Category: HRDA Frankly Speaking

HRDA Frankly Speaking: SHRM’s New Initiative Invites Departments to Work Together

Last week, SHRM 25 saw the biggest voices in HR lead the conversation on how HR professionals can lead change in the workplace and spark innovation. During the opening reception, SHRM Chief of Staff, Emily M. Dickens, introduced 𝐄², SHRM’s new initiative to create a better pipeline for education to employment. The initiative is an […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: HR’s New Flight Path—Lead Beyond the Storm

At SHRM 25, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM’s President and CEO, delivered a powerful message that resonated with every HR professional: our job has fundamentally changed. We’re no longer just reacting to problems or trying to keep up; instead, we’re now charting the course for the future of work. Taylor’s main speech urged HR leaders to […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: DEI’s Core Truth—Neutralizing the Playing Field

In conversations surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), backlash and misconceptions often cloud the true intent. Yet, at its heart, DEI isn’t about special treatment; it’s about unlocking potential for everyone. As a leader deeply committed to embedding empathy and emotional intelligence into every aspect of operations, Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan, Chief Operating Officer and Head of People at […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: HelloFresh Director of Diversity on True Leadership

What does it mean to be a leader? Many of us ask this question and juggle several answers. Does a leader drive forward the business? Quietly support their teams growth? Or something else entirely? The question is one we must ask ourselves every day, and while there are many answers, some truly get to the […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Why Ethical HR Tech is Non-Negotiable

Forget just boosting efficiency. Jen Kirkwood, CEO & Founder of Talvana Consulting, and a speaker at SPARK TALENT 2025, reveals a critical truth: the future of HR tech isn’t just about what AI can do, but what it must do responsibly. As employees and candidates become savvier about AI, your company’s ethics are now a legal and brand imperative. […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Paychex TA Director on The One Skill to Look Out For When Hiring

With job openings often getting hundreds, if not thousands of applications, interviewing has become a pivotal skill for hiring managers and HR professionals to hone. But how can you sift through and find the best candidate for the position, avoiding things like recency bias and latching on to “vibe” based hiring? We sat down with […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Liz Almeida on Being Intentional About Culture

Workplace culture is the difference between having a confident, productive team and one that dreads their desk about as much as they do the DMV. Liz Almeida, CHRO at Panasonic, warns leaders about the dangers of a stagnant, unsupportive work culture during her panel at SPARKHR 2025. Though she stresses the importance of culture, Almeida […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Gen AI’s Secret Weapon for Coaching & Culture

Think AI is just for recruitment? Think again. Jennifer Kirkwood, CEO & Founder of Talvana Consulting, and speaker at SPARK Talent 2025, recently shared an unexpected but powerful insight: while generative AI is already changing many parts of HR, its biggest, most surprising impact is coming to employee coaching and feedback. This is huge, Kirkwood noted, especially […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: AI Helps You Do “More with Less”

At Spark HR 2025, Matthew Duncan, who leads Microsoft’s thinking on the future of work, shared a big truth from Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Report: people at work are hitting their limits. With people facing hundreds of interruptions each day and most feeling a constant time crunch, the old ways of boosting output simply don’t […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Microsoft’s AI Insight—It’s a Mindset, Not Just Tech

Forget everything you think you know about AI in the workplace. While the rapid advancements of generative AI models might seem like just another tech upgrade, Matthew Duncan, Head of Future of Work Thought Leadership at Microsoft, has a message for HR leaders: it’s a fundamental cultural revolution. At Spark HR 2025, Duncan shared insights […]