Beyond the Seat at the Table: Claiming Authority through Cost Savings and Psychological Trust

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Kendall Schultz, Chief People Officer at Triumph Behavior Support, to explore what it really takes for HR to move beyond a cost center and earn authority inside fast-growing, high-pressure organizations. With over 15 years of experience across venture-backed and private equity environments, Kendall shares how HR leaders can build credibility through execution, not permission, while navigating scale, risk, and constant change.Kendall breaks down why waiting to be invited into strategy conversations no longer works for HR. Instead, she explains how people leaders must proactively identify risk, eliminate waste, influence decisions, and operate with the same rigor as product and finance teams. From finding significant cost inefficiencies to treating people operations like a product roadmap, she outlines how HR can become a true value engine for the business.The conversation also explores the human side of authority. Kendall shares how psychological safety, ethical leadership, and transparency are not soft concepts but essential operating principles, especially during restructures, layoffs, and periods of rapid growth. She explains why HR must be present, consistent, and willing to make hard calls to build trust that scales beyond the HR function itself.Topics Discussed:Reframing HR from cost center to value engineEarning authority through execution, not titleTreating people operations like a productFinding operational inefficiencies and reducing organizational wasteBuilding credibility with CEOs and founders in PE and VC environmentsEmbedding psychological safety into daily operationsLeading ethically through layoffs and restructuresThe limits and opportunities of AI in people operationsWhat skills HR leaders need to stay relevant and future-proof their roleIf you are an HR leader, people operator, or executive navigating scale, scrutiny, and constant pressure to prove value, this episode offers a clear, experience-backed view of how HR can earn lasting influence and relevance in the future of work.Additional Resources:Cleary’s AI-powered HR ChatbotFuture Proof HR CommunityConnect with Kendall Schultz on LinkedIn