In this episode of Leading Beyond the Org Chart, hosts Kim Steppe and Marilyn Nagel engage in a deep conversation with Jamy Conrad, an accomplished HR executive with extensive experience across healthcare, technology, and finance sectors. Jamy shares her unique career trajectory, emphasizing her progression from manufacturing to healthcare, then to tech, and ultimately her current role at University Federal Credit Union (UFCU) in Austin, Texas. With a focus on driving people-oriented strategies, Jamy highlights the importance of creating a supportive culture and fostering engagement within organizations.

The episode dives into critical themes such as the integration of AI in HR practices while maintaining the human touch, the significance of mental health advocacy in the workplace, and the essential role of mid-level managers in shaping organizational culture. Jamy shares practical strategies and insights on how to empower leaders to navigate challenging times and enhance their empathetic leadership skills. Her candid reflections on overcoming imposter syndrome and the necessity of active listening provide listeners with actionable takeaways to foster a positive workplace environment.

Chapters:

• (00:01) - - Welcome to Leading Beyond the Org Chart
• (00:24) - - Introduction of Guest Jamy Conrad
• (01:02) - - Jamy's Career Journey Overview
• (04:52) - - Acknowledging Healthcare Work During Pandemic
• (06:13) - - Integrating AI into HR Practices
• (10:00) - - Importance of Mental Health Advocacy
• (11:06) - - Strategies for Supporting Employee Wellness
• (13:20) - - Fostering Empathy in Leadership
• (16:13) - - Techniques for Active Listening
• (19:04) - - Gratitude Campaigns in Organizations
• (21:17) - - Empowering Mid-Level Managers
• (24:46) - - Emerging Trends in HR
• (27:09) - - Advice for Younger Self
• (30:46) - - Closing Thoughts and Reflections

In this episode of Leading Beyond the Org Chart, hosts Kim Steppe and Marilyn Nagel welcome Gina Hartigan, Chief People Officer at Kantata, a leading provider of solutions for professional service organizations. With her extensive experience in culture, engagement, and organizational transformation, Gina shares her insights on the importance of building a unified culture during mergers, fostering employee engagement, and supporting talent retention in a remote-first environment.

Gina discusses her personal journey of stepping away from the corporate world to raise her children and how this experience shaped her leadership style, focusing on empathy, service, and the needs of others. She highlights Kantata's impressive employee tenure of 5.1 years, which far exceeds the industry average, attributing this success to a strong culture of collaboration, transparency, and flexibility. Throughout the episode, Gina emphasizes the need for courageous communication and adaptability in the face of constant change, particularly as organizations navigate the evolving landscape of AI and remote work.

Chapters:

A tech company's first engagement survey looked strong until Mike Kohn broke it down by gender and found a wide gap between how men and women rated their experience at Kevel. Mike Kohn is Chief People Officer at Kevel, where he has spent more than three years scaling a global team across 17 to 18 countries. He talks with Kim Steppe and Marilyn Nagel about the infrastructure he built to close that gap, why he trades survey fatigue for a mix of quantitative and qualitative check-ins, and how he supported an employee coming out as transgender.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Leading Beyond the Org Chart

01:03 Mike's path to a people first career

02:42 The engagement survey and a gender gap in the data

07:58 Cross-group differences and function-level analysis

11:15 Survey cadence, pulse fatigue and quarterly reviews

12:39 Why belonging outweighs compensation

17:07 Supporting an employee coming out as transgender

24:13 The identity button idea and leadership storytelling

28:20 Operating across 17 countries and local traditions

33:16 Balancing rapid growth with a people first focus

37:56 Change management feedback from the survey

40:14 DEI committee, resource groups and a calendar of celebrations

43:00 Advice to his younger self

45:18 What gives Mike hope

You can follow Mike Kohn here:

LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/mikejkohn

Learn more about Kevel:

Website - https://kevel.com