How can belonging unlock performance?

Why should we focus on activation, not empowerment to drive innovation?

My guest on this episode is with Brian Miller, Chief Talent and D&I Officer at Levi Strauss & Co

During our conversation Brian and I discuss:

• How belonging drives performance by creating cultures where people feel valued, heard, and stretched.
• Why he believes activation is more important than empowerment
• Why believability is becoming a critical measure of modern leadership.
• How AI-driven talent analytics will unlock HR’s next big opportunity.
• What it means to intentionally build belonging, not just measure it.

Connecting with Brian:

Connect with Brian Miller 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.

How can you identify and reframe your limiting beliefs?

Why is awareness not enough to get unblocked?

My guest on this episode is with Muriel Wilkins, Founder & CEO of Paravis Partners and author of “Leadership Unblocked.”

During our conversation Muriel and I discuss:

• Why leaders are often their own biggest obstacle
• How limiting beliefs quietly undermine our leadership and how to spot them
• The hidden blockers successful people carry and how they can stall your progress
• The myth of “If I can do it, so can you”—and why true leaders meet people where they are
• Muriel’s practical three-step roadmap: uncover, unpack, and unblock your limiting beliefs

Connecting with Muriel:

Connect with Muriel Wilkins on LinkedIn

Learn more about Muriel’s firm, Paravis Partners

Order her newest book, Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential.

How can culture become an operating system that drives business performance?

Why does leadership behavior matter more than systems in driving culture?

My guest on this episode is Paulo Pisano, CHRO, Booking Holdings & Chief People Officer, Booking.com

During our conversation Paulo and I discuss:

• Why culture is an operating system and how it connects directly to business performance.
• The three levers that shape culture: behaviors, symbols, and systems—and how to align them with strategy.
• The importance of experimentation culture for AI adoption and innovation.
• Why HR leaders must understand business drivers first before designing their programs.
• How to position HR as "chief simplifiers" who reduce complexity rather than add to it.

Connecting with Paulo

Connect with Paulo 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.