Pulse by HRBench

What does it take to lead people in high-stakes, private-equity-backed environments, where efficiency matters, managers are underprepared, and AI is reshaping how work gets done?

In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, Kelly Oliver, a veteran HR and business leader whose career spans leadership roles at Microsoft, Oracle, HP, Salesforce, and most recently as Head of HR at a PE-backed cybersecurity company.

In this episode we exp...

AI is reshaping how we work, and HR should be at the forefront.

In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, we sit down with Kristin McDonald, a veteran HR tech strategist and self-proclaimed “HR tech nerd,” to unpack what it means for HR to lead in the age of AI.

Kristin shares:

• Why AI literacy is now table stakes for HR leaders

• How to build an AI roadmap that drives business value

• What traps to avoid during tech implementations

• How to eva...

What if the performance issues you’re seeing are really signs of trauma?

In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, Dr. John King shares his powerful story, from surviving childhood trafficking and losing everything at age 45, to building a framework for growth, healing, and leadership in high-performance environments.

This isn’t just John’s personal story. It’s a roadmap for HR.

We explore:

• Why trauma isn’t just something that happens t...

In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, we sit down with Stacie Baird, Chief People Officer at Community Medical Services, to talk about the early warning signs of burnout, and what HR can do before it turns into turnover.

With over 30 years of experience in high-growth, PE-backed organizations, Stacie shares how CMS has built a proactive strategy around burnout, engagement, and retention. 

Reducing turnover by 27% in the process.

You’ll...

What happens when you lead with culture and back it up with real-time workforce data?

In this episode, Kevin Trowbridge, Director of Compensation at Kimray, a 75-year-old manufacturing company that’s rewriting what modern HR looks like. From starting every hiring process with a culture-fit interview to implementing job families that re-energized frontline engagement, Kimray is a case study in values-led, data-powered HR.

You’ll hear ...

How should HR leaders show up in high-growth, PE-backed companies?

In this episode of Pulse by HRBench, we unpack the HR playbook for private equity environments with seasoned HR leader Nicole Logue.

Nicole shares lessons from operating across the entire PE lifecycle, from pre-acquisition to exit, and how HR can lead through each phase.

We discuss:

• How HR can learn how the business makes money (and why it matters)

• What your...

What does it take to turn HR data into decisions?

In this episode of Pulse, we sit down with Courtney Brown, HR Analyst, to break down how she uses data to drive action across the employee lifecycle. From recruiting to onboarding and engagement surveys.

Courtney shares how her early career in the CFO’s office shaped her mindset toward data integrity and decision-making, how she helped build a survey system for the entire UC system, a...

In this episode of Pulse, I speak with Alex Thompson, SHRM-CP and get his insights for making your work visible, trusted, and strategic.

Alex has sat on both sides of the table, first as an HRBench customer, and now as an Implementation Manager. This provides a unique perspective, as he gets to speak with a lot of HR teams to understand what are successful strategies in the current environment.

In this episode, we explore how to:

• ...

What do executives really want from HR data — and how do you earn their trust?

In this episode of Pulse, Logan talks with Dani Woods, an experienced HR leader, people strategist, and founder of Lotus Welle. Dani shares what it takes to build credibility in high-pressure environments, especially when the data is messy, the systems are disconnected, and the expectations are high.

If you’ve ever been caught flat-footed in a boar...