Join Jason for an enlightening conversation with Jessica Jones, Executive Vice President of People and Culture at Emprise Bank. Jessica reflects on her evolution from being a strong advocate for remote-first work to recognizing how hybrid and in-person work, when grounded in intention and clarity, can enhance belonging, innovation, and team trust.

Together, they explore the risks of reactive policies and examine what today’s employees are truly seeking: not just remote work, but authentic flexibility.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 Start with strategy: Align workplace policies with your organization’s unique business needs, rather than following trends or executive preferences.

👉 Be clear and intentional: Communicate the ‘why’ behind workforce decisions to ensure employees understand and not just comply with organizational choices.

👉 Flexibility is fundamental: Employees crave autonomy and flexibility; when that’s missing, “return to office” feels like punishment, not opportunity.

👉 Invest in what matters: Whether in-office or remote, invest in equipping managers, supporting employee well-being, and building spaces (physical or virtual) that build collaboration.

👉 One size does not fit all: Tailor approaches to different roles and locations; balance recruiting needs, development opportunities, and business impact.

Jessica’s perspective will challenge and inspire you to think differently about your own organization’s approach to culture, connection, and the future of work.

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Connect with Jessica Jones

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-jones-b1681193/

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JOIN THOUSANDS OF LEADERS WHO ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK.

Subscribe to our newsletter:

https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

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Connect with Jason:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

#HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceCulture #FutureOfWork #PeopleFirst #HybridWork #Inclusion #LeadershipDevelopment

Join Jason for an insightful episode with Halai Shukran, Chief Operating Officer of Pluribus Digital. Known for her strong background in HR leadership and people strategy, Halai offers an engaging, real-world perspective on how HR can become a true driver of business value.

In this episode, Halai shares her extraordinary journey from HR and corporate training to the C-suite, breaking down how empathy, business acumen, and a relentless focus on both people and outcomes propelled her forward. Together, they explore the nuanced distinction between aligning people to business strategy and aligning business strategy down to people, revealing why both are essential for managers looking to make an impact.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The difference between aligning people to business strategy (translating people initiatives up to deliver business results) and aligning business strategy to people (empowering every team member to see their role in the big picture).

👉 Why building your business acumen as a leader is as vital as mastering your own function—and how that cross-functional curiosity sets you apart.

👉 How to navigate resistance from leaders by choosing your battles, building cross-functional allies, and searching for high-impact, low-effort wins.

👉 The crucial role of transparency and consistent communication during times of uncertainty, especially when your people are looking to you for reassurance and clarity.

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Connect with Halai Shukran:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halai-shukran/

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JOIN THOUSANDS OF LEADERS WHO ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK.

Subscribe to our newsletter:

https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

***

Connect with me:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

#HRLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeExperience #FutureOfWork #PeopleStrategy #BusinessAlignment

Join Jason for a thought-provoking conversation with Ben Brooks, Founder and CEO of Pilot, an award-winning culture and leadership development firm. In our discussion, we challenged traditional definitions of leadership and unpacked why organizations often get leadership development wrong.

Jason and Ben explored how making leadership accessible to everyone—not just a select few—can positively impact organizational culture and business outcomes. They also discussed what truly makes leadership development effective, why traditional models often fall short, and how organizations can unlock hidden potential within their people to drive results and have a developed workplace culture.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉How true leadership is about mindset, behavior, and personal impact, regardless of rank or title.

👉 Clarifying the distinction between management and leadership, and why both are essential but different levers for organizational success.

👉 Mistakes organizations are making in leadership development and why traditional approaches are failing to create real impact.

👉 How to define what “good leadership” looks like in YOUR organization, ensuring clarity, simplicity, and alignment across teams and levels.

👉 Effective leadership development isn’t about more assessment; it’s about real, applied learning experiences that align with your organization’s strategy and culture.

If you’re ready to stop talking about leadership and start empowering it at every level, this episode is a must-listen.

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Learn more about Ben Brooks and Pilot:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbrooksny/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbrooksny/

X: https://x.com/benbrooksny

Website: https://pilot.coach/

Email: ben@pilot.coach

***

JOIN THOUSANDS OF LEADERS WHO ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK.

Subscribe to our newsletter:

https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

***

Connect with me:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

#HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceCulture #FutureOfWork #LeadershipDevelopment #PeopleFirst #HumanWorkplaces #LeadershipMindset