Future of HR

by JP Elliott

[Greatest Hits] “The 7 Rules of Power” with Jeffrey Pfeffer, Professor Stanford University and Author of 16 books including the “7 Rules of Power

Why is the single biggest barrier to having power…ourselves? How can you, as an HR professional step into your power? My guest on this episode is Jeffrey Pfeffer, Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University and Author of 16 books including his latest one the “7 Rules of Power”: During our conversation Jeffrey and I discuss: Why he believes the single biggest barrier to having power is ourselves Why it is important that we own and tell our story, not let others tell it for us Why he believes that being authentic and/or modest is terrible leadership advice Why networking is a super power and how to do it well Why he believes HR needs to raise the bar and step into their power His advice on how to deal with difficult leaders in positions of power Connecting with Jeffrey Pfeffer Connect with Jeffrey Pfeffer on LinkedIn Learn more about the Jeffrey’s books, research, podcast and more Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

E204

Aug 4, 2026

32:15

“Data Storytelling: How HR Turns Insight Into Influence” Morgan Depenbusch, Data Storytelling & Influence Expert

How can you turn HR data into insights that drive decisions? Why do leaders make decisions based on their experience and instinct, not just data? My guest on this episode is Morgan Depenbusch, Data Storytelling & Influence Expert During our conversation Morgan and I discuss: How to tell what data is interesting from what data is decision relevant Why one reason to say no can beat twenty reasons to say yes Why you should see yourself as the guide and the leader as the hero How to surface a leader's real objection before the meeting and name it first Why AI gives HR more dashboards and signals but not more influence Connecting with Morgan: Connect with Morgan Depenbusch on LinkedIn Learn more about Morgan’s HR Data Storytelling and Influence Playbook Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

E203

Jul 28, 2026

38:45

“Everyone Knows Meetings Suck. Can We Actually Fix Them?” Steven Rogelberg, author of “The Surprising Science of Meetings” and “Glad We Met: The Art & Science of 1:1 Meetings”

How can HR transform meetings into a competitive advantage? Why is the one-on-one the one meeting that leaders should never cancel? My guest on this episode is Steven Rogelberg, author of “The Surprising Science of Meetings” and “Glad We Met: The Art & Science of 1:1 Meetings” During our conversation Steven and I discuss: Why a world without meetings is worse than a world with them Why the person who called the meeting is usually the only one who thinks it went well. Why measurement is the missing piece as engagement surveys almost never ask about meetings. Why framing your agenda as questions to be answered clarifies who to invite, what success looks like, and whether you even need to meet. Why the one-on-one belongs to the employee, not the manager Connecting with Steven Rogelberg: Connect with Steven Rogelberg on LinkedIn Learn more about Steven, his books, and work to make meetings matter Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

E202

Jul 21, 2026

48:01

“What Private Equity Knows About Talent That Most Companies Miss”, David Cohen, Partner, Human Capital at Kelso

How does human capital create value in private equity? What does it take to be a successful HR leader in private equity? My guest on this episode is David Cohen, Partner, Human Capital at Kelso During our conversation David and I discuss: Why the role of the human capital partner in private equity is to unlock value through people, not to run HR for the firm itself. What is takes to be successful as a CHRO in a private equity backed company. Why human capital value creation comes down to org design, the right people in the right seats, and senior team performance. How the "bullseye" model helps identify the right senior leader for a PE-backed company. Why breadth of experience matters more than titles in your 20s and 30s. Connecting with David Cohen: Connect with David Cohen on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

E201

Jul 14, 2026

37:04

The Next Evolution of HR: From Business Partner to Business Builder, JP Elliott, Founder, Future of HR

In this solo episode, I make the case that being a strategic business partner is no longer enough. I share the shift I believe is coming next, from business partner to business builder, and the three mindset shifts and behaviors that separate the two. Here are a few key takeaways from the episode: Why being a strategic business partner is no longer enough, and what the next evolution of HR asks of us. How the move from business partner to business builder is a mindset, not a job title. Why execution excellence has become the price of admission rather than the proof that HR is strategic and adding value. Why the real AI risk to HR is being bypassed, not being automated. Why making fewer, bigger bets turns HR priorities into business priorities. How choosing one big goal a year that scares you can change the course of your career.

E200

Jul 7, 2026

18:49

[Greatest Hits] “What Works: Organizational Design” with Amy Kates, Organization Design Expert, Consultant, Educator, and Author

Why is organizational design much more than org charts and who reports to whom? How can HR guide, facilitate and drive effective an organizational design process? My guest on this episode is Amy Kates who is organizational design expert and author of five books on the subject. During our conversation Amy and I discuss: Why the purpose of organizational design is to design human behavior at scale Why matrix organizations are set up for good conflict and how best to manage it The six business problems that leaders seek to solve through organizational design Why organizational design is not about org charts and who reports to whom The role that HR leaders should play and not play in the organizational design process. Advice for HR leaders who are about to start an organizational design project Connecting with Amy Kates: Connect with Amy Kates on LinkedIn Learn more about Amy’s work at Operating Model & Organization Design LinkedIn page Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

E199

Jun 30, 2026

51:48

How Workforce Readiness Becomes Mission Readiness with Kathleen McCarthy, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, SAIC

How can workforce readiness become mission readiness? Why is a people strategy not the same thing as a business strategy? My guest on this episode is Kathleen McCarthy, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, SAIC During our conversation Kathleen and I discuss the following: Why a people strategy is not a business strategy Why "progress over perfection" beats waiting for the perfect plan How CHROs are shifting from business partners to enterprise capability builders Why workforce readiness is a moving target, not a fixed destination Why you can't hire your way out of the readiness gap Connecting with Kathleen: Connect with Kathleen on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

E198

Jun 22, 2026

31:45

“Speak With Frameworks: How HR Leaders Win the Room” with Vicky Zhao, Founder, School of Human Intellect and Speaking With Frameworks

How can you think and communicate like an executive? Why is your strategy only as good as your ability to communicate it? My guest on this episode is Vicky Zhao, Founder, School of Human Intellect and Speaking With Frameworks. During our conversation Vicky and I discuss the following: Why the clearest idea, not the best idea, is the one that wins How the GPS framework (Goal, Problem, Solution) elevates your point of view Why the hardest shift is moving from a doer mindset to a leader mindset Why you should put the bottom line up front, using the pyramid principle Why giving yourself permission to contribute is the first step to showing up like an executive Connecting with Vicky: Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Subscribe to Vicky’s YouTube channel Learn more about Vicky’s course, Speaking With Frameworks Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

E197

Jun 16, 2026

37:16

“Data Inspired: How Data Can Drive Change” with Sebastian Wernicke, author of “Data Inspired”

How can HR use data to drive change? Why is being “data driven” no longer a nice to have, but rather an expectation for HR leaders My guest on this episode is Sebastian Wernicke, author of “Data Inspired” During our conversation Sebastian and I discuss the following: How the best data work starts by trying to prove yourself wrong Why HR leaders must become critical consumers of data How to start with the business problem, not the available data Why data-inspired organizations rest on three foundations: data literacy, a digital mindset, and a data culture Connecting with Sebastian: Connect with Sebastian on LinkedIn Learn more about Sebastian’s new book, Data Inspired Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

E196

Jun 9, 2026

44:18

“Using AI to Amplify Human Potential & Performance” with Vicki Walia, Chief People and Experience Officer at Prudential Financial

Why should HR think of themselves as the business instead of supporting the business? How can AI amplify human potential and performance? My guest on this episode is Vicki Walia, Chief People and Experience Officer at Prudential Financial During our conversation Vicki and I discuss the following: Why HR leaders need to see themselves as part of the business, not partners to it. How AI can amplify human potential and performance. How Vicki thinks about the AI "time dividend” and who should get the benefit. Why a high performance culture starts at the individual level. Why clarity, tools, and candid feedback are the three ingredients teams need. Connecting with Vicki: Connect with Vicki on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

E195

Jun 2, 2026

29:57

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