Level Up HR [EN]

If culture isn’t measured, it isn’t managed... and leaders know it.Quinn Slaughter, Owner of Total Solutions First, explains why culture breaks down when it’s treated as a value statement instead of a leadership system. Most companies can describe their culture, but struggle to enforce it. The impact shows up in places leaders often misread: early talent leaving just as they become valuable, inconsistent leadership behavior, and performance gaps that don’t trace back to strategy.Quinn breaks down how culture actually operates inside a business: through what leaders tolerate, what gets measured, and what gets rewarded. From leadership scorecards to tying incentives to people outcomes, she outlines how to make culture measurable, enforceable, and owned by leadership, not just by HR alone.You’ll learn:1. Why culture defaults to tolerated behavior if leaders aren’t held accountable2. How to measure culture through business outcomes 3. What a leadership scorecard reveals about culture in practice4. How incentives reshape leadership behavior and decision-making5. Why lack of leadership capacity becomes a barrier to culture change___________Quinn is open to connecting about operationalizing culture and leadership accountability. Reach out to her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinnslaughter/___________Quinn’s recommendations:Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AEBEVTQServant Leadership: A Journey Into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness | https://www.amazon.com/dp/0809105543___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community-focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/More episodes and insights: https://www.level-up-hr.com/en

AI can give you answers instantly. But what if your people lose the ability to question them?Host James Weier speaks to Ryan Simmons, Vice President of Human Resources at Colorado College, about why AI transformation is less about technology and more about how work is designed. As organizations rush to automate tasks and increase productivity, a deeper risk emerges: the erosion of critical thinking, judgment, and capability development. Ryan shares how AI is reshaping skill development, why removing “learning steps” weakens future expertise, and how HR leaders can redesign work so automation strengthens human decision-making, instead of replacing it. From higher education to enterprise environments, this conversation reframes AI adoption as a human systems challenge with long-term implications for workforce capability.You’ll learn:1. Why faster output from AI can weaken critical thinking over time2. How removing early-career tasks impacts long-term skill development3. Why AI forces leaders to redesign roles, not just optimize tasks4. Why AI should be treated as a tool instead of a source of truth5. How to design workflows that strengthen judgment, not replace it___________Ryan Simmons is open to connecting about AI, work design, and HR leadership.Reach out to him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-l-simmons/___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community-focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/

If “fun at work” makes you roll your eyes, you’re just using the wrong definition.Host James Weier speaks with Acey Holmes, Founder and CEO of BoredLess and an expert in Playful Work Design, about why play has become one of the most misunderstood ideas in today’s workplaces.Acey challenges the assumption that play is about games or team events. Instead, she reframes it as a way of working that changes how people engage with serious, demanding work. She breaks down the four pillars of playful work design and explains why playfulness shows up not in activities, but in how work is designed, led, and experienced day to day.Grounded in neuroscience and real organizational examples, the conversation connects play to cognitive function, creativity, and sustained productivity, and explores why getting play wrong often leads to burnout and surface-level culture initiatives.You’ll learn:1. Why play at work fails when it’s treated as forced fun2. The four pillars of playful work design and what they unlock3. How play supports focus, creativity, and brain health4. Why culture doesn’t change through events, but through behavior5. What signals show that play is working inside an organization___________Get in touch with Acey Holmes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aceym/Acey's book recommendations:Chief Joy Officer by Richard Sheridan | https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735218226Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull | https://www.amazon.com/dp/0812993012Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBNDFMJJ Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi | https://www.amazon.com/dp/0061339202 Playful Rebellion: by Gary Ware | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4K1BXJW Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity by Cas Holman | https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593713400 The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker | https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982159065 ___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community‑focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/

Every question you ask as an HR leader is a chance to earn trust and shape real transformation.In this episode, host James Weier sits down with Katie Biancalana, an HR thought leader with over 20 years of experience, for a compelling conversation on leading through change with creativity and empathy.Having worked in HR across various industries and through major organizational shifts, Katie shares how true leadership begins when you turn pressure into purpose. From transforming a high-stakes acquisition into an energizing off-site “work camp” to guiding a school district through a first-of-its-kind Workday rollout, she reveals how HR can make even the hardest transitions human and memorable.Katie also reflects on how AI is redefining the HR landscape and how to stay relevant in a data-driven world. Her message is clear: credibility doesn’t come from having all the answers but from asking better questions. In a future shaped by technology, curiosity, collaboration, and human understanding remain HR’s greatest strengths.You'll learn:1. How to transform large-scale change into a shared experience, instead of a top-down directive2. What it takes to balance empathy with execution during intense transitions3. Why listening with intent earns credibility and shapes better outcomes4. How to approach AI adoption with innovation and integrity5. The mindset every HR leader needs to stay adaptable and future-ready___________Get in touch with Katie Biancalana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shortsleeve/___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community‑focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/

What if adopting AI was the key to keeping your organization truly human?In this episode, host James Weier sits down with Annie Korenjak, Human Resources Director at CCIG, to talk about what happens when HR meets AI and why the future of people leadership depends on how we use it.Annie shares how embracing AI with intention can take the busywork off HR’s plate and make room for what really matters: trust, connection, and meaningful work. She explains how clear values, not quick wins, guide responsible adoption, and why adaptability and curiosity now matter more than technical expertise.From creating smart guardrails to treating AI as a genuine thought partner, Annie offers a refreshingly human take on technology.You’ll learn:1. Why clarity and trust are the foundation for responsible AI use2. How AI can amplify human connection instead of replacing it3. Ways to set practical guardrails for ethical AI integration4. How curiosity fuels innovation and better decision-making5. Why adaptability defines the future of HR leadership___________Get in touch with Annie Korenjak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniekorenjak/Annie's book recommendation:The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NT7J7Q ___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community‑focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/

Being a rebel in HR isn’t about breaking rules. It’s about having the courage to question them, and the wisdom to know when and how.In this episode, host James Weier sits down with Debra Corey, Chief Pay It Forward Officer at Step It Up HR and six-time best-selling author known for reimagining people practices with human-first thinking. Debra brings her “rebel cape” to the table and shares how listening deeply, co-creating with employees, and challenging outdated HR logic unlock genuine culture transformation. Her philosophy of learning from every experience, even the uncomfortable ones, helps leaders connect more authentically and build trust that lasts.You’ll hear how Debra turns surveys into real conversations, builds wellbeing programs that reflect people’s choices, and uses simple check-ins to keep trust alive. She shares what it means to “wear their color” when giving feedback, how to win over naysayers by uncovering their real why, and where AI can help managers spend more time with people, not paperwork. Her stories are a reminder that being human is still HR’s greatest advantage.You'll learn: 1. Why listening once isn’t enough and how to build ongoing feedback loops2. How to design HR programs with employees, not for them3. How to drive change by challenging convention with smart timing and intent4. What authentic generosity looks like when you lead from experience5. How vulnerability can become your most credible leadership tool___________Get in touch with Debra Corey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debracorey/___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community‑focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/

What happens when return-to-office mandates collide with real-world complexity and the realities of people’s lives?In this episode, host James Weier sits down with Veronica Bruner, Senior Human Resources Manager, for a candid conversation on the true impact of RTO decisions in a post-pandemic world.With a decade in tech HR, Veronica exposes the hidden costs of rigid RTO mandates, the burden on caregivers, and how binary policies threaten inclusion and gender equity. She explains why strong cultures are purposefully built and shows HR leaders how to move past quick fixes to address the real issues at play.Veronica challenges leaders to rethink flexibility and advocates for hybrid models that balance values with business needs. Packed with insights and lived experience, this episode is a must-listen for HR leaders facing RTO decisions or culture transformation.You'll learn:1. Why nostalgia and sunk costs drive return-to-office, often at the expense of talent2. How rigid RTO mandates can undermine inclusion, flexibility, and gender equity3. What it takes to intentionally design a culture, whether it's remote, in-office or hybrid4. How to identify who gets left behind before mandating any workplace policy5. Practical ways to align company values with rewards, flexibility, and performance___________Get in touch with Veronica Bruner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-bruner-b487b811/Veronica's book recommendations: Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future by Reid Hoffman and Greg Beato | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5WMKV9HThe Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the 21st Century's Greatest Dilemma by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar | https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593593952Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski | https://www.amazon.com/dp/198481706X   ___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community‑focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/

When HR leads with impact, every employee feels the difference, especially during transformation.In this episode, host James Weier welcomes Alison Jeske, Director of Total Rewards at Propelled Brands, for an inside look at what it takes to build an HR function that keeps pace with change and growth.Alison shares how steering an HRIS rollout after a major acquisition demanded not only technical skills, but creativity, active listening, and a people-first mindset too. From untangling legacy systems to championing benefits that employees truly value, Alison explains how she approaches total rewards as a springboard for both operational excellence and genuine well-being.Beyond policies and processes, Alison believes HR’s mission is to ensure every employee feels supported and able to thrive. If you’re looking for practical ways to drive retention, elevate your benefits strategy, or empower people managers, this episode is packed with insights for HR leaders ready to make a lasting impact.You'll learn:1. How to lead a seamless HRIS implementation that’s built for scale2. Creative strategies to design meaningful, cost-effective benefit packages3. Why employee feedback is the key to high-impact benefits4. Ways to measure HR’s real impact on retention and engagement5. How to equip managers for performance, growth, and a standout employee experience___________Get in touch with Alison Jeske on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonyanda/Alison's book recommendations: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg |  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385349947 ___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community‑focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/

What does it take to hire 1,000 people in a year—and still keep your team energized and your culture intact?In this episode of the Level Up HR podcast, host James Weier welcomes Brittney Bahre, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at E2 Optics, for a candid look at leading through hypergrowth.In just 12 months, Brittney’s team expanded from 4 to 22 recruiters and hired over 1,000 employees, all through organic growth, driven by the AI-powered data center boom. She shares how she restructured her team to meet demand, why she seeks out recruiters from fast-paced staffing environments, and how she transformed her team’s role from “order-takers” to trusted business partners.Beyond the numbers, Brittney opens up about the challenges of managing a four-generation workforce, and how E2 Optics is adapting its onboarding, communication, and culture strategies to keep everyone engaged.Whether you’re scaling fast, evolving your TA function, or navigating generational complexity, this episode is full of hard-earned insights for HR leaders in the thick of change.You’ll learn:1. How E2 Optics doubled headcount without a single acquisition2. Why fast-paced recruiters with staffing roots were key to scaling TA at speed3. How to shift TA from “order-takers” to strategic business partners4. Tactics to engage a four-generation workforce without losing cultural cohesion5. Why future-focused thinking is essential in high-growth environments___________Get in touch with Brittney Bahre on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittney-bahre-phr-7513132a/Brittney's book recommendation: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7PZVCQB___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community‑focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/

When a workplace becomes a true community, strategy and culture grow stronger.In the first episode of the English edition of the Level Up HR podcast, host James Weier welcomes Sarah Diamond, Chief People & Culture Officer at BOA, for a conversation on building a thriving workplace from the inside out.Sarah shares how true transformation at BOA is anchored in lived values, and how connecting those values with both strategy and daily practice helps prevent the unhealthy tensions that can arise when culture and business goals drift apart. She also discusses why stakeholder relationships, built on genuine curiosity and collaboration, empower HR to act as both business partner and community builder.From hiring to leadership development, you’ll get an inside look at BOA’s collective approach to talent, growth, and culture, and why seeing people as a community, not just employees, makes all the difference. Whether you’re navigating a growth phase or a major transformation, this episode is packed with practical takeaways for HR leaders who want to create lasting impact.You'll learn:1. How to ensure values guide both strategy and everyday practice2. The critical role of stakeholder relationships and collaboration in HR’s business impact3. How to move from “pushback” to “positive challenge” and co-create change4. Why community-building is at the heart of sustainable company culture5. Practical ways to attract, integrate, and engage top talent through authentic connection___________Get in touch with Sarah Diamond on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiefpeopleofficerglobal/___________About the host James Weier:James is Director, US at EGYM Wellpass and President of the Denver chapter of the Level Up HR Community. With 10 years of experience and a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, James brings a collaborative, community‑focused approach to his work. When he’s not elevating employee experience or strengthening HR leadership, James enjoys spending time with his wife and their two young boys in Colorado’s great outdoors.Get in touch with James Weier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesweier/