HR Works: The Podcast for Human Resources

As student debt burdens increase and traditional white-collar career paths leave many college graduates underemployed, the skilled trades are emerging as an unexpected solution for both workers and employers. College graduates represent a largely untapped talent pipeline for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical careers, and they often outperform traditional hires in leadership potential, adaptability, and retention. While technical skills can be taught, the critical thinking, communication abilities, and problem-solving mindset that many graduates bring to the table prove invaluable in an industry facing acute labor shortages.

On today's episode of the HR Works Podcast, we're looking at part two of our conversation with Julie Anderson, SVP of Talent Strategy, Wrench Group, on how the HR and trade work world can update their workforce, and the hidden potential of recruiting a younger workforce.

As student debt burdens increase and traditional white-collar career paths leave many college graduates underemployed, the skilled trades are emerging as an unexpected solution for both workers and employers. College graduates represent a largely untapped talent pipeline for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical careers, and they often outperform traditional hires in leadership potential, adaptability, and retention. While technical skills can be taught, the critical thinking, communication abilities, and problem-solving mindset that many graduates bring to the table prove invaluable in an industry facing acute labor shortages.

On today's episode of the HR Works Podcast, we're looking at part one of our conversation with Julie Anderson, SVP of Talent Strategy, Wrench Group, on how the HR and trade work world can update their workforce, and the hidden potential of recruiting a younger workforce.

AI has been changing how we work for well over a couple years, and now employees and employers alike are starting to figure out what works, and what doesn't. A lot of organizations need to start asking harder questions about how AI actually works, as in many cases, employers still do not fully understand the tools they are buying, how they function and where the risks lie.

On today's episode of the HR Works Podcast, we'll explore the ins and outs of AI and its impact on hiring alongside Chief Compliance officer at ICIMS, Courtney Dutter.

Success in the workforce starts with your leaders. If those taking charge don’t have clarity and a focused direction, their talent will lag behind. But knowing exactly where you, your team, and your talent needs to go isn’t always simple, and sometimes, you need to bet on your success.

Few know this better than Ericka Portis, Director of Performance for Fanatics Betting & Gaming, who joined us for an exclusive Q&A ahead of our SPARK Talent 2026 conference to discuss with us her HR journey, the road she’s followed, and paved, for leadership success.

From talent systems to leadership strategy, Portis has led the charge in development for some of the most prominent businesses out there. Check out our full conversation with Portis below!

Burnout and boredom have been plaguing the workplace more and more with each passing year, with HR leaders feeling more pressure with less reward. But what if we could bring creativity, flexibility, and genuine joy back into the workplace, and up productivity. According to Kevin Bishop, the Director of Talent Development at LinkedIn, it's not just a pleasant wish, but how the workforce should be moving forward.

Coming from a unique, non-linear background in the performing arts (music and theater), Bishop treats his “corporate outsider” perspective as a superpower. Before he takes the main stage at SPARK TALENT this fall, HR Daily Advisor got to sit down with Bishop for a live webinar to discuss how LinkedIn is transforming it's workforce, and how HR leaders can challenge the status quo, handle modern disruptions, and build a future-ready workforce. Check out part two of our conversation below!