HR Happy Hour Network

Why Gen Z is Rethinking Careers: The Rise of Skilled Trades
Hosts: Jack McFarlane and Nicholas Schlemmer
Guest: Jake Adams, Journeyman Carpenter

Summary
In this episode of The Play by Play Podcast, Jack McFarlane and Nick Schlemmer revisit the world of blue-collar work with returning guest Jake Adams, a journeyman carpenter who first joined the show at the beginning of his career journey. The conversation explores why Gen Z is rethinking traditional career paths, the growing interest in skilled trades, and how technology and AI are impacting hands-on work. Jake shares his experience moving from apprentice to journeyman, what he has learned along the way, and how mentorship, work ethic, and new opportunities are shaping the future of blue-collar careers.

Takeaways
Why skilled trades are becoming a more attractive career option for younger generations
How AI and technology are influencing construction and trade industries
The value of apprenticeships, hands-on learning, and career exploration
How mentorship and reverse mentorship are changing workplace dynamics
Why career growth does not always follow a traditional four-year college path


Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.
We talk a lot on this show about where HR is headed — and one of the most exciting developments I’ve seen lately is what Workhuman is doing with Future Leaders. Future Leaders is the first talent intelligence tool of its kind, helping companies identify high-potential VP+ talent already inside their organization — up to 4 years before they step into the role. And it’s not based on gut instinct or visibility. Using real-time recognition data and proprietary AI, it reveals who’s already influencing and elevating the people around them. Future Leaders from Workhuman is setting a new standard for internal talent development. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

Leadership in the AI Era: How Great Managers Create Clarity Through Change
Host: Steve Boese and Trish Steed
Guest: Ben Brooks, Founder & CEO at PILOT

Summary
On this episode of At Work in America, Steve Boese and Trish Steed welcome leadership expert and Pilot founder Ben Brooks for a timely conversation on leading through uncertainty. As AI, economic shifts, and rapid workplace change continue to reshape organizations, they explore why clarity, decisive leadership, and strong workplace culture have become competitive advantages. The discussion also covers psychological safety, meaningful feedback, and practical strategies for helping teams stay aligned, adaptable, and ready for what's next.

Takeaways
Clear communication and explicit expectations foster trust and performance.
Leadership involves making tough decisions thoughtfully and ethically.
Organizations benefit from defining shared ways of working and culture.
Feedback readiness is crucial for growth and development.
Leaders should focus on strengths and prioritize what matters most.


Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.
We talk a lot on this show about where HR is headed — and one of the most exciting developments I’ve seen lately is what Workhuman is doing with Future Leaders. Future Leaders is the first talent intelligence tool of its kind, helping companies identify high-potential VP+ talent already inside their organization — up to 4 years before they step into the role. And it’s not based on gut instinct or visibility. Using real-time recognition data and proprietary AI, it reveals who’s already influencing and elevating the people around them. Future Leaders from Workhuman is setting a new standard for internal talent development. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

Building a Culture of Innovation: What Leaders Get Wrong
Hosts: Mervyn Dinnen
Guest: Cris Beswick - Leadership, culture, and innovation expert

Summary
On this episode of HR Means Business, Mervyn is joined by leadership, culture, and innovation expert Chris Beswick to challenge one of business's most misunderstood concepts: innovation. Together, they explore why innovation shouldn't be treated as a department, initiative, or brainstorming exercise, but as the outcome of a culture intentionally designed to encourage curiosity, collaboration, and calculated risk.
Chris explains why so many innovation programs fail—not because organizations lack ideas, but because they focus on tools and processes without changing the leadership behaviors and cultural conditions that allow innovation to thrive. The conversation also examines the critical role of middle managers, psychological safety, and why leadership must move beyond simply sponsoring innovation to truly owning it.
The discussion also tackles one of today's biggest leadership questions: where AI fits into innovation. Rather than replacing human creativity, Chris argues that organizations will see the greatest success by using AI to remove administrative work while allowing people to focus on collaboration, problem-solving, and creating value.

Key Takeaways
Why innovation is an outcome—not a strategy or department.
The leadership and cultural conditions that make innovation possible.
Why middle managers are often the most overlooked drivers of organizational change.
How psychological safety enables better ideas and smarter risk-taking.
Why many innovation initiatives fail to deliver ROI.
How AI should complement—not replace—human creativity and leadership.
Practical first steps leaders can take to build a culture that supports innovation.


Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.
We talk a lot on this show about where HR is headed — and one of the most exciting developments I’ve seen lately is what Workhuman is doing with Future Leaders. Future Leaders is the first talent intelligence tool of its kind, helping companies identify high-potential VP+ talent already inside their organization — up to 4 years before they step into the role. And it’s not based on gut instinct or visibility. Using real-time recognition data and proprietary AI, it reveals who’s already influencing and elevating the people around them. Future Leaders from Workhuman is setting a new standard for internal talent development. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

HR Keeps Inheriting Everyone Else’s Problems
Host: Sabrina Baker

Summary
If no one owns it, HR gets it. That's not a bandwidth problem, it's an ownership boundary problem. And they require completely different solutions.
In this episode, Sabrina Baker breaks down why unowned work keeps landing on HR's plate and how HR's own greatest strength — operating in ambiguity — works against them. The more capable and willing you are to step in, the more the organization learns to route things your direction. Involvement and ownership are not the same thing. One of the most strategic things HR can do is understand the difference.
She shares three moves for stopping the pattern that you can start doing today. The sentence to hold onto: every problem HR solves without clarifying ownership becomes HR's problem to solve again later.

Key Topics
Ownership boundaries in HR
Delegation and offloading tasks
Distinction between involvement and ownership
Strategies to clarify responsibilities
Impact of ambiguity on HR workload
Building organizational accountability

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.
Every year, companies spin their wheels searching externally for senior leaders. Meanwhile, their next VP is already on their payroll. Recognized by peers, but overlooked on the org chart. Future Leaders™ by Workhuman fixes that. Using AI and real-time recognition data, Future Leaders identifies your highest-potential talent four years ahead of schedule — before they burn out, check out, or get picked up by someone who saw what you missed. Build smarter. Promote confidently. Keep your best people. Future Leaders. Only from Workhuman. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.

Why AI Transformation Requires a New People Strategy
Host: Steve Boese
Guest: Ravin Jesuthasan, Global Transformation Leader & Partner at Mercer

Summary
On this episode of At Work in America, Steve Boese is joined by Ravin Jesuthasan to discuss why successful AI transformation requires more than simply deploying new technology. Drawing from Mercer’s Global Talent Trends 2026 research, Ravin explains how leading organizations are redesigning work, evolving HR’s role, and focusing on skills to unlock the full value of AI. The conversation also explores employee wellbeing, workforce readiness, and the choices leaders must make to balance productivity, growth, and human impact in an increasingly intelligent workplace.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Transformation in Work
03:00 The Role of Technology in Work Redesign
05:54 Evolving HR's Role in Organizations
08:49 The Impact of AI on Workforce Dynamics
12:05 Understanding Employee Thriving in the Workplace
14:50 Navigating Skills and Workplace Development
18:01 The Choices Organizations Face with AI
21:06 Future Outlook on Work and AI Integration

Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.
Every year, companies spin their wheels searching externally for senior leaders. Meanwhile, their next VP is already on their payroll. Recognized by peers, but overlooked on the org chart. Future Leaders™ by Workhuman fixes that. Using AI and real-time recognition data, Future Leaders identifies your highest-potential talent four years ahead of schedule — before they burn out, check out, or get picked up by someone who saw what you missed. Build smarter. Promote confidently. Keep your best people. Future Leaders. Only from Workhuman. Learn more at workhuman.com. Thanks for joining us.