People Managing People

Candor is easy to value and hard to operationalize. It takes more than writing "feedback" on a poster and hoping people magically feel safe being honest. In this episode, I talk to Valentina Gissin, Chief People Officer at Garner Health, about how her team institutionalizes candor and turns culture into lived behavior—not empty slogans.

We dig into radical practices like publishing peer and upward feedback company-wide, cu...

Most new managers aren't failing because they're bad at the job. They're failing because no one ever told them what the job actually is.

In this episode, David talks with Lia Garvin, author of The New Manager Playbook, about the real barriers keeping new managers from delivering results. It's not a lack of ambition or intelligence. It's a complete absence of clear expectations, practical support, and trust—f...

Transitioning from the public sector to private HR isn't just a career move—it's a full-on culture shock. In this episode, Kimberly Williams, VP of People, Culture & Compliance at Walker Advertising, joins David to unpack her journey from federal HR to private enterprise, sharing hard-won lessons, surprising similarities, and the real stakes of navigating both worlds.

From managing bureaucracy to confronting toxic lead...

What do tech hiring, Olympic figure skating, and the shifting tides of global work culture have in common? According to Ann Kuss, CEO of Outstaff Your Team, more than you'd think. In this episode, Ann joins David Rice to dissect the rapidly evolving landscape of tech talent: who's winning, who's losing, and why so many companies are still playing yesterday's game with today's rules. From the rise of AI-nati...

Jared Kleinert, founder and CEO of Offsite, shares insights on the growing importance of team retreats in today’s distributed work environment. As remote and hybrid models become the norm, retreats have evolved from perks to essential strategies for keeping teams connected, aligned, and engaged.

Jared emphasizes that planning intentional offsites is crucial for retaining talent and fostering a strong company culture. The conversatio...

Kelly Meerbott, CEO of YOU: Loud and Clear, dives into the growing disconnect between the C-suite and everyday employees, exposing how middle managers become "human shock absorbers" caught between corporate pressures and workforce realities. She calls out performative leadership and urges executives to prioritize coherence over charisma, advocating for leaders who genuinely embody their values rather than just posting the...

Many leaders still cling to outdated management styles focused on visible productivity rather than actual outcomes, despite a dramatic shift toward distributed teams. Brian Elliott, CEO of Work Forward, explains how the rise of hybrid work and AI tools highlights the need for outcomes-based management, rather than "productivity theater."

Brian also points out that return-to-office mandates often miss the mark, as workplace...

Steve Cadigan, a talent advisor and former CHRO of LinkedIn, joins us to discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into today’s workplace. We explore how the AI revolution stands apart from past technological shifts due to its unpredictability and ongoing development, leaving even its creators both excited and uncertain about its future.

We also dive into the key question: How is your organization embracing AI? Are ...

The shift from managing individual contributors to overseeing other managers is one of the toughest transitions in leadership. Chris Williams, former Microsoft HR VP, explores why this change is so challenging and how organizations can better support these key leaders.

Chris dives into the unique struggles faced by second-level managers, including finding mentorship and translating vague strategic objectives into actionable plans. H...

Workplaces have become battlegrounds for political ideologies, with DEI initiatives at the center of controversy. In this episode, host David Rice speaks with Enrique Rubio, founder of Hacking HR, about the dangers of political polarization in organizations and why leaders must take a stand.

Enrique challenges listeners to move beyond acronyms and see DEI for what it truly represents—fair treatment and opportunity for all. He provid...

DEI has become a polarizing topic, making it harder to have meaningful conversations about building truly inclusive workplaces. In this episode, host David Rice speaks with Amri B. Johnson, founder of Inclusion Wins, about shifting the focus from divisive debates to practical systems that create lasting change. 

Amri challenges traditional DEI approaches, advocating for inclusion-first strategies that move beyond representation to e...

The hiring process is broken, and both employers and job seekers are feeling the frustration. In this episode, host David Rice talks with Jessica Smith, founder and CEO of Savant Recruitment, about the unrealistic expectations plaguing talent acquisition today. From the "Goldilocks syndrome" of rejecting great candidates to drawn-out hiring processes, Jessica exposes the missteps that are costing companies top talent.

Jess...

Trust is the foundation of a thriving workplace, but how do you build and sustain it in uncertain times? In this episode, host David Rice sits down with Greg Hawks, leadership trainer and creator of the Ownership Mindset, to explore practical strategies for fostering trust and accountability at work.

Greg shares his "Maybe Mindset" framework for navigating uncertainty and reveals how leaders can cultivate an ownership cult...

The workplace is evolving rapidly, with one-third of job skills changing every three years. In this episode, host David Rice speaks with Cole Napper, VP of Research at Lightcast, about how AI, automation, and demographic shifts are reshaping the labor market. As blue-collar industries face worker shortages while knowledge jobs undergo disruption, organizations must rethink skills development and workforce strategies.

Cole shares ins...

Leadership is a journey fraught with internal challenges, particularly the persistent feeling of imposter syndrome.

Host David Rice talks with Nathan Tanner, former HR leader at DoorDash and LinkedIn, about overcoming imposter syndrome and breaking through leadership challenges. Nathan shares insights from his career and strategies for building confidence and resilience. They explore the psychological barriers that hold leaders back...

Navigating a mid-career job search comes with unique challenges, from age bias to outdated hiring practices. In this episode, host David Rice sits down with career coach John Tarnoff to discuss why traditional resumes might be holding you back and how to position yourself as a valuable consultant rather than just another applicant.

They explore strategies for overcoming ageism, building meaningful connections, and redefining your va...

How can organizations adapt to employees’ growing preference for stability? In this episode, host David Rice sits down with Ashley Avanzato, VP of HR at ADP, to explore key insights from the ADP Pay Insights report and what they mean for employee retention and engagement.

They discuss the power of trust, empathetic leadership, and strategies like transparent communication and mentorship programs to keep employees motivated. Tune in ...

What if leadership as we know it is undergoing a radical transformation?

In this episode, host David Rice is joined by Jordana Cole—Founder and Principal Consultant at Ignited—to  talk about the changing hats leaders have to wear, declining interest in leadership positions, and why the idea of "unbossing" might just be a terrible idea.

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AI is transforming the workplace—but how do we separate real, practical use cases from overhyped trends that don’t deliver results? And what ethical risks should we watch out for?

Host David Rice talks with Jonathan Conradt—former Principal AI Scientist at Amazon and Management Board Advisor at Synerise—about AI’s real impact on HR and leadership. They explore how AI is shaping hiring, employee wellness, and decision-making, plus th...