AI has made workplace communication easier to produce, but not necessarily easier to trust.

In this episode of the People/AI Strategy Forum, Sam Reeve, CEO of CompTeam, speaks with Alex Grande, CEO and Founder of Recognize, about how leaders can make recognition more meaningful as employees face more updates, alerts, automated messages, and AI-generated content.

Alex brings together psychology, technology, and human behavior to explain why recognition works best when it is specific, connected to company values, and grounded in authentic human judgment.

The conversation explores how managers can build stronger cultures of appreciation without overwhelming employees with more communication.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why more communication does not always create more clarity

• How generic AI-generated messages can weaken trust

• Why recognition should be specific and tied to meaningful contributions

• How recognition can reinforce company values and desired behaviors

• Why managers are central to building a sustainable recognition culture

• How peer-to-peer recognition can strengthen workplace connection

• Why recognition works better when it is integrated into existing workflows

• How meaningful experiences and development opportunities can strengthen traditional rewards

• How AI can summarize recognition data, identify patterns, and support better performance conversations

• How recognition data may help leaders identify early signs of disengagement

The core message is simple: AI should help leaders notice and communicate what matters. It should not replace the authenticity that makes recognition meaningful.

About Alex Grande

Alex Grande is the CEO and Founder of Recognize, an employee recognition and rewards platform that helps organizations reinforce company values, improve employee engagement, and build stronger cultures of appreciation.

Learn more:

https://recognizeapp.com

About the People/AI Strategy Forum

The People/AI Strategy Forum, hosted by Sam Reeve, CEO of CompTeam, brings together executives, advisors, researchers, and business leaders to examine how AI, leadership, compensation, workforce strategy, and organizational systems are reshaping business performance.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the People/AI Strategy Forum on your preferred podcast platform and join the conversation!

About the People/AI Strategy Forum
The People/AI Strategy Forum explores how leaders navigate the intersection of people strategy, leadership, and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Sam Reeve, Founder & CEO of CompTeam, the Forum features conversations with executives, practitioners, and experts shaping the future of work.

Learn more about CompTeam and the People/AI Strategy Forum at compteam.net.

The most expensive CEO mistake often happens before the search starts.

Boards begin discussing who they want before aligning on what the business actually needs from its next leader.

In this episode of the People/AI Strategy Forum, Sam Reeve, CEO of CompTeam, speaks with Tom Verboven, Human Capital Leader at Mercer, about how boards can approach CEO succession with greater strategic clarity, rigor, and discipline.

Tom explains why succession should begin with the future of the business, not a list of candidates. Before assessing who is right for the role, boards need to define the capabilities, behaviors, experiences, cultural alignment, and leadership relationships the next stage of growth will require.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why CEO succession is a business design decision, not simply a hiring decision

• How boards can build a clear CEO success profile before beginning the search

• Why poor succession planning increases financial and organizational risk

• How strategy, culture, and leadership behavior should shape candidate criteria

• Why executive assessment should use multiple evidence points rather than intuition alone

• How interviews, psychometrics, cognitive tools, simulations, and business cases can strengthen selection

• When internal succession may be stronger than an external hire

• Why external CEOs need more intentional onboarding and relationship-building

• How the first 90 to 100 days can shape long-term CEO effectiveness

• Why succession planning should be treated as an ongoing leadership process

The central message is simple:

Boards should define what the business needs before deciding who should lead it.

A strong succession process starts with strategy, translates that strategy into a clear leadership profile, assesses candidates against that profile, and continues through onboarding, coaching, and board alignment after the hire.

About Tom Verboven

Tom Verboven is a Human Capital Leader at Mercer, where he advises clients on creating business value through effective human capital strategies.

His work spans executive assessment, succession planning, high-potential programs, talent selection, executive coaching, organization structure, change management, and culture realignment.

Tom has lived and worked across Belgium, the UAE, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, and the United States, bringing a global perspective to leadership, talent, and organizational effectiveness.

About the People/AI Strategy Forum

The People/AI Strategy Forum, hosted by Sam Reeve, CEO of CompTeam, brings together executives, advisors, researchers, and business leaders to examine how leadership, workforce strategy, AI, compensation, and organizational systems are shaping business performance.

Each episode delivers practical insights for leaders navigating growth, transformation, succession, talent decisions, and the future of work.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the People/AI Strategy Forum on your preferred podcast platform and join the conversation!

About the People/AI Strategy Forum
The People/AI Strategy Forum explores how leaders navigate the intersection of people strategy, leadership, and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Sam Reeve, Founder & CEO of CompTeam, the Forum features conversations with executives, practitioners, and experts shaping the future of work.

Learn more about CompTeam and the People/AI Strategy Forum at compteam.net.

AI is already changing how work happens inside organizations, but much of that change is taking place outside formal processes.

In this episode of the People/AI Strategy Forum, Sam Reeve, CEO of CompTeam, speaks with the author of The Inbox Between Us about a critical challenge for business leaders: understanding the gap between how work is documented and how work actually gets done.

Most organizations have a formal operating system. It lives in policies, workflows, approval structures, process maps, and standard procedures.

But there is also an informal operating system.

It lives in inboxes, chat messages, meeting transcripts, workarounds, informal handoffs, and the day-to-day decisions employees make to keep work moving.

That hidden layer matters because AI can only improve work effectively when leaders understand the system people are actually operating inside.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why formal workflows rarely capture the full reality of how work gets done

• How emails, chats, meetings, and informal workarounds reveal hidden organizational behavior

• Why AI adoption should begin with discovery before automation

• How approval delays can expose deeper workload, communication, and process problems

• Why informal AI use can signal unmet business needs

• How leaders can use AI to identify bottlenecks, friction, and communication breakdowns

• Why human judgment, accountability, and lived experience remain essential in an AI-enabled workplace

• How AI can help leaders better understand communication patterns and organizational behavior

• Why shared definitions and context are critical when applying AI to human workflows

The central message is simple:

Before investing in another AI platform or automating another process, leaders need to understand how the work actually happens today.

Sometimes the answer is automation.

Sometimes it is process redesign.

Sometimes it is clearer accountability.

And sometimes the most valuable solution is a better conversation between people.

This episode offers a practical, human-centered perspective on AI adoption and the future of work, focused on helping leaders make better decisions about where technology can create real business value.

About the People/AI Strategy Forum

The People/AI Strategy Forum, hosted by Sam Reeve, CEO of CompTeam, brings together executives, advisors, researchers, and business leaders to examine how AI, leadership, workforce strategy, and organizational systems are reshaping business performance.

Each episode provides practical insights for leaders navigating transformation, improving organizational effectiveness, and building workplaces prepared for the future of work.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the People/AI Strategy Forum on your preferred podcast platform and join the conversation!

About the People/AI Strategy Forum
The People/AI Strategy Forum explores how leaders navigate the intersection of people strategy, leadership, and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Sam Reeve, Founder & CEO of CompTeam, the Forum features conversations with executives, practitioners, and experts shaping the future of work.

Learn more about CompTeam and the People/AI Strategy Forum at compteam.net.

Most transformations do not stall because the strategy is weak.

They stall because the leaders responsible for executing that strategy are still operating with the habits, assumptions, and decision-making patterns that belonged to the business before the change.

In this episode of the People/AI Strategy Forum, Sam Reeve, CEO of CompTeam, speaks with Andy Fleming, Co-Founder and CEO of The Developmental Edge, about how organizations can build leadership capabilities at the same speed their strategy is evolving.

Andy introduces the Align, Sprint, Scale framework, a practical approach for helping leadership teams identify the mindset and behavior shifts their strategy requires, develop those capabilities through real business challenges, and then scale those new ways of working across the organization.

The conversation explores why leadership development can no longer be treated as a separate activity. In periods of rapid change, leaders need to learn, adapt, collaborate, and deliver results at the same time.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why strong strategies still fail during execution

• How outdated leadership assumptions can slow transformation

• Why collaboration is becoming increasingly important in complex organizations

• How to identify the critical "from-to" shifts a leadership team needs to make

• What happens during a developmental sprint

• How peer accountability and real-world experimentation accelerate behavior change

• Why trust, transparency, and vulnerability matter at the executive level

• How leadership development can happen inside the work rather than outside it

• What organizations can do to scale new leadership behaviors across the business

Andy also explains how organizations can sustain change by building a shared language, integrating new practices into meetings and decision-making, and developing internal leaders who can continue the process over time.

About Andy Fleming

Andy Fleming is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Developmental Edge, where he helps organizations build the leadership capabilities required to execute strategy and navigate transformation.

His work spans more than three decades in leadership and organizational development, including experience connected to Harvard Business School, Emory University's Center for Ethics, and senior leadership teams across large, complex global organizations.

Learn more at:

https://developmentaledge.com

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the People/AI Strategy Forum on your preferred podcast platform and join the conversation!

About the People/AI Strategy Forum
The People/AI Strategy Forum explores how leaders navigate the intersection of people strategy, leadership, and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Sam Reeve, Founder & CEO of CompTeam, the Forum features conversations with executives, practitioners, and experts shaping the future of work.

Learn more about CompTeam and the People/AI Strategy Forum at compteam.net.

Stop Losing Top Talent: How Retention & Rewards Decisions Build or Break Trust | Greg Roche

Growing companies often assume that employee turnover is primarily a pay problem.

In reality, people are more likely to leave when compensation decisions, manager relationships, career opportunities, communication, and workplace expectations become inconsistent as the organization grows.

In this episode of the People/AI Strategy Forum, Sam Reeve, CEO of CompTeam, speaks with Greg Roche, Founder of Retention and Rewards Partners, about how retention and rewards decisions influence employee trust, workforce stability, and long-term business performance.

Greg explains why retention should be treated as a business strategy, not simply an HR responsibility. He shares practical guidance for identifying the real causes of turnover, evaluating compensation against the market, improving manager effectiveness, and building stronger connections across the organization.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why compensation alone is rarely enough to retain top performers

• How early turnover can reveal a disconnect between recruitment promises and the actual employee experience

• Why counteroffers often delay turnover instead of solving it

• When growing organizations need more advanced compensation expertise

• Why market median pay may not always be the right target

• How targeted compensation investments can support stronger business results

• What leaders should consider when designing sales incentive plans

• Why manager engagement and workplace connection are critical retention drivers

• How internal networking can improve collaboration, mobility, and organizational performance

Greg also outlines a practical 90-day approach for leaders who want to strengthen retention. His recommendation begins with executive teams modeling stronger connection, encouraging cross-functional relationships, and treating collaboration as a meaningful business activity.

These actions can help organizations improve communication, identify internal talent, strengthen mobility, and create a workplace where employees feel connected to both the people and the purpose of the business.

About Greg Roche

Greg Roche is the Founder of Retention and Rewards Partners, where he helps growing organizations strengthen compensation strategy, improve employee retention, and develop total rewards programs that support sustainable growth.

He is also the author of The Fast and Easy Guide to Networking for Introverts and a frequent speaker on compensation, employee engagement, workplace connection, and leadership.

Learn more at:

https://retentionandrewards.com

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the People/AI Strategy Forum on your preferred podcast platform and join the conversation!

About the People/AI Strategy Forum
The People/AI Strategy Forum explores how leaders navigate the intersection of people strategy, leadership, and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Sam Reeve, Founder & CEO of CompTeam, the Forum features conversations with executives, practitioners, and experts shaping the future of work.

Learn more about CompTeam and the People/AI Strategy Forum at compteam.net.

Leadership Operating Systems: Turning AI Strategy into Execution with Betsy Kauffman

AI is transforming every industry, but technology is not what determines success.

Leadership is.

In this episode of the People Strategy Forum, Sam Reeve sits down with Betsy Kauffman, Founder & CEO of Cross Impact and author of The Fix, to explore why executive alignment has become the defining competitive advantage in the age of AI.

While many organizations focus on implementing new technologies, Betsy argues that the greatest obstacle to AI adoption is not the technology itself. It is leadership teams that lack shared priorities, clear decision-making, effective communication, and disciplined execution. As AI accelerates the pace of business, these leadership gaps become increasingly costly.

Together, Sam and Betsy discuss the Leadership Operating System, a practical framework for helping executive teams align around strategy, improve collaboration, strengthen accountability, and execute with confidence during periods of rapid change.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why AI initiatives fail when leadership teams lack alignment
• The Leadership Operating System every executive team needs
• How to improve executive decision-making and accountability
• Why healthy conflict creates stronger leadership teams
• Practical approaches to AI governance and responsible adoption
• How to avoid "shiny object syndrome" during rapid technological change
• The first steps leaders can take to strengthen alignment and execution over the next 90 days

Whether you're a CEO, CHRO, HR executive, or business leader, this conversation provides practical insights for leading organizational change, navigating AI transformation, and building leadership teams that consistently turn strategy into results.

About Betsy Kauffman

Betsy Kauffman is the Founder & CEO of Cross Impact, where she helps executive teams improve leadership alignment, organizational effectiveness, and strategic execution. She is also the author of The Fix, a business fable that demonstrates why organizations achieve better results by strengthening their systems rather than simply focusing on individual performance.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the People/AI Strategy Forum on your preferred podcast platform and join the conversation!

About the People/AI Strategy Forum
The People/AI Strategy Forum explores how leaders navigate the intersection of people strategy, leadership, and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Sam Reeve, Founder & CEO of CompTeam, the Forum features conversations with executives, practitioners, and experts shaping the future of work.

Learn more about CompTeam and the People/AI Strategy Forum at compteam.net.

Lifetime Loyalty in the Age of AI: How Leaders Keep Top Talent During Change

As AI continues to reshape the workplace, leaders face a growing challenge: helping employees navigate uncertainty while maintaining trust, engagement, and long-term loyalty.

In this episode of the People/AI Strategy Forum, Sam Reeve is joined by Lee Caraher, founder of Double Forte and author of The Boomerang Principle, to explore how organizations can build lasting employee relationships during one of the fastest periods of technological change in history.

Lee explains why communication—not certainty—is becoming one of leadership's greatest competitive advantages. Together, Sam and Lee discuss how organizations can build trust through transparency, invest in continuous learning, prepare employees for AI adoption, and create cultures that people are excited to return to—even after they've left.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

• Why trust is replacing perks as the foundation of employee loyalty
• How leaders should communicate during AI-driven change
• Why continuous AI training is essential for retention
• The business value of "boomerang employees"
• Internal communication as a strategic advantage
• Crisis communication lessons every leader should know
• Practical ways to lead through uncertainty without pretending to have every answer

If you're an executive, HR leader, founder, or manager navigating AI transformation, this episode offers practical leadership insights you can implement immediately.

Guest: Lee Caraher
CEO & Founder, Double Forte
Author of The Boomerang Principle

Learn more:
https://leecaraher.com

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the People/AI Strategy Forum on your preferred podcast platform and join the conversation!

About the People/AI Strategy Forum
The People/AI Strategy Forum explores how leaders navigate the intersection of people strategy, leadership, and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Sam Reeve, Founder & CEO of CompTeam, the Forum features conversations with executives, practitioners, and experts shaping the future of work.

Learn more about CompTeam and the People/AI Strategy Forum at compteam.net.

Change That Changes Everything: How Leaders Help People Adapt Before AI Fears Drive Talent Away

Artificial intelligence is changing the workplace faster than ever, but the biggest challenge isn't the technology.

It's helping people adapt.

In this episode of the People/AI Strategy Forum, Sam Reeve speaks with Wani Iris Manly, Esq. about why employees don't resist change—they fear loss—and how leaders can reduce uncertainty before it turns into disengagement or turnover.

Drawing from her background as an attorney, executive coach, and international change expert, Wani shares practical strategies for leading AI transformation while maintaining trust, confidence, and employee engagement.

In This Episode:

• Why fear—not technology—drives resistance to AI
• Helping employees adapt through retooling and continuous learning
• AI governance and responsible implementation
• Building trust during periods of rapid change
• Leadership strategies for reducing uncertainty
• Creating psychologically safe workplaces
• Why people remain an organization's greatest competitive advantage
• A practical framework for leading organizational change

Key Takeaway

Successful AI adoption isn't about replacing people.

It's about helping people confidently adapt to a changing world while ensuring technology strengthens—not replaces—the human experience at work.

Guest:
Wani Iris Manly, Esq.

Learn more:
https://www.waniirismanly.com

Connect with Wani:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/waniirismanly

Learn more about CompTeam:
https://compteam.net/

Watch the full video episode:
https://www.youtube.com/@PeopleStrategyForumPoweredByCompTeam

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the People/AI Strategy Forum on your preferred podcast platform and join the conversation!

About the People/AI Strategy Forum
The People/AI Strategy Forum explores how leaders navigate the intersection of people strategy, leadership, and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Sam Reeve, Founder & CEO of CompTeam, the Forum features conversations with executives, practitioners, and experts shaping the future of work.

Learn more about CompTeam and the People/AI Strategy Forum at compteam.net.