Future of HR

How does human capital create value in private equity?
What does it take to be a successful HR leader in private equity?

My guest on this episode is David Cohen, Partner, Human Capital at Kelso

During our conversation David and I discuss:
Why the role of the human capital partner in private equity is to unlock value through people, not to run HR for the firm itself.
What is takes to be successful as a CHRO in a private equity backed company.
Why human capital value creation comes down to org design, the right people in the right seats, and senior team performance.
How the "bullseye" model helps identify the right senior leader for a PE-backed company.
Why breadth of experience matters more than titles in your 20s and 30s.

Connecting with David Cohen:
Connect with David Cohen on LinkedIn

Episode Sponsor:
Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.

Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

In this solo episode, I make the case that being a strategic business partner is no longer enough. I share the shift I believe is coming next, from business partner to business builder, and the three mindset shifts and behaviors that separate the two.

Here are a few key takeaways from the episode:

Why being a strategic business partner is no longer enough, and what the next evolution of HR asks of us.
How the move from business partner to business builder is a mindset, not a job title.
Why execution excellence has become the price of admission rather than the proof that HR is strategic and adding value.
Why the real AI risk to HR is being bypassed, not being automated.
Why making fewer, bigger bets turns HR priorities into business priorities.
How choosing one big goal a year that scares you can change the course of your career.

Why is organizational design much more than org charts and who reports to whom?

How can HR guide, facilitate and drive effective an organizational design process?

My guest on this episode is Amy Kates who is organizational design expert and author of five books on the subject.

During our conversation Amy and I discuss:

Why the purpose of organizational design is to design human behavior at scale
Why matrix organizations are set up for good conflict and how best to manage it
The six business problems that leaders seek to solve through organizational design
Why organizational design is not about org charts and who reports to whom
The role that HR leaders should play and not play in the organizational design process.
Advice for HR leaders who are about to start an organizational design project

Connecting with Amy Kates:
Connect with Amy Kates on LinkedIn

Learn more about Amy’s work at Operating Model & Organization Design LinkedIn page

Episode Sponsor:
Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.

Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can workforce readiness become mission readiness?
Why is a people strategy not the same thing as a business strategy?

My guest on this episode is Kathleen McCarthy, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, SAIC

During our conversation Kathleen and I discuss the following:

Why a people strategy is not a business strategy
Why "progress over perfection" beats waiting for the perfect plan
How CHROs are shifting from business partners to enterprise capability builders
Why workforce readiness is a moving target, not a fixed destination
Why you can't hire your way out of the readiness gap

Connecting with Kathleen:
Connect with Kathleen on LinkedIn

Episode Sponsor:

Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.

Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you think and communicate like an executive?

Why is your strategy only as good as your ability to communicate it?

My guest on this episode is Vicky Zhao, Founder, School of Human Intellect and Speaking With Frameworks.

During our conversation Vicky and I discuss the following:

Why the clearest idea, not the best idea, is the one that wins
How the GPS framework (Goal, Problem, Solution) elevates your point of view
Why the hardest shift is moving from a doer mindset to a leader mindset
Why you should put the bottom line up front, using the pyramid principle
Why giving yourself permission to contribute is the first step to showing up like an executive

Connecting with Vicky:
Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn
Subscribe to Vicky’s YouTube channel
Learn more about Vicky’s course, Speaking With Frameworks


Episode Sponsor:
Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.

Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.