Agile By Design: Reinventing People Strategy For A Tech-Driven World

What if your HR systems didn’t collapse under pressure—but flexed, scaled, and supported like a pro?
In this episode of The Culture Chronicles, I sit down with Austin Krogh, a human-centric systems thinker and HR transformation powerhouse, to dig into what happens when people strategy finally catches up to reality.

We’re talking agile frameworks. Scalable systems. And the real reason your fancy new HR tech still makes your employees want to scream.

From tech fatigue to AI integration to building HR that actually works in high-growth chaos, Austin breaks down how we move beyond traditional playbooks and start designing people operations for today’s world—not yesterday’s.

This isn’t about shiny tools. It’s about smart systems. And if your HR stack feels like a game of Jenga, this episode is your blueprint for building something better.

We cover:
– How agile frameworks reshape HR for speed, scale, and sanity
– What “centralization” really means when it’s done right
– Why tech fatigue isn’t about too many tools—it’s about terrible systems
– How AI can personalize HR without stripping away the human
– The danger of ignoring high performers while chasing low engagement
– Why newsletters aren’t communication—they’re just noise
– How startups can brand their people experience from day one

About Austin:

Austin Krogh is the HR Digital Content & AI Product Manager at Johnson Controls, where he’s on a mission to make HR more agile, intuitive, and human-centered. He blends systems thinking, design strategy, and AI innovation to streamline employee experiences and modernize support at scale.

With a background spanning talent strategy, product thinking, and digital transformation, Austin knows that broken HR isn’t fixed with another platform—it’s fixed with bold architecture and better thinking. Whether he’s replacing outdated help desks with automation or embedding feedback loops into comms strategy, Austin leads with clarity, empathy, and deep operational chops.

Why he matters to you:
Austin isn’t just theorizing about the future of work—he’s building it. If your HR team is stuck duct-taping solutions together or your employee experience feels more like a scavenger hunt than a support system, Austin’s insights will shift your entire approach.

🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-krogh/

About your host:

Kate Ball is an international talent strategist, bestselling author, and unapologetic Bullshit Exorcist on a mission to torch performative HR and take down corporate nonsense with a smile. With 20+ years spent shaking up culture, leadership, and people strategy at giants like Amazon, Expedia, and Cision, she now runs Sparkle & Sass Consulting—helping brave companies and bolder leaders stop playing nice and start doing better.

On The Culture Chronicles, Kate calls it like it is: no jargon, no fluff, and definitely no beige. Just sharp minds, spicy takes, and real talk about what’s broken at work—and who’s bold enough to fix it.

This isn’t your HR department’s podcast. It’s the one they hope you never find.

🌐 Learn More: https://www.sparkleandsassconsulting.com
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateball1/
📸 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_culturechronicles/
📚 Explore The Culture Chronicles Book Series: https://www.amazon.com/author/kateball