Join Jason for a powerful conversation with Wendy Rummler, Chief People Officer at Credit Acceptance. Wendy shares the inside story of how their organization transformed from a conventional, in-office workplace to a high-performing, remote-first organization, while earning multiple workplace awards year after year. The secret, she says, is fostering a culture where listening leads to meaningful action, and where transparency and feedback are non-negotiable.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 True “listening cultures” require managers to close the feedback loop every time. Either by implementing suggestions, explaining their reasoning for declining, or seeking more information.

👉 Organizational change is a long-term journey. The best results occur when leaders approach engagement as a continuous and rigorous discipline.

👉 Transparency about “why” decisions are made, especially about difficult topics, builds trust, even when the answer isn’t what people want to hear.

👉 The most valuable employee feedback often points to operational obstacles, not just perks or benefits. Addressing these issues directly enables your people to do their best work.

👉 Remote work success hinges on proactive onboarding, strong mechanisms for relationship-building, and frequent, meaningful leader check-ins with every team member.

👉 Strong cultures assume positive intent. Leaders who communicate trust and aspire to help everyone succeed redefine performance expectations and team cohesion.

***

Connect with Wendy:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-rummler-69777611/

***

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Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

#Leadership #PeopleFirst #CompanyCulture #FeedbackLoop #WorkplaceExcellence

Join Jason for an enlightening conversation with Mike Ferone, Vice President of Organizational Development and Performance Excellence at Benchmark Gensuite, as they explore how his company has created a “culture of opportunity”—one where promotions are based on demonstrated competencies and potential, not rigid timelines.

Together, they examined how this approach shapes engagement, enables rapid development, and makes workplaces more human-centered and successful.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The power of flexible, individualized promotion timelines, so everyone advances when ready, not just at review time

👉 How transparency and public clarity about why someone is promoted removes frustration and builds trust within teams.

👉 Why rigorous accountability, through regular manager and HR check-ins, ensures that every advancement is both earned and supported.

👉 How promoting based on demonstrated potential can accelerate growth for ambitious, early-career talent.

***

Connect with Mike:

Company: https://benchmarkgensuite.com/

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelferone/

***

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Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

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Join Jason for a deeply engaging conversation featuring Karen Rieck, the Vice President of Human Resources at Farm Bureau Financial Services, as she shares her journey on building “presence with a purpose” work.

Karen’s inspiring approach to employee connection, especially through their innovative “Real Stories” internal podcast, offers real-world lessons every manager should consider. They talked about how powerful it can be when people are encouraged not just to do their jobs, but to show up fully as who they are, even with everything they’re carrying.

Key lessons from our conversation include:

👉 The game-changing shift from “return to office” mandates to designing intentional in-office experiences that fuel genuine human connection.

👉 Practical, low-cost ways to foster community that make the workplace a destination.

👉 The transformative effects of storytelling through initiatives like the “Real Stories” podcast, which invites employees to share impactful experiences

👉 How inclusion is amplified not by policy statements, but by allowing people to own their stories and truly be known by their colleagues.

👉 Strategies for balancing work-life integration with organizational productivity, especially as employee expectations evolve in today’s workplace.

***

Connect with Karen Rieck:

Website: www.fbfs.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-rieck-6148446/

**

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Connect with Jason:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

#HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceCulture #FutureOfWork #Inclusion #HumanConnection #RealStories #PeopleFirst

Join Jason for an enlightening conversation with Jessica Jones, Executive Vice President of People and Culture at Emprise Bank. Jessica reflects on her evolution from being a strong advocate for remote-first work to recognizing how hybrid and in-person work, when grounded in intention and clarity, can enhance belonging, innovation, and team trust.

Together, they explore the risks of reactive policies and examine what today’s employees are truly seeking: not just remote work, but authentic flexibility.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 Start with strategy: Align workplace policies with your organization’s unique business needs, rather than following trends or executive preferences.

👉 Be clear and intentional: Communicate the ‘why’ behind workforce decisions to ensure employees understand and not just comply with organizational choices.

👉 Flexibility is fundamental: Employees crave autonomy and flexibility; when that’s missing, “return to office” feels like punishment, not opportunity.

👉 Invest in what matters: Whether in-office or remote, invest in equipping managers, supporting employee well-being, and building spaces (physical or virtual) that build collaboration.

👉 One size does not fit all: Tailor approaches to different roles and locations; balance recruiting needs, development opportunities, and business impact.

Jessica’s perspective will challenge and inspire you to think differently about your own organization’s approach to culture, connection, and the future of work.

***

Connect with Jessica Jones

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-jones-b1681193/

***

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Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

#HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceCulture #FutureOfWork #PeopleFirst #HybridWork #Inclusion #LeadershipDevelopment

Join Jason for an insightful episode with Halai Shukran, Chief Operating Officer of Pluribus Digital. Known for her strong background in HR leadership and people strategy, Halai offers an engaging, real-world perspective on how HR can become a true driver of business value.

In this episode, Halai shares her extraordinary journey from HR and corporate training to the C-suite, breaking down how empathy, business acumen, and a relentless focus on both people and outcomes propelled her forward. Together, they explore the nuanced distinction between aligning people to business strategy and aligning business strategy down to people, revealing why both are essential for managers looking to make an impact.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The difference between aligning people to business strategy (translating people initiatives up to deliver business results) and aligning business strategy to people (empowering every team member to see their role in the big picture).

👉 Why building your business acumen as a leader is as vital as mastering your own function—and how that cross-functional curiosity sets you apart.

👉 How to navigate resistance from leaders by choosing your battles, building cross-functional allies, and searching for high-impact, low-effort wins.

👉 The crucial role of transparency and consistent communication during times of uncertainty, especially when your people are looking to you for reassurance and clarity.

***

Connect with Halai Shukran:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halai-shukran/

***

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

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#HRLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeExperience #FutureOfWork #PeopleStrategy #BusinessAlignment

Join Jason for a thought-provoking conversation with Ben Brooks, Founder and CEO of Pilot, an award-winning culture and leadership development firm. In our discussion, we challenged traditional definitions of leadership and unpacked why organizations often get leadership development wrong.

Jason and Ben explored how making leadership accessible to everyone—not just a select few—can positively impact organizational culture and business outcomes. They also discussed what truly makes leadership development effective, why traditional models often fall short, and how organizations can unlock hidden potential within their people to drive results and have a developed workplace culture.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉How true leadership is about mindset, behavior, and personal impact, regardless of rank or title.

👉 Clarifying the distinction between management and leadership, and why both are essential but different levers for organizational success.

👉 Mistakes organizations are making in leadership development and why traditional approaches are failing to create real impact.

👉 How to define what “good leadership” looks like in YOUR organization, ensuring clarity, simplicity, and alignment across teams and levels.

👉 Effective leadership development isn’t about more assessment; it’s about real, applied learning experiences that align with your organization’s strategy and culture.

If you’re ready to stop talking about leadership and start empowering it at every level, this episode is a must-listen.

***

Learn more about Ben Brooks and Pilot:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbrooksny/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbrooksny/

X: https://x.com/benbrooksny

Website: https://pilot.coach/

Email: ben@pilot.coach

***

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#HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceCulture #FutureOfWork #LeadershipDevelopment #PeopleFirst #HumanWorkplaces #LeadershipMindset

Join Jason for an insightful conversation with Chrisanne Christ, Senior Partner, Human Resource Development at Centier Bank, as they discuss what it means to foster a "servant heart" culture to create a truly associate-first organization.

In this episode, Chrisanne shares her journey into HR, driven by a background that equipped her with empathy and care from a young age. Together with Jason, they explore the challenges and triumphs of nurturing a servant-heart culture and why relationships and connections are at the core of successful HR leadership.

Key highlights from our conversation include:

👉 The power of servant-heart leadership: Prioritizing others' needs over one's own to foster a nurturing and high-performing work culture.

👉 The role of leadership transformation: How personal experiences can drive leaders to adopt a more empathetic and people-first approach.

👉 The impact of relationships in the workplace: Building strong connections to support team members in both joyous and challenging times.

👉 The strategic formation of employee resource groups: Creating spaces for employees to lead, learn, and connect for mutual growth and empowerment.

***

Learn more about Chrisanne Christ

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisanne-christ-b2351b2/

Centier Bank: https://www.centier.com/

***

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#HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceCulture #ServantLeadership #FutureOfWork

Join Jason Lauritsen for an enlightening conversation with KeyAnna Schmiedl, the Chief Human Experience Officer at Workhuman. KeyAnna is a wealth of knowledge about creating inclusive, human-centered workplaces that thrive in today's dynamic environment.

In this episode, Jason and KeyAnna dive deep into the transformative potential of AI in HR and explore its implications for enhancing workplace culture and productivity. They uncover how to thoughtfully integrate AI into the people-first strategies of organizations. This conversation offers HR leaders profound insights into leveraging technology while maintaining the essence of human connection at work.

Key highlights from the episode include:

👉 The distinction between implementing AI thoughtfully versus carefully, focusing on innovation rather than restriction.

👉 Leveraging collective genius by involving employees in defining where AI can enhance their work efficiency and experience.

👉 The importance of not seeing AI and people as a binary choice but identifying opportunities where they can complement and amplify each other.

👉 Viewing AI as a tool for creativity and innovation, enabling people to focus on high-value tasks rather than mundane processes.

***

Connect with KeyAnna Schmiedl:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keyannaschmiedl/

Workhuman: https://www.workhuman.com

***

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Connect with Jason Lauritsen:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

#HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceCulture #HRInnovation #AI