In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Ester Gramegna, Head of Human Resources at Aventum Group, a global leader in reinsurance that’s reimagining what modern HR looks like in an AI-driven workplace.

Ester brings a global and deeply human perspective to digital transformation, showing how HR can balance analytics, automation, and empathy to guide organizations through change. With a background in research and data, she’s helping Aventum build scalable, people-first systems—turning AI from a source of fear into a tool for empowerment.

From rethinking succession planning and compliance tracking to redesigning onboarding and recruiting with AI, Ester shares how her team is using technology to give time back to people, strengthen trust, and accelerate growth.

She and Thomas discuss how HR can lead transformation across industries that have traditionally relied on legacy processes and what it takes to align innovation with culture, business strategy, and human connection.

Topics Discussed:

• How HR can transform fear of AI into trust and empowerment.
• Building transparency and communication into every change initiative.
• Using AI to modernize succession planning and close skills gaps faster.
• Creating seamless onboarding and recruiting experiences with automation.
• Partnering with finance and leadership to prove ROI on AI investments.
• Why people-first transformation starts with upskilling HR itself.
• The evolving role of HR as both a change leader and business strategist.

If you’re thinking about how to guide your organization through digital transformation without losing the human touch, this conversation offers a practical and inspiring look at how AI can make HR more strategic, more efficient, and more human.

Additional Resources:

• Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
• Future Proof HR Community
• Connect with Ester Gramegna on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Ken Moses, Chief People Officer at Cascade Environmental, whose career spans both high-tech and heavy industry. Known for his experimental mindset and willingness to challenge convention, Ken has turned curiosity into a leadership philosophy; one that’s redefining what HR can look like in an AI-driven world.

From testing recruiting bots and using AI to analyze engagement surveys to reimagining how internal communications and recognition programs are built, Ken shows how innovation in HR doesn’t have to start with grand strategy; it can begin with a single “what if.”

Ken shares how he and his team have turned everyday HR challenges into experimentation grounds for smarter, more efficient, and more human-centered practices. He breaks down how to test ideas safely, maintain authenticity while using AI, and bring your team along for the ride.

• How curiosity drives innovation across every HR function.
• Using AI to turn time-consuming HR work into faster, higher-impact processes.
• The “augmented, not automated” mindset that keeps HR human.
• Building trust and authenticity when introducing AI-powered tools.
• Finding the ROI in experimentation and scaling what works.
• Why data literacy, creativity, and courage are becoming HR’s must-have skills.
• How HR leaders can carve out time to think differently without waiting for permission.

If you’re thinking about how to future-proof your HR function through curiosity, creativity, and practical experimentation, this conversation is a roadmap for doing more than keeping up; it’s about building what’s next.

• Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
• Future Proof HR Community
• Connect with Ken Moses on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Future Proof HR Podcast, Thomas Kunjappu, CEO of Cleary, sits down with Sabrina Sdao, Chief Growth Officer at Thursday Strategy and former corporate strategist at Deloitte, to discuss how organizations can thrive in the age of AI through adaptability and human-centered growth.

With over a decade of experience advising companies on transformation, Sabrina shares how adaptability has become the single most important skill for every worker. From the C-suite to the front line. She explores how AI can free people from mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on creativity, problem-solving, and building more meaningful employee experiences.

Sabrina also breaks down why HR must play a central role in guiding AI adoption, how to build a culture of adaptability from the top down, and what it takes to prepare Gen Z and early-career workers for an AI-driven future without losing essential human skills.

Topics Discussed:

• Why adaptability is the meta-skill for the future of work
• How HR can lead AI adoption through example and experimentation
• Building a culture that rewards learning, curiosity, and agility
• The balance between human skills and technical fluency
• The risks of skipping foundational learning in the AI era
• Making work more human through personalization and purpose
• How HR can stay strategic amid economic volatility

Additional Resources:

• Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
• Future Proof HR Community
• Connect with Sabrina Sdao on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Future Proof HR Podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Gene Hallenbeck, Vice President of Human Resources at Dennis & Co Auto Group and longtime HR educator, to unpack how HR evolved from paperwork to partnership.

With over four decades of experience from rotary phones and filing cabinets to AI-driven analytics, Gene has seen HR transform from an administrative function into a strategic, trusted advisor to the business. He shares what it takes to modernize HR structures, earn executive trust, and lead with a service mindset that treats employees like customers.

Gene also discusses his hands-on approach to building lean, high-impact teams, his “100-day model” for transformation, and how HR can move from compliance to influence while staying aligned with the organization’s real goals.

• The evolution of HR from manual processes to a strategic partnership
• How HR earned its seat at the table through trust and credibility
• Building lean HR teams that stay aligned with business outcomes
• The 100-day framework for rebuilding HR functions
• Balancing technology, AI, and the human experience
• The mindset shift from administration to a trusted advisor
• Why every HR leader must “earn the seat” every day

• Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
• Future Proof HR Community
• Connect with Gene Hallenbeck on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Lauren Tropeano, Chief People Officer at Docebo, a global AI-first learning platform supporting HR and L&D teams worldwide. Lauren is helping shape what it means to be an AI-first organization—from rethinking learning and development to weaving AI literacy into every level of the employee experience.

Lauren shares how her team is translating a bold AI vision into everyday behavior, creating a culture where curiosity, experimentation, and learning drive transformation. From launching an internal AI Academy to embedding AI in hiring, performance, and team planning, she reveals how HR can make change feel human, safe, and scalable—all while leading by example in a rapidly evolving world of work.

Topics Discussed:

• How to define and operationalize an AI-first culture.
• Building AI literacy through an internal academy and shared learning.
• Using mindset work and champions to drive grassroots adoption.
• Recruiting for curiosity and adaptability, not just AI skills.
• Embedding AI into HR’s daily rhythms and OKRs.
• The partnership between HR and IT in enabling transformation.
• Why human judgment, empathy, and communication remain HR’s ultimate edge.

If you’re exploring how to move beyond AI tools to build real cultural capability, this conversation offers a practical guide to embedding AI in your organization’s rhythm—without losing the human pulse that makes it work.

Additional Resources:

• Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
• Future Proof HR Community
• Connect with Lauren Tropeano on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Camille Wright, Director of Human Resources at American Health Marketplace, a fully remote health insurance marketing agency navigating hypergrowth and heavy seasonality. Camille leads HR transformation across a distributed workforce while driving one of the boldest AI adoptions in HR. Introducing automation that accelerates hiring, strengthens compliance, and enhances the employee experience.

Camille shares what it really takes to lead through AI transformation while keeping HR’s human core intact. From reimagining recruiting with instant, AI-led interviews to retraining teams for strategic work, she’s proving that automation doesn’t replace connection, it can amplify it when built with care. Her perspective offers a practical roadmap for HR leaders balancing pressure to move fast with the need to protect trust, fairness, and belonging.

Topics Discussed:

• How AI recruiting eliminates bottlenecks while preserving compliance and fairness.
• Reframing HR’s role from transactional to strategic in an AI-first organization.
• Upskilling and repurposing HR teams to focus on coaching and leadership.
• Balancing innovation speed with sustainability and bias testing.
• The evolving definition of “human connection” in HR’s digital future.
• Lessons from introducing AI-driven onboarding and performance coaching.
• What “AI-ready HR” looks like when built on trust, not just technology.

If you’ve ever wondered how to embrace AI without losing what makes HR human, this conversation with Camille Wright is your blueprint for balancing speed, strategy, and heart.

Additional Resources:

• Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
• Future Proof HR Community
• Connect with Camille Wright on LinkedIn