Shows
HR Fresh TakeEmpowering HR Professionals: Personal Growth and Leadership with HR Lift LabFor three seasons, HR Fresh Take has covered topics that affect our business community and how HR is able to meet those challenges. For this episode, we’d like to approach it from a different angle and take this opportunity to share the meaningful experiences of individuals who joined Philly SHRM’s HR Lift Lab in 2024. With a foundation of leadership self-awareness plus a balanced portfolio of effective HR practices, LIFT LAB elevates people to empower progress.In a nutshell, Lift Lab’s puts the focus on you, the HR professional and the person. In C...2025-03-181h 11HR Fresh Take"Care-washing"As companies strive to prioritize employee well-being, a concerning trend has emerged: “Care-washing” which is the practice of offering superficial or surface-level wellness programs that fail to address the root causes of employee stress and burnout. In this episode, we are in conversation with guests Nicole McNeal, Director of Wellbeing at Virtua Health and Anna Greenwald CEO/Founder of On the Goga as well as HR Fresh Take producers and co-hosts Kaela Blanks and Theresa VelykisWe’ll discuss what is “Care-washing” and how HR and business leaders can be more strategic and intentional with their welln...2025-01-2351 min
The Launch ButtonDiscovering Your Life’s Purpose, HR to EntrepreneurEpisode SummaryIn this inspiring episode, Karla shares her incredible journey of releasing 85 pounds over three years and the mindset shift that transformed her life. As a first-generation New Yorker raised by hardworking parents, Karla inherited a relentless work ethic and a passion for helping others achieve economic empowerment. She recounts her diverse career journey, from HR and government facilities management to real estate and entrepreneurship, and highlights how she’s now leveraging her experience to empower others through career coaching and wealth-building strategies.Karla emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, intentionality, and surrounding yourself with su...2024-12-2427 minHR Fresh TakeOvercoming Workplace SilosSilos in the workplace can create divisions that hinder communication, collaboration, and innovation. They often lead to duplicated efforts, missed opportunities, and a lack of cohesion. But what causes these silos to form, and how can we break them down?In this episode of HR Fresh Take, we’ll talk with Pat Schaeffer, co-founder of Talent Strategy Partners and Barbara Taylor, Business partner of JanBara & Associates. They are the co-creators of Silo-Busting Networking. We’ll delve into the impact of organizational silos and share strategies to foster a more connected and collaborative environment....2024-12-1035 minHR Fresh TakeEngaging Gen Z: Transforming the Modern WorkforceBorn between the mid 1990s and early 2010s, Gen Z is not just another demographic, they are a driving force behind many of the changes we're seeing in today's job market. The challenge for some organizations is figuring out how to engage with Gen Z effectively and how best to utilize their skills within the workforce. In this episode, we'll talk with Michael Brenner, founder and CEO of Right Chord Leadership. We'll discuss Gen Zs characteristics, expectations and aspirations as they enter the workforce. We'll also discuss opportunities for organizations to tap into Gen Zs talent and wh...2024-11-1243 min
We're Only HumanEmpowering Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia's Managers in Compensation TransparencyBuilding Trust in HR: Kathy White on Compensation and CommunicationIn this episode of 'We're Only Human', host Ben Eubanks talks with Kathy White, VP of HR for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, about the critical aspects of compensation and communication in the workforce. Kathy shares her experiences from the World at Work conference and her role in developing a transparent compensation strategy at her organization. The conversation covers the importance of making HR work tangible, the necessity of clear communication and building trust, and discusses methods for enabling managers to effectively handle compensation discussions. Kathy also highlights the...2024-10-2121 minHR Fresh TakeAn HR Halloween Re-VisitedHalloween is around the corner! So come with us as we revisit HR Fresh Take's most fun and popular episode: "An HR Halloween", where we share a few horror stories submitted by the HR community in the Philadelphia area. The names were changed to protect the innocent AND the guilty. We'll also discuss lessons from these cautionary tales. Enjoy!Business, Engagement, Human Resources, Management, Thought Leadership, Return to work, Inclusion, Hybrid work, phillyshrm.org2024-10-1623 minHR Fresh TakeDEI at a Crossroads: Navigating Challenges and Shifts in 2024 and BeyondRecently, DEI initiatives have faced significant challenges in boardrooms, state legislatures, and college campuses. Since 2023, 81 anti-DEI bills targeting college programs have been introduced in 28 states and in Congress, with eight signed into law in states like Texas and Florida.Despite these challenges, a 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 52% of employed U.S. adults participate in DEI trainings or meetings at work, and 33% have a designated staff member promoting DEI. However, the landscape is shifting, with some companies slashing DEI teams and prominent corporate leaders like Bill Ackman and Elon Musk publicly criticizing diversity programs.2024-09-1743 min
Black Woman LeadingS6E2: Leaning into Community with BWL AlumsIn this episode, Laura hosts an alumni panel of Black Woman Leading alums (Shaneka Stanley, Lekeshia Hicks, and Jada Hamm) to discuss the importance of community care in professional development. They share their experiences as Black women leaders and the role of community in their journeys, the importance of “mirrors” and support systems, and the challenges and triumphs of setting and maintaining boundaries. They emphasize the importance of showing up authentically, taking up space, and making meaningful connections. They also highlight the power of being a connector and the impact it can have on others. 2024-09-051h 00
Follow Our Lead with Alaina KearneyWorkplace Culture and Employment Law with Christina Reger, Esq.In today's episode of “Follow Our Lead with Alaina Kearney,” we’re joined by Christina (Tina) Reger, Esq., an employment law attorney and co-owner of LOUTEL. Co-founded by Robyn Pollack, Esq., LOUTEL offers employment law counseling and compliance services, workplace culture, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) performance solutions. Tina discusses her career journey, the founding of LOUTEL, and how integrating legal compliance with workplace culture and DEI initiatives can transform businesses. She provides insights on how leaders can create a winning culture and avoid legal pitfalls.Tina's commitment to listening to employees and taking meaning...2024-07-1741 minHR Fresh TakeThe Business Case for Supporting Care Givers in the WorkplaceWith the prevailing mentality that workers should “leave life at the door”, it’s no wonder that the struggle to balance the demands of family and career has only gotten more difficult. This is especially true for employees who care for others such as children, elderly parents, and family members at home who are sick or have disabilities. According to the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), Caregivers are the fastest-growing workplace identity group, making up 73% of the workforce. Employer support of this population will be crucial to remain competitive in attracting, engaging and retaining top talent. In this...2024-06-2035 minHR Fresh TakeSpecial Episode - Politics and HRPolitical factors can have a significant impact on how HR manages an organization’s culture, talent, and other areas. Politically motivated trends either brought upon by the C-Suite or employees can leave HR in a precarious position to manage expectations of organizational change in relation to these movements. In this episode, recorded during the 2024 Philadelphia SHRM Symposium, our podcast hosts got the perspective from 12 of our nationally and locally recognized speakers on the issue of HR and Politics. We asked our guests what HR professionals need to be prepared for the external political influences and mo...2024-04-301h 38HR Fresh TakeApprenticeships: A Talent Strategy for HRThere’s a significant gap between the skills of today’s workers and the complex skill sets needed for the future of work. A recent report by Korn Ferry states that by 2030, more than 85 million jobs could be unfilled because there aren’t enough skilled people to take them. Often thought of as a staple of trade careers, apprenticeship programs are becoming a tangible solution for companies searching for new talent. In this episode, hosted by Kena Sears, Producer of HR Fresh Take and Board Member of Philly SHRM, we’ll talk with Haniyyah Sharpe-Brown, Local Market Le...2024-03-0538 min
Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication StyleE 225 - Interview Better to Get the Promotion, Have More Hiring Confidence & Beat Imposter SyndromeDrastically improve your process for hiring people AND applying for a job.Starting today. Post-COVID the science of interviewing has advanced radically. Today’s guest, Anna Papalia, is a career influencer and TikTok Interview Expert that lays so many game-changing truths on us.Because 90% of hiring managers aren't trained on how to interview, they fall prey to their implicit bias when judging candidates and making hiring decisions. Job seekers, equally as mystified by the process, follow stale advice, memorizing rote an...2024-02-2032 minHR Fresh TakeThe Black HR ExperienceWhat does it mean for HR leaders to bring their whole self to work when their identities are not the majority?Being an HR leader is already challenging, but being the only one who looks like you only amplifies those challenges.On this episode of HR Fresh Take, we’re revisiting the conversation from our June 2023 event “The Black HR Experience”, hosted by Philly SHRM and the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR),We’ll dive into the Black experience and how that intersects with leadership roles within Human Resource...2024-02-0958 min
The Type A+ PodcastThe Type A+ Intersection of Anxiety, ADHD, Overachieving and Burnout with Kaela BlanksEpisode Description:
On today’s episode, Beth is joined by Kaela Blanks, M.S., SHRM-SCP, a DEI & HR consultant and Type A+ person who specializes in empowering organizations to build strong, supportive, equitable workplace cultures. Kaela discusses the ways that being an overachiever, and her experiences with anxiety and ADHD, led her to career success and, eventually, burnout—and the ways that HR and leadership teams can encourage individuals to bring their full selves to the workplace.
Plus: Kaela’s tried-and-true tips for negotiating your compensation package—whether there’s wiggle room in the salary or not.
Kaela’s Bio:
Kaela (she/t...2024-02-0830 min
Your Working LifeInterviewology with Anna Papalia Anna Papalia is the author of Interviewology: The New Science of Interviewing and a career influencer with over 1.5 million followers across social media platforms. She has consulted with Fortune 100 companies, taught at Temple University’s Fox School of Business and coached over 10,000 clients to interview better. Her groundbreaking discovery of Interview Styles revolutionized the way we teach and understand interviewing. She is also a public speaker at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and DisruptHR. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Anna Papalia, TikTok’s “Interview Expert” (1.5M social media followers). In her upcoming book, INTERVIEWOLOGY: The New Science o...2024-02-0424 min
The Authority CompanyThe Interview Whisperer: Decoding Job Interview Success with Anna PapaliaThis week, host Joe welcomes Anna Papalia, a career influencer with over 1.5 million followers across social media platforms. Anna is the author of the new book "Interviewology: The New Science of Interviewing," in which she reveals a revolutionary approach to mastering interview skills based on understanding one's unique interview style. In the book, Anna introduces her groundbreaking framework of four interview styles - Charmer, Challenger, Examiner, and Harmonizer. Knowing which style you tend toward allows both job seekers and hiring managers to identify their priorities and natural tendencies in an interview. This self-awareness helps mitigate bias and ensures candidates can...2024-01-2330 minHR Fresh TakeThe Ethical Dimensions of AI in HRWithin the last decade, there has been a rapid expansion in the availability of and interest in artificial intelligence-based tools to perform HR tasks such as hiring, training, benefits, or employee engagement. However, the use of AI in HR raises concerns given AI’s potential for problems in areas such as data privacy and bias. These concerns are further amplified in the HR context where decisions can have significant impacts on people’s lives. In this episode, we’ll talk with Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos, an HR Technology and Management company and host of the...2024-01-0932 min
Recovered-ishIs everyone REALLY a narcissist? with Britt Frank, LSCSWWe are GOING there today with a hotly requested topic! Why is everyone a toxic narcissist these days? Are there really that many of them? What's the difference between lying and gaslighting? Are these terms being overused?Today I have a narcissist expert, Britt Frank, LSCSW on it unpack all of it! Strap in because it is a very nuanced episode! We discuss various aspects of narcissism and gaslighting, the difference between gaslighting and self-denial, the value of narcissistic parts, red flags of narcissism, the tendency of narcissists to accuse others, and the overuse of the narcissist...2024-01-0445 minHR Fresh TakeThe "December Dilemma"The proverbial saying around the holidays is that "it's the most wonderful time of the year!" But for HR professionals, it can be a time of stress in the workplace. Every December, HR is faced with the difficult task of adequately acknowledging the various religious and secular holiday traditions within an organization. In this episode, we'll talk with Nina Boe, Senior Workplace Program Associate at Tanenbaum*. We'll discuss the dilemmas organizations face when trying to accommodate different beliefs during the holiday season as well as all year round.Leading the discussion is Producer and Co-host of HR...2023-11-2835 min