People and Strategy

In this episode of People + Strategy, Claire MacIntyre, senior VP and chief people officer at Sam’s Club, explores what it means to lead through the rise of AI while keeping people at the center. She shares why today’s leaders may guide the last fully human workforce, and how HR can shape an era of “people-led, tech-powered” work. From reimagining jobs around purpose and creativity to advancing skills-based hiring, MacIntyre challenges CHROs to move beyond scarcity thinking, embrace AI as an enabler, and design workplaces where technology amplifies — not replaces — human potential. 

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr  

— 

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r 

In this episode of People + Strategy, Brian Dickens, CHRO of the University of Tennessee System, opens up about the realities of leading while caring for both aging parents and growing children. As part of the sandwich generation, Dickens explores how empathy, flexibility, and purpose-driven leadership can help organizations better support a rapidly expanding caregiving workforce. He offers insights on balancing self-care, family, and professional responsibility while challenging HR leaders to rethink culture and benefits to meet the needs of employees navigating life’s most complex seasons. 

SHRM Report: 2025 Care and Career Report  

Related Article: Caring Across Generations  

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr  

— 

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r 

In this episode of People + Strategy, hear Brad Winn’s hard-won lessons on executive influence and the messy realities of organizational politics. Winn is a professor of leadership and strategy in the Huntsman School of Business, executive MBA director at Utah State University, and senior editor of the People + Strategy Journal. Winn draws upon his time as a member of the Utah House of Representatives to offer insight into how to navigate high-stakes negotiations in both the public and private sector. Listeners will gain tips on how senior HR leaders can go beyond great ideas to move through resistance, build trust, and drive meaningful change. 

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr  

— 

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r 

In this episode of People + Strategy, Thomas A. Cole, chair emeritus of the Sidley Austin law firm, reflects on the leadership lessons that shaped his 47-year career. He reveals why true meritocracy depends on character, humility, and what he calls “selfless ambition.” Cole explains how leaders can avoid the trap of building weak benches, why feedback is a gift, and how credentialism can hold organizations back. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to grow talent and teams that make better decisions to create inclusive workplaces. 

For more on merit and inclusion in the workplace, register for BLUEPRINT: https://conference.shrm.org/blueprint 

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr  

— 

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r 

In this episode of People + Strategy, Bob Goodwin, president of Career Club, unpacks why HR leaders must speak the language of CEOs and CFOs to secure influence in the boardroom. Drawing on research, case studies, and his work with executives, Bob reveals how financial fluency, business acumen, and data-driven storytelling can elevate HR from a “soft” function to a strategic driver of growth. Learn how CHROs can bridge the disconnect with the C-Suite to stay indispensable in an era of cost pressures and AI disruption. 

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr  

— 

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career.

Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r 

Today companies need to balance stable, revenue generating operations with bold gambles on innovative ideas. Hear from Michael Arena, former Chief Talent Officer of General Motors, as he discusses Adaptive Space and what that means for companies today. In this interview by Simon King, board chair for HR People + Strategy, Michael also explains how to cultivate innovation, be agile, and how leaders need to expand their thinking. Michael’s deep expertise and research helps ease the challenges in encouraging innovation in today’s business climate. (length 30:13)

Customers and employees expect modern companies to take a stand and express values. Hear from Dean Carter, Vice President of Human Resources & Shared Services at Patagonia, about how company values and culture shape people practices, why leaders should question everything, how companies should think long-term, and much more. Interviewed by Simon King, chair of the board for HR People + Strategy, Dean’s passion for people is evident in his career and devotion to forward-thinking HR practices. (length 29:33)

Technology, employee engagement, and the future of work are all hot topics in the world of business. Hear from Sumeet Salwan, Principal and Co-founder of CEO.works, as he shares his expertise from more than 20 years of HR experience in large companies. Sumeet discusses how to choose your path, ways to boost diversity & inclusion, how technology will change talent management, how energy and engagement are connected, and more in this interview by Simon King, chair of the board for HR People + Strategy. (length 27:59)

The alternative workforce and independent work arrangements are part of the future of work. Hear from Josh Bersin, global industry analyst, founder of Bersin by Deloitte, and principal research partner for HR People + Strategy, as he shares his expertise, research, and insights on the new workforce. Learn how to incorporate these different workers into your people strategy in this interview by HRPS Executive Director Lisa Connell. (length 40:44)

Daniel Jacobs is a believer in the power of storytelling. As Co-Founder and CEO of Avanoo, a company focused on culture change, Jacobs has learned how to harness technology as a driver of engagement and employee experience. Learn how technology and learning tie into culture in this interview by HRPS Executive Director Lisa Connell. (length 18:59)