Authenticity and impact shape how these HR leaders define success and leadership

This episode was recorded live at SHRM 2025 in San Diego. William Tincup sat down with D’Mar Phillips, Bill Chval, and Franz Schreiner. Each guest brought a unique lens to the idea of people leadership. They spoke with clarity. They answered without polish. They showed what real influence looks like inside a company. D'Mar explained why strong relationships matter more than surface-level connection. Bill revealed how motivation depends on knowing what others need before they ask. Franz shared how product success starts with diagnosing the right problem. They did not try to impress. They told stories. They reflected on turning points. They spoke about feedback that hurt but helped. They showed how leadership means staying grounded even when you want to retreat. They made it clear that legacy begins with how you show up every day. Timestamps 00:00 — Why they start with HR superpowers instead of job titles 01:10 — William explains how motivation fails without personalization 02:00 — “What did you hear?” creates clarity through reflection 03:10 — Franz explains the gap between customer asks and real problems 04:20 — Bill defines a people hero as someone who makes a difference 05:40 — Bill uses a kitchen whiteboard to reinforce what matters 06:30 — Franz explains why Bill leads the same way at home and work 07:40 — D'Mar reframes heroism as the courage to be authentic 08:30 — William embraces blunt honesty but checks for permission 09:20 — Franz explains how inspiration helped shape his leadership 11:00 — Franz reveals why transparency matters more than pretending 12:20 — A project failure at Uber taught Franz to lead with honesty 13:10 — Feedback without sugarcoating builds long-term trust 14:10 — Bill recalls when a stranger wanted to work for him 16:20 — D'Mar shares what Feeding America’s CEO taught him about feedback 17:50 — He explains why you should never leave just to escape something This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/