEO and co-founder of Firstup. Together, Nicole and Meredith discuss the integration of AI to improve the digital employee experience in healthcare. They talk about how AI can take over mundane tasks, allowing healthcare providers to spend more time with patients, which increases both patient and physician satisfaction. Meredith outlines her role overseeing HR at VillageMD, the challenges of managing a diverse workforce, and the importance of personalized employee experiences using data collected from various feedback tools. The conversation also touches...
2025-02-0527 minCruising AltitudeCisco’s Formula for Building Engagement in Complex Workforces with Joey Wilkerson, Sr. Manager, M&A Employee Experience and Change ManagementThis episode of Cruising Altitude features a conversation with Joey Wilkerson, Sr. Manager, M&A Employee Experience and Change Management at Cisco, hosted by Nicole Alvino, CEO and co-founder of Firstup. Together, Nicole and Joey discuss strategies for fostering an engaging and purposeful workplace, focusing on internal talent movement, onboarding, and integrating new employees post-acquisition. Joey shares insights on creating a connected employee experience through personalization, leveraging AI, and aligning with Cisco's culture. The conversation highlights successful practices in employee engagement, cultural integration, and future trends in employee experience.Quotes* ”We have to always think abou...
2025-01-2235 min
Human Capital LeadershipThe Role of Communication in Boosting Employee Experience and Connection, with Nicole AlvinoIn this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Nicole Alvino about the role of communication in employee experience, and how intelligent communication can be used to boost employee engagement and connection.
Nicole Alvino (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolealvino/) is a visionary entrepreneur and CEO with a passion for transforming the employee experience. As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Firstup, a leading enterprise SaaS company, Nicole is responsible for driving innovation and growth in employee experience, engagement and communications. She believes that investing in employees is key to building high performance cultures that...
2025-01-1424 minFirst Up: Brought To You By ISAC*Episode 27: FriendsmasIn this holiday themed episode, our host are joined by members of ISAC to discuss their family holiday traditions, movie favorites, and the importance of coming together. This episode is filled with plenty of friendly banter and interesting questions!
Want to join in on the fun? Send your answer(s) to the question(s) listed below to isac.firstup@illinois.gov
1) Favorite holiday movie?
2) Real tree or fake tree?
3) One family tradition?
To hear more about Michael Norton's "Ritual Effect" visit: https://www.familyactionnetwork.net/events/the-ritual-effect-from-habit-to-ritual-harness-the-surprising-power-of-everyday-actions/
2024-12-1858 minFirst Up: Brought To You By ISACEpisode 25: Everything Comes At Its Own TimeIn this episode of First Up, we hear from second year ISACorps member, Ines Garcia-Valdivia. We had a great conversation about mentorship, finding resources, asking for help and learning how to move at your own pace.
Have a question or story you'd like to share? Email us at isac.firstup@Illinois.gov .
2024-12-0454 minFirst Up: Brought To You By ISACWelcome to Season 2!Happy National First Gen Day! We're excited to announce that our first episode of season two will be live next Wednesday, November 13th!
Have a question or story you'd like to share? Email us at isac.firstup@Illinois.gov .
2024-11-0801 minCruising AltitudeTaking Employee Engagement to New Heights with Elizabeth Bryant of Southwest AirlinesThis episode of Cruising Altitude features a conversation with Elizabeth Bryant, Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Southwest Airlines, hosted by Nicole Alvino, CEO and co-founder of FirstUp. Elizabeth and Nicole discuss the importance of employee engagement and its impact on organizational success. The conversation explores Southwest's employee-centered approach, leadership development strategies, and the link between employee treatment and customer experience. Bryant shares insights on creating a culture of learning, valuing employee contributions, and fostering an environment that supports growth and innovation across Southwest's 75,000-strong workforce. Listeners gain valuable lessons on personalized employee journeys and the significance...
2024-10-2536 minCruising AltitudeHR Innovation at Diageo: A Conversation with Brittany PolancoThis episode of Cruising Altitude features a conversation with Brittany Polanco, Director of HR Innovation at Diageo, hosted by Nicole Alvino, CEO and co-founder of FirstUp. They discuss the critical role of leadership in shaping the energy and attitude of work, whether in-person or remote. Brittany shares insights on the importance of empowering leaders, co-creating employee experiences, and driving organizational innovation. They also explore the integration of AI in HR and the future of the HR function. Brittany, who has over 10 years of HR experience including roles at Hilton Worldwide and PepsiCo, emphasizes the need for leaders to have...
2024-10-0233 min
INNOV-8 Presents: Entrepreneurs in TechGregory Shove on the Realities of Building a Business & Overcoming Tech Industry ChallengesIn this episode, Gregory Shove, CEO of Section and serial entrepreneur, shares his journey through the tech industry. He opens up about his experiences with building companies, finding product-market fit, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. Greg also touches on his past ventures like FirstUp, the realities of pivoting, and balancing personal well-being with business success. Plus, he shares his insights on AI and the misconceptions many organizations face when adopting it. Don’t miss his thoughts on the importance of relationships, passion, and hard work in building a successful business!
2024-09-2352 min
I Hate It HereS4 E10: From Quiet Quitting to Active Leaving, with Q Hamirani“If you dislike the company so much, then why don’t you just leave?”At some point, we’ve all been given that advice from a friend or a loved one about a job we couldn’t stomach. Yet, chances are good, we probably kept it for several months after that advice was doled out.So why don’t employees leave when they’ve overstayed their welcome? And when is it time for HR to give them a nudge in the right direction?Q Hamirani, an executive coach and advisor talks with Hebba about what hap...
2024-06-2447 minI Hate It HereS4 E9: Getting Personal: How Individualized Communications Boost Morale, with Nicole Alvino of FirstupIf anyone preaches to you about the power of authenticity in the workplace, pay attention when it’s coming from an ex-Enron employee who has a few thoughts about how a little honesty can go a long way for a company. Needless to say Nicole Alvino knows a thing or two about the value of authentic leadership, thanks to her early Enron experience. As the current CEO and Founder of Firstup, she’s on a mission to revolutionize intelligent, personalized employee communication and to deliver a phenomenal employee experience.She chats with Hebba about how perso...
2024-06-1743 minI Hate It HereS4 E8: The Real Reason New Hires Don’t Stick Around, with Rhona PierceWith grandiose job descriptions, and rose-tinted portrayals of the workplace, is it really any wonder there are a lot of problems in recruiting boiling underneath the surface??A lot of retention problems actually start in the recruiting process.. Is it that far of a stretch to understand why new hires are noping out of fresh jobs in the first six months?Def not. In the quest to find the perfect hire, job descriptions and interview tactics often portray a false image of what the position actually entails. So why aren’t recr...
2024-06-1046 minI Hate It HereS4 E7: I Wish I Knew How to Quit You: RyanMae McAvoy on Leaving HRIn HR, quitting is a part of the job. But no one talks about what happens when HR is ready to quit HR. RyanMae McAvoy, Senior Director of People Operations at Blackthorn.io, joins Hebba to unpack quitting from an HR-centric point of view. When is it time to call it quits? And what factors are the primary motivators behind discontentedness in HR? RyanMae and Hebba break down the emotional aspects of leaving a job, explain why community is pivotal in decision-making, and reveal the greatest challenges faced by HR professionals on a day-to-day basis. Th...
2024-06-0357 minI Hate It HereS4 E6: Is Constant Change Why Employees Quit?Change doesn’t come easy— in fact, it can be downright disruptive, And worse yet, it’s often at the forefront of employee turnover. So how can HR leaders prevent change from becoming an unmanageable force? Keynote speaker Tiffany Lanier drops by to chat with Hebba about the widespread impact of organizational change, and to explain how massive restructuring can impact employee well-being. Having helped thousands of leaders develop systems of support during intense change, Tiffany reveals why change management is a core skill for HR professionals. She explains how, by embracing change, employees can improve...
2024-05-2852 minI Hate It HereS4 E5: Dear Hebba: HR’s Juiciest Questions Answered, with Erica SpitaleHow can you help employees when a company is small and has limited growth opportunities? What happens when an employer insists there’s a dress code… but only for curvier employees? Hebba and talent strategist/culture connoisseur Erica Spitale tackle some super juicy questions submitted by listeners. From navigating terminations without legal repercussions to encouraging CEOs to offer more health benefits, they’re tackling a wide range of topics that any HR professional or leader can relate to.Tune in as Hebba and Erica break down the importance of trust in the workplace, go over the chal...
2024-05-2056 minI Hate It HereS4 E4: Top Tier Retention Strategies, with Stephen and Daniel HuertaRetaining top talent looks easy on paper. So why then, do so many companies have difficulty with their retention strategies? Hebba chats with “Modern People Leader” podcast hosts Daniel and Stephen Huerta about personalization in the age of information, the rise of AI, and the best ways companies can boost their retention strategies. Having spoken to over 200 people leaders on their pod, Daniel and Stephen understand a thing or two about the importance of a great people ops team.They break down why trust is so important in the workplace and explain how it can help...
2024-05-1359 min
SheSaas UnpluggedReimagining Leadership with Firstup's Founder & CEO, Nicole AlvinoJoin us as we sit down with Nicole Alvino, the visionary Co-founder and CEO of Firstup, as she charts a course for pioneering leadership in the ever-evolving landscape of SaaSIn this episode, Nicole traces her journey from co-founding Social Chorus to helming Firstup, following its merger with Dynamic Signal in 2021 under the ownership of Sumeru Equity Partners. She reflects on the transformative moments and strategic insights that have shaped her trajectory as a leader in the SaaS ecosystem.Nicole delves into the intricacies of building a cohesive organisational culture amidst the backdrop of mergers...
2024-05-1037 minCruising AltitudeData Empowerment and Positive Culture: Insights from Tim Gerend at Northwestern MutualThis episode of Cruising Altitude features an insightful conversation with Tim Gerend, President at Northwestern Mutual. He previously served as Northwestern Mutual's Executive Vice President and Chief Distribution Officer. The discussion with host Nicole Alvino highlights the critical role of data in understanding and improving the employee experience, drawing a direct correlation to business success. Gerend shares his journey and the various leadership roles he's taken on at Northwestern Mutual, emphasizing the company's mission-driven culture and the focus on providing exceptional employee and client experiences. The conversation also explores the importance of technology, including AI, in creating efficiency and...
2024-04-1723 minCruising AltitudeMatching the Employee Experience to the Customer Experience with Shaelyn Otikor, SVP & Head of Global Digital Workplace Strategy at Northern Trust Asset ServicingThis episode features an interview with Shaelyn Otikor, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Digital Workplace Strategy at Northern Trust in the Asset Servicing business unit. The Asset Servicing business unit contains 15,000 of the company's 25,000 employees across 20 countries. Shaelyn has been with Northern Trust for over 28 years. And today, our host Nicole Alvino is talking with Shaelyn about re-engineering digital employee processes for greater efficiency, empowering employees to drive their own career at Northern Trust. and not being afraid to get in the weeds.Quotes*”As we think about digital employee experience, we have to...
2024-04-0331 min
The Rubber Boots Podcast"Snake Charmer" (S11E12)This week we are introduced to a new member of the pod, Sean the Snake Charmer. Jimmy has a very Jimmy-type incident at the supermarket, continues to boast about his 'V', and recaps his best physical yet. Sean notices something about Jimmy's hair, Stoff finds a slithery hypothetical, and Lester warns against the dangers of maple syrup. #ShoppingCartThief #GreatHair #RichHair #JimmysPhysical #Diddy #PorterGate #Cobra #SnakeCharmer#GamblingInSport #Ohtani #GeorgeClooney #Finito #TravisKelce #TaylorSwift #Swiftie #KellyAnneStitts #Euro #CopaAmerica #Poutine #Syrup #MapleSyrup #FirstUp
2024-03-291h 04
Scale with Strive Podcast'Crossing the $100m ARR Chasm' with Joe Marcin Welcome to the Scale with Strive podcast, the place where you come to listen to some of the world’s most influential leaders of the SaaS industry. 🚀I am your host, Adam Richardson and on today’s episode, I am excited to welcome Joe Marcin, CRO at FirstUp!With other 25 years’ experience in the Software Sales world, Joe is a 3 times CRO who has spent the last 10 years focussed on scaling companies across the $100m ARR chasm.Some of my key takeaways from our conversation were: 💡 How your Hiring Profile...
2024-03-261h 06Cruising AltitudeFizzing with Wisdom: PepsiCo’s HR Strategies for Success with Andrea FerraraThis episode features an interview with Andrea Ferrara, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for PepsiCo Beverages North America. PBNA is PepsiCo’s $21 billion beverage business and Global Foodservice with a portfolio that includes Pepsi, Gatorade, Rockstar Energy Drink, and more. Andrea is a 30-year veteran of PepsiCo and currently leads the HR function for their 60,000 employees across 400 locations in the U.S. and Canada. In this episode, host Nicole Alvino and Andrea discuss forming a psychological contract with employees early on, balancing standardization and customization of the employee experience, and building a change practice to agilely me...
2024-03-2030 minCruising AltitudeIntroducing Our New Host, Nicole Alvino!This episode features an interview with Nicole Alvino. Nicole is a visionary entrepreneur and CEO with a passion for transforming the employee experience. As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Firstup, a leading enterprise SaaS company, Nicole is responsible for driving innovation and growth in employee experience, engagement and communications. She believes that investing in employees is key to building high performance cultures that improve the top and bottom lines of any business, and is proud to call 40 of the Fortune 100 customers. In this episode, Nicole talks about how the employee experience starts with the pre-hire motion all...
2024-03-0619 minCruising AltitudeWelcome to Season 3 of Cruising Altitude! Welcome to Season 3 of Cruising Altitude, the podcast to help you deliver exceptional employee experiences at scale. This season, we’re introducing our new host, Nicole Alvino, founder and CEO of Firstup.The mission of our podcast is to help you deliver irresistible employee experiences so you are empowered to retain and grow your top people, deliver a high performance organizational culture, and ultimately move your business forward.This is hard at any size organization, but for those organizations with 30,000 employees or above, this brings additional challenges and opportunities to really elevate that employee experience. ...
2024-02-2801 min
Pipeline VisionariesScaling Success: Breaking Down Organizational SilosThis episode features an interview with Andy Nester, CMO at Firstup, the world’s first intelligent communication platform.In this episode, Andy gives us the scoop on why Firstup is the best in the business at delivering information to individual workers, how he and his team help large organizations personalize experiences for their workers, and his approach to in-depth problem solving for customers. Andy also shares about his work breaking down organizational silos and how that helps scale success for businesses. Key TakeawaysBuild communities based on who you’re specifically trying to serve. The mo...
2023-10-3145 min
FiredUp! - The Startup Marketing PodcastThe Role of the Fractional CMO with Alison MurdockIn many cases, fractional CMOs come into play when a CMO leaves a company and there is a gap to fill for someone that can continue leading the team and directing the strategy. The roles and responsibilities of a fractional CMO largely depend on the needs of a company and although intended to be a temporary fill, often lead to companies adopting a new structure with just a fractional CMO in place. Today, Alison Murdock of Trusted CMO is here to share the unique outsider perspective a Fractional CMO can bring to a business. This week, episode 03 of the...
2023-09-2844 min
The HR HuddleSpilling the Tea on HR Tech - Navigating HR tech drama: Acquisitions, data-driven insights, and return-to-work policies.Send us a textIn this episode of Spilling the Tea on HR Tech, Sapient Insights Group Chief Research Officer and Managing Partner, Stacey Harris, and Sapients Insights Group Director of Research, Cliff Stevenson, discuss the drama surrounding Deel's interest in acquiring Papaya Global, highlighting the significance of aligning tech partners with your organization's values and reputation. Lastly, they reflect on the growing importance of data-driven decision-making in HR and its impact on employee work-life balance.Key points covered include:↪️ Deel, a San Francisco-based HR company, acquires Papaya Global, shed...
2023-09-2137 min
Rebel HR Podcast: Life and Work on Your TermsRevolutionizing Workplace Communication with Nicole Alvino, CEO of FirstUpSend us a textIntroduction:In this episode, we are joined by Nicole Alvino, the co-founder and CEO of FirstUp, an intelligent communication platform for the workplace. Nicole shares her journey from her early career at Enron to founding FirstUp and her passion for improving employee experience and leadership communication. Discover how FirstUp is transforming the way organizations connect with their workforce, particularly deskless workers, and the role of AI in enhancing communication effectiveness.Join us as we sit down with Nicole Alvino, a pioneering entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of FirstUp, a...
2023-09-0634 minCruising AltitudeHow to Create One Employee Superapp to Rule Them All with Richard McColl, VP of People Technology at WalmartThis episode features an interview with Richard McColl, Vice President of People Technology at Walmart. Richard applies Human Centric Design, Design Thinking, AI, and Technology to the associate experience at Walmart. Prior to joining Walmart, Richard served IBM for over 18 years, having held several leadership roles including Vice President and Senior Partner, Talent Technology Practice Leader. And on this episode, Richard is discussing the ins and outs of Walmart’s Superapp, applying design thinking to the employee journey, and crafting one seamless digital experience that can do everything from inform employees about their credit score to support their mental we...
2023-07-0528 min
NOW of WorkHow Intelligent Communication Boosts Efficiency & Productivity, Making It Easier for Employees to PerformDo 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 work...
2023-06-2358 minCruising AltitudeThe Human Factor: Jami Schultz Unlocks the Power of People at Canon USAThis episode features an interview with Jami Schultz, Senior Director of Employee Relations and Development at Canon USA. Canon is a leading provider of consumer, B2B, and industrial digital imaging solutions. In her role, Jami makes sure employees love their jobs, and she solves people problems every day. In this episode, she’ll share what tools, ideas, and programs set her, the company, and employees up for success.Quotes*“Employee Relations is really the employee's first go-to person for any issues, questions relating to their employment experience. Whether it's about their career, their performance, if t...
2023-06-1439 min
Scaling with SumeruTicket Deflection Using AI: The Future of Scaling BusinessesThe groundbreaking emergence of AI in business has shattered the way many processes take place, kicking up efficiency and automation. This technology has been around for a while, but until recently it’s been received as hit or miss. It’s evident we are only scratching the surface with the potential use cases and in this week's episode we discuss one major application where AI offers scaling businesses an extremely enticing solution — streamlining internal and external communications.
Join our host Pejman Pourmousa, Operating Partner at Sumeru Equity Partners, who sits down with our latest guest, Rob Baker, VP of...
2023-06-0850 minCruising AltitudeBoosting Employee Productivity With a Digital Toolkit with Tope Sadiku, former Global Head of Digital Employee Experience at the Kraft Heinz CompanyThis episode features an interview with Tope Sadiku, former Global Head of Digital Employee Experience at the Kraft Heinz Company, one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world with $25 billion in global sales. Tope has recently moved into her new role as the Strategic Planning Lead, Transformation, Agile and Digital Revolution at Kraft Heinz where her focus is to increase employee productivity and creativity through the use of technology. And on this episode, Tope is describing her work and research on how we move, achieve objectives, connect, and collaborate between physical and virtual spaces....
2023-05-3127 minCruising AltitudeTransforming Your Business through High Performance Culture and Diversity with Marlon Sullivan, EVP and CHRO of Johnson ControlsThis episode features an interview with Marlon Sullivan, EVP and CHRO of Johnson Controls International. Johnson Controls is a world leader in smart buildings and creating safe, healthy, and sustainable spaces. Here, Marlon works in every part of human resources. He focuses on talent acquisition, retention, and leadership development while defining a high performance culture that includes diversity and inclusion. In this episode, Marlon defines a high performance culture, and what HR elements businesses should focus on. He also emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion for true positive transformation.Quotes“What is cri...
2023-05-1730 minCruising AltitudeHow to Foster Belonging in a Hybrid Workspace with Alice Fournier, CIO of ISS AmericasThis episode features an interview with Alice Fournier, CIO of ISS Americas, a workplace experience and facility management company that improves business performance and enjoyment. In her role as CIO, Alice drives technology-led transformation. She’s an experienced leader, and she’s dedicated to empowering her teams to grow and thrive. And on this episode, Alice is sharing how to foster belonging, equity, and opportunity in the workplace.Quotes*”Great leadership in a hybrid world has those elements of understanding, ‘When do I need to nudge my team? When do I need them here?’ And there's to...
2023-05-0447 min
Work and the FutureEpisode 97: How Can Companies Improve Communications?Getting worker communication right is difficult, but it is at the crux of running an effective organization and the technology that is supposed to help sometimes seems to make things worse. To talk about effective ways to use technology to improve communication, Linda Nazareth is joined on this episode by Nicole Alvino, Founder and CEO at workforce communications platform Firstup.
Guest:
Nicole Alvino is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder at Firstup, the world’s first intelligent communication platform – the SaaS platform used by 40 percent of Fortune 100 companies to connect with their people, design and deliv...
2023-04-2518 minCruising AltitudeHow to Market Your EX to Top Talent with Francesca Luthi, EVP and Chief Administrative Officer at AssurantThis episode features an interview with Francesca Luthi, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Assurant, a global business services company that supports, protects, and connects major consumer purchases. It’s a Fortune 500 company that spans 21 countries, and partners with leading brands to create an enhanced customer experience. At Assurant, Francesca oversees business functions to help execute the company’s overall strategy. This includes global human resources, brand and marketing, communications, corporate social responsibility, and more. She focuses on building up the company’s global brand and reputation among customers, employees and shareholders. And in this episode, she’ll share...
2023-04-1738 min
What Fuels YouNicole AlvinoNicole Alvino is the Founder and CEO of Firstup, a leading enterprise SaaS company in workforce engagement and intelligence. She is a passionate entrepreneur making millions of global employees more supported and productive and enterprise customers – including 40 of the Fortune 100 – more agile with workforce intelligence. Previously, was the Founder and CEO of Dermalounge and started her career at Enron where she learned important lessons about how to lead authentically and transparently. She received her BA in Economics and Japanese at Vanderbilt University and attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business for her MBA. See omnystudio.com/listener for p...
2023-04-1159 minCruising AltitudeHow to Create a Magnetic Employee Value Proposition with Michael Trout, VP and CHRO at State FarmThis episode features an interview with Michael Trout, VP and CHRO at State Farm, leaders in mutual insurance and the largest property, casualty, and auto insurance provider in the U.S., with over 60,000 employees. Michael has been with State Farm for more than 30 years, having served in different leadership positions including VP of Operations in Human Resources. And on this episode, Michael is discussing how to improve employee value proposition, why you should accept a lateral position change, and using AI to customize the digital employee experience.Quotes*”My director wanted somebody who understood the bu...
2023-03-1536 minCruising AltitudeHow to Improve your Digital EX Through Proactive Data and Analytics with Bill Taylor, Managing Director of MSCIThis episode features an interview with Bill Taylor, Managing Director at MSCI, a global leader in investment services and solutions. Bill has over 20 years of experience dedicated to managing the digital infrastructure at companies like JPMorgan Chase. He brings with him an “engineering mindset” of solving problems instead of just fixing them. And on this episode, Bill is discussing the benefits of shifting employee communications to video, why it’s important to offer accessibility options by default, and how MSCI leverages data to be proactive instead of reactive.Quotes*”We've changed the mindset of the team to...
2023-02-2332 minCruising AltitudeCruising Through Our 2022 Year in Review2022 was a year of exploring new heights on Cruising Altitude. So we wanted to share some highlights with you. In this episode, we’re looking back on our conversations with leaders at companies like Sony, Lockheed Martin, Sam’s Club, and more. And celebrating what we’ve learned from them about supporting a world class employee experience. Quotes*“I don't think experience is something that can be worked on. I think it's a fluid living, breathing entity. And I like to ask a question from our core team in HR and marketing, ‘What will bring more life t...
2023-01-0410 minCruising AltitudeChanging Employees’ Lives for the Better with Christopher Shryock, SVP and Chief People Officer at Sam’s ClubThis episode features an interview with Christopher Shryock, SVP and Chief People Officer at Sam’s Club, a chain of membership-only retail warehouses. They have 600 clubs nationwide and another 200 internationally. Christopher heads all things HR-related for the over 100,000 Sam’s Club Employees. Before Sam’s Club, he spent about 14 years at PepsiCo serving in global HR leadership roles. And on this episode, Christopher talks about why you should rethink hiring based on interviews, how to simplify employee processes, and the real reason why it pays to have a diverse workforce.Quotes*”Having one system is not suff...
2022-12-0735 minCruising AltitudeHow to Enable Your Employees From Desk to Horseback, an interview with Nadine Huggins, CHRO for the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceThis episode features an interview with Nadine Huggins, Chief Human Resources Officer for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada’s national police service. Nadine spent 20 years in public service before joining the RCMP in March of 2020 as Executive Director of Policies, Strategies and Programs. On this episode, Nadine shares with us how she enables employees even in the most remote regions of Canada, how she addresses the mental health risks of policing, and she even dispels myths about the iconic mountie.Quotes*”The very nature of policing as an occupation impacts an individual's overall health and...
2022-11-1843 minCruising AltitudeLessons on Company Culture from a 120-Year-Old Organization with Kristin Chapman, Managing Director of People and Culture at AAAThis episode features an interview with Kristin Chapman, Managing Director of People and Culture at AAA, the leader and advocate for safe mobility. Kristin brings to her role a background in cultural anthropology, which she is using to bring a unique perspective on how AAA has developed an internal brand as strong as its external legacy. On this episode, Kristin talks about developing new traditions, supporting employees through important transitions in their careers, and staying relevant over more than a century of business.Quotes*”Business partners are connectors, thought partners, advisors and solution finders. And re...
2022-10-2546 min
Yes, You Can LeadCNLL20 Who Are You Leading?Who Are You Leading?
We are leading people who base all decision off of feelings.
The reason that 50% of all marriages do not survive is because the don’t feel love for their spouse anymore.
Another example: the decline of high school sports and the increase of numbers in traveling sports.
Our children go to a team that will let them play.
We are no longer developing our children to understand their roles on a team.
Everyone is rewarded whether they win or lose
We are leading people who will not stay. (https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-long-should-an-employee-stay-at-a-job-2059796)
The med...
2022-10-2416 min
Empowering WorkplacesEmpowering Workplaces: How to Manage Communication Overload at WorkAs employees, we always want to be "in the know." And as employers, we want our workforce to have all the most important information. But, even with the best intentions, workers feel like they are either overwhelmed with information and can't keep up, or simply are not getting the information that's most important to them. We have so many more channels available than ever before, so what gives?Join us with our special guest Andy Nester, Chief Marketing Officer at Firstup, for a conversation about how to effectively manage getting the right information, at the right time.
2022-10-1935 minCruising AltitudeWorld Class, Local Touch: How the Best Employee Experience Balances Professionalism with Authenticity with Dan Weber, CHRO at Marsh McLennan Agency, SouthwestThis episode features an interview with Dan Weber, CHRO at Marsh McLennan Agency, Southwest. Marsh McLennan Agency is a global professional services firm that provides business insurance, employee health & benefits, retirement, and private client insurance solutions to organizations and individual clients. There, Dan leads the HR team and oversees compensation, benefits, onboarding, and more. On this episode, Dan talks with us about becoming a pied piper for talent, finding the sweet spot between responsibilities and compensation, and balancing professionalism and authenticity.Quotes*”We spend so much time in the business world focusing on our development ar...
2022-10-0543 minCruising AltitudeBuilding the Rails for Employee Success and Longevity with John Jordan, Head of The Academy at Bank of AmericaThis episode features an interview with John Jordan, Head of The Academy at Bank of America. He has been with Bank of America for nearly 20 years. Under his leadership, The Academy has received over 100 awards including becoming the first JD Power Certified Career Development organization. In his current role, John is responsible for serving Bank of America’s over 200,000 employees. He oversees employee onboarding, global learning and skill development for the company. And in this episode, he’s sharing with us how journey mapping the employee experience sets candidates up for success, how to identify candidates who may have othe...
2022-09-2149 minCruising AltitudeBuilt to Last: How Servant Leadership Can Power Your Business’ Legacy with Bala Sathyanarayanan, EVP & CHRO at Greif, Inc.This episode features an interview with Bala Sathyanarayanan, EVP & CHRO at Greif, Inc., a world-class global industrial packaging products and services provider. Grief is a legacy company, having been founded in 1877. It is also the 7th oldest publicly traded company in the United States with the same stock symbol. Prior to Greif, Bala served as EVP of Business Transformation and Human Resources at Xerox, and VP of Human Resources at Hewlett Packard. On this episode, Bala discusses how to develop an employee experience framework based on your business’ core values, how HR leaders are strategic partners to the business, an...
2022-09-0738 minCruising AltitudeHow to Deliver a First Class Employee Experience Across Your Markets with Paulo Pisano, Chief People Officer at Booking HoldingsThis episode features an interview with Paulo Pisano, Chief People Officer at Booking Holdings, the world’s leader in online travel that includes several brands including Booking.com, Priceline, and RentalCars.com. At Booking Holdings, he heads the people agenda for their 20,000 employees. In this episode, Paulo discusses how to present a strong value proposition to hook great talent, how he tunes in to each of their markets, and how to provide a consistent employee experience globally.Quotes*”By staying close to the realities and the dynamics of each of the markets we do business in...
2022-08-3129 minCruising AltitudeProviding Supportive HR for a Connected Employee Ecosystem with Melissa Marshall, VP of People and Organization at Banfield Pet HospitalThis episode features an interview with Melissa Marshall, Vice President of People and Organization at Banfield Pet Hospital, the largest veterinary practice in the U.S. Mel is responsible for leading the people strategy at Banfield, where she serves 20,000 associates including veterinarians and their staff. In this episode, Mel discusses how to use layers of technology to support communication among employees, how to increase diversity in a predominantly white profession, and the many ways Banfield is making the veterinary profession more accessible.Quotes*”It's so important to have that human connection. One of the things th...
2022-08-2542 minCruising AltitudeHow to Make Space for an Emotionally Intelligent Employee Experience with Alan Winters, Chief People Officer and Chief Diversity Officer at Teleperformance GroupThis episode features an interview with Alan Winters, Chief People Officer and Chief Diversity Officer at Teleperformance Group, the worldwide leader in outsourced omnichannel customer experience management. Alan is responsible for HR, learning and development, and talent acquisition at Teleperformance Group, which has over 420,000 employees across 88 countries around the world. Alan was born to lead a truly global and diverse company, having lived and traveled around the world with his family growing up. In this episode, Alan talks about trying out new technologies like the Metaverse, what it takes to be a certified Great Place to Work, and how...
2022-08-0137 minCruising AltitudeHow to Establish and Maintain Brand Integrity with Greg Sexton, COO at Century 21 Real Estate LLCThis episode features an interview with Greg Sexton, Chief Operating Officer at Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Greg has been with Anywhere Real Estate, Century 21’s parent company, for over a decade and has received numerous awards for his leadership. As COO, Greg leads both domestic and international operations including tech tools and apps, learning, and he oversees the field servicing staff. In this episode, Greg talks about the best-in-class tech tools Century 21 offers to employees, how to maintain the integrity of your brand, and having a game plan ready so your team knows exactly what to do in any ch...
2022-06-2940 min
First Up PodcastFirstup - The Podcast, Monday 27 JuneOn today's First Up pod - we review day 4 at the January 6 insurrection hearings; we ask the Deputy Prime Minister if it's time we move to the Red alert level setting to ease pressure on the country's emergency departments and with only one sleep to go until the first-ever Matariki public holiday, we preview RNZ's coverage and hear how youngsters will be celebrating First Up - Voice of the Nathan!
2022-06-2647 minCruising AltitudeLeading Employees to Professional Fulfillment with Theresa Alesso, President of Sony Electronics’ Imaging Products and Solutions Americas DivisionThis episode features an interview with Theresa Alesso, President of Sony Electronics’ Imaging Products and Solutions Americas Division. She has been with Sony for over 30 years in various roles. In her current position as President, she’s responsible for sales and marketing operations for the company’s professional products and imaging solutions. In this episode, Theresa talks about supporting women in business, mentoring employees in their career journey, and leading them to professional fulfillment.Quotes*”Although our employees are all unique, we try to address all of them in a way that bridges those gaps and brin...
2022-06-1539 minCruising AltitudeWelcome to Season 2 of Cruising Altitude!A brand new season of Cruising Altitude is coming. Firstup is excited to bring you insights from employee experience experts at companies with over 30,000 employees. We’ll hear from leaders at companies like Sony and Century 21 discuss their best practices, lessons learned, and advice for other EX professionals. Join us as we look deep into what makes an excellent digital employee experience. Welcome to Cruising Altitude.
2022-06-0101 min
Scaling with SumeruBuilding Teams That Scale: Hiring, engaging, and motivating a team that drives exponential growthIn this episode, Sumeru Operating Partner Ben Cox, hosts a conversation with two founder/CEOs that are helping companies build teams that scale while scaling their own teams: Nicole Alvino of Firstup, and Josh Millet of Criteria.
Ben Cox is focused on driving growth across Sumeru’s global portfolio of companies with particular emphasis on Product.
“Ben was instrumental in helping us advance our product roadmap, make pricing and packaging decisions, and refine our strategic direction. He is also a pleasure to work with, as he is unassuming and humble, not afraid to roll up his...
2022-05-2634 min
Running Through WallsCulture and ConnectionVenrock partner Brian Ascher speaks with Nicole Alvino, co-founder and CEO of Firstup, about effective workforce communication both digitally and in person. Alvino highlights fostering employee connection through authentic and transparent communication, using the power of video to drive engagement, and discusses expectations for corporate social responsibility. Plus, Alvino reveals a non-obvious lesson learned – employees want to hear from their peers (not just their leaders).
2022-05-2520 minCruising AltitudeHow Top EX Leaders Elevate Employees to Do Their Best WorkThis episode features highlights from our first season. We hear from 7-time CIO Mark Settle, Brady Pyle, Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer at NASA, Tony Saldanha, former VP of Global Business Services at Procter & Gamble, and more. Together, they bring you the most relevant insights to help you attract and retain world-class talent, implement effective tech tools, and improve leadership skills.Quotes*“There is this trap we fall into of assuming we know what employees want and what they need. And we don't. We can make some generalizations, but we need to ask. We need to...
2022-05-1811 minCruising AltitudeBeing Your Employees’ Wingman with Joseph LaMarca, Vice President of Communications at Lockheed Martin AeronauticsThis episode features an interview with Joseph LaMarca, Vice President of Communications at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. Lockheed Martin is a massive company with over 114,000 employees. And Joe leads a world-class communications team that’s responsible for employee executive communications, media relations, marketing, philanthropy and more. In this episode, Joe talks about how to build a supportive culture at work, communicate across silos, and be your employees’ wingman.Quotes*”There's a saying in the aerospace or aviation world, it's called ‘check six.’ And check six means that when you're flying and you're in the lead, you know that y...
2022-04-2632 minCruising AltitudeThe Magic of Trust in the Employee Experience with Alexander Senn, Head of People and Organization at Siemens Smart InfrastructureThis episode features an interview with Alexander Senn, Head of People and Organization at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. He leads the 70,000 employees that are part of the Smart Infrastructure family. In this episode, Alex talks about the benefits of replacing performance reviews with growth talks, how to handle being challenged by an employee, and the importance of a trusting culture at work.Quotes*”What happens with people when you really trust them and you empower them… you need to give them guidance about what do we want to achieve as a team, as a company, they need...
2022-04-1438 minCruising AltitudeEmployee Experience Starts with Brand Perception with Jâlie Cohen, Group SVP of HR Americas at The Adecco GroupThis episode features an interview with Jâlie Cohen. She is the Group SVP of HR Americas at The Adecco Group. She leads EX for the 9,000 employees across the U.S., Canada and Latin America. In this episode, Jâlie talks about launching a new recruiting system, running a successful onboarding experience, and how the employee experience starts way before hire, with brand perception.Quotes*”Everyone owns the employee experience. Oftentimes I'll read periodicals that really focus on what we, as HR, can do. And I think that we miss the opportunity to say how empl...
2022-03-1738 minCruising AltitudeGetting Insight into the Real Experience of your Employees with Weston Morris, Director of Global Strategy for Digital Workplace Services at UnisysThis episode features an interview with Weston Morris. He is the Director of Global Strategy for Digital Workplace Services at Unisys. He is responsible for leading the global strategy for emerging technologies that impact digital worker productivity – including Natural Language Processing, Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Merged Reality, Virtualization and IoT. In this episode, he talks about experience level agreements or XLAs, micro personalization as the future of employee experience, and getting an accurate picture of what employees are really experiencing at your company.Quotes*”About 45% of employees that are working from home are installing software that they...
2022-03-1135 minCruising AltitudeAligning Employee Purpose with the Company Vision with Quique Huerta, Global Employee Experience Officer at Liberty Mutual InsuranceThis episode features an interview with Quique Huerta. He is the Global Employee Experience Officer at Liberty Mutual Insurance. Quique has led the Global Employee Experience group since its inception in early 2020. He is responsible for keeping the pulse on how employees are feeling and leading the creation of amazing employee experiences. In this episode, Quique discusses identifying the moments that matter to employees, the importance of challenging the status quo, and aligning employee purpose with the company vision.Quotes*”The reason why I'm still at Liberty after so many years is because I have al...
2022-03-0425 minCruising AltitudeBringing Glamour to the Employee Experience with Angie Grossman, Senior Employee Experience Specialist at WarnerMediaThis episode features an interview with Angie Grossman, a Senior Specialist of Employee Experience and Lead Communications Liaison for the Talent Strategy & Employee Experience Team at WarnerMedia. Angie is responsible for employee onboarding and engagement as well as promoting a positive work culture. In this episode, she talks about alternatives to Zoom meetings, bringing enjoyment to digital engagement, and putting the human back into human resources.Quotes*”We implemented No Meeting Fridays, which I think have been really nice for people to be able to say, ‘Okay, Friday I can catch up on my email. I ca...
2022-02-2326 minCruising AltitudeBreathing Life into the Employee Experience with Marija Zivanovic-Smith, EVP of Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs at NCR CorporationThis episode features an interview with Marija Zivanovic-Smith, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs at NCR Corporation. Among Marija’s many responsibilities are the global brand strategy and execution, sales enablement, digital marketing, public affairs and communicating with NCR’s 38,000 employees. In this episode, she talks about celebrating employee stories, engaging them with the NCR intranet, “Bridge,” and understanding employees’ emotional responses through machine learning and neuroscience.Quotes*“The beauty of our employee experience is in our global nature. We operate in over 100 countries, so that global nature creates cultural richness. But at the same...
2022-02-1046 minCruising AltitudeThe Secret to Effective Crisis Communications with Jennifer Russo, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and HR StrategyThis episode features an interview with Jennifer Russo, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and HR Strategy. Jennifer communicates on behalf of the Banner Health system to the 55,000 employees across six states. She also champions the strategy that makes Banner Health a great place to work. In this episode, she talks about communicating effectively during times of crisis, exploring different mediums like videos and podcasts, and offering mental health resources to employees.Quotes*“We've made order out of utter chaos. We've not frozen in the face of crisis. The team has instituted incredible programs and used en...
2022-01-2621 min
The DripAllow Employees to do Self DiscoveryBecky Graebe is Senior Director, Communication Strategy, at Firstup. In this episode, we talk about communicating with frontline employees; how businesses can best leverage multipoint communication channels, and how employee advocacy is also an employee engagement tactic.
2021-11-2313 minCruising AltitudeShoot for the Stars with Brady Pyle, Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer at NASAThis episode features an interview with Brady Pyle, Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer at NASA. Brady oversees the Executive HR Directors for NASA’s 10 field centers nationwide in the development, execution, and integration of HR services, programs, processes and policies. In this episode, he talks about expanding their workforce with contractors, the unique experience of working for a federal agency, and what goes into picking the next NASA astronauts.Quotes*“Inclusion is a big value at NASA, because we believe inclusion then drives innovation.”*“Our attrition rate is extremely low. We run 5% attrition and on ave...
2021-11-1738 minCruising AltitudeOne Size Does Not Fit All with Lisa Cummings Penn, Executive Director of Employee Engagement in the Office of the CIO at Estée Lauder CompaniesThis episode features an interview with Lisa Cummings Penn, Executive Director of Employee Engagement in the office of the CIO at Estée Lauder Companies. Lisa leads employee engagement for IT at ELC. In this episode, she talks about how one size does not fit all when it comes to employee engagement.Quotes*“Mr. Leonard Lauder has always said listen first and lead second. Really listen to your people. It’s important to have intimate conversations with people and really understand what people want. Listen to them and take that at face value. Some people prefer to...
2021-10-2629 minCruising AltitudeOne Size Does Not Fit All with Lisa Cummings Penn, Executive Director of Employee Engagement in the Office of the CIO at Estée Lauder CompaniesThis episode features an interview with Lisa Cummings Penn, Executive Director of Employee Engagement in the office of the CIO at Estée Lauder Companies. Lisa leads employee engagement for IT at ELC. In this episode, she talks about how one size does not fit all when it comes to employee engagement.Quotes“Mr. Leonard Lauder has always said listen first and lead second. Really listen to your people. It’s important to have intimate conversations with people and really understand what people want. Listen to them and take that at face value. Some people prefer to...
2021-10-2130 minCruising AltitudeMerging Cultures: How to Retain Employees After an Acquisition with Joey Wilkerson, Acquisition Integration Manager & EX Lead at CiscoThis episode features an interview with Joey Wilkerson, Acquisition Integration Manager and Employee Experience Lead at Cisco. Joey engages new employees with company culture after an acquisition. On this episode, he talks about starting off on the right foot, the importance of building relationships, and creating a community that supports the whole person.Quotes“There is this trap we fall into of assuming we know what employees want and what they need. And we don't. We can make some generalizations, but we need to ask. And we need to understand that it will evolve and chan...
2021-09-1533 minCruising AltitudeDelivering A Tailored Experience To Each Employee with Nicole Alvino, Founder and CSO of SocialChorusThis episode features an interview with Nicole Alvino, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of SocialChorus. Nicole sets goals for company growth and defines the industry standard for an innovative digital employee experience. On this episode, she talks about getting buy-in from C-suite executives on an EX overhaul, serving highly personalized company information to employees and how to kick off an exceptional employee experience from day one.Quotes“The best marketers find us where we are and deliver us information that's personalized to us, that then entices us to take action. It's really no different when we t...
2021-08-0433 minCruising AltitudeSee Yourself in the Customer Experience with Erica Cary, Vice President of Product and Services at HiltonThis episode features an interview with Erica Cary, Vice President of Product and Services at Hilton. Erica has more than 18 years of experience in technology, client relationship management, and business development. At Hilton, she’s responsible for creating digital experiences for both employees and guests. In this episode, she talks about creating a relevant experience for a diverse workforce, making inclusive ads, and personalizing the experience by providing choice.3 TakeawaysConsolidate platforms to minimize digital clutter.Drive mobile-first technology to team members.Streamline and automate employee operations as much as possible.Key Quotes“Hospitality is abou...
2021-07-2128 minCruising AltitudeBecoming the Employee Experience Guru with Tony Saldanha, Former VP of Global Business Services at Procter & GambleThis episode features an interview with Tony Saldanha, an industry leader in information technology with more than 30 years of experience in Global Business Services design, operations and governance. He’s the former VP of GBS at Procter & Gamble, and was previously named one of the world’s Premier 100 IT Professionals. In this episode, Tony talks about user-journey mapping, setting expectations for continuous improvement, and striving for employee delight.3 TakeawaysEvery issue that arises can turn into a positive opportunity for interaction with the user.During hard times, increase communication, look for places to pivot, and paint a visi...
2021-07-0734 minCruising AltitudeCrafting A Seamless Employee Experience with Aaron Gerlitz, Program Manager of Information Security at Lowe’sThis episode features an interview with Aaron Gerlitz, Program Manager of Information Security at Lowe’s. Aaron’s job is to keep the digital tools and applications running smoothly and securely for over 300,000 employees and 2,200 stores across North America. He orchestrates complex, multi-year projects implementing software, building new capabilities, and running data analytics. Aaron talks about how the hard work behind the scenes makes for a seamless digital employee experience.3 TakeawaysDesign with input from the end-user.Acknowledge when something isn’t working as soon as possible and switch directions.Look to the data to find out what...
2021-06-2327 min
On The Screws GolfCarlo Colaiacovo - Fishing par 3's ?!?This week Carlo Colaiacovo joins the pod!Co-Host of FirstUp on 1050, First round draft pick & Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni, Father, Golfer & Angler? How can we not discuss the buds? Another year of heartbreak and hitting the links too soon for the boys!Golf starts @ 13:02John Rahm's forced withdrawal from The Memorial Tournament, we're golfing again in Ontario and a HOLE IN 3? and 5lb bass on the same hole??!?Follow Carlo on Instagram!https://www.instagram.com/carlo.colaiacovo/INTRO ft. RORY Blaklroy Golf (@roryblaklroy) • Instagram photos and vi...
2021-06-1146 minCruising AltitudeSupporting Employee Success Again and Again with Mark Settle, Seven-time CIOThis episode features an interview with Mark Settle, seven-time CIO and author.Mark has served as CIO for companies like Okta, Arrow Electronics, and Visa. He specializes in enterprise software, high-tech distribution, and financial services. His most recent book, "Truth from the Valley, a Practical Primer on IT Management for the Next Decade," was released in 2020. On this episode, Mark discusses the challenges of personalizing the employee experience at larger companies, streamlining IT operations at the service desk, and automating busy work. He also shares tips on how to tell if initiatives are being effective, how...
2021-06-0930 minCruising AltitudeWhat is Cruising Altitude?Cruising Altitude is about employee experience lessons from leaders at companies over 30,000 employees.If you are a leader at a company with over 30,000 employees, managing employee experience is a little different. Problems are more complex, and implementing change is more difficult.In this podcast we will talk to leaders who are designing the best digital employee experiences in the world - from the front lines to the back office. Life is different over 30,000. So tap subscribe and buckle up. Welcome to Cruising Altitude.
2021-05-2601 min