The People Managing People Podcast

Transitioning from the public sector to private HR isn't just a career move—it's a full-on culture shock. In this episode, Kimberly Williams, VP of People, Culture & Compliance at Walker Advertising, joins David to unpack her journey from federal HR to private enterprise, sharing hard-won lessons, surprising similarities, and the real stakes of navigating both worlds.

From managing bureaucracy to confronting toxic leadership, Kimberly offers candid insights into what translates, what doesn't, and how HR professionals can advocate for fairness in any environment.

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• Check out this episode’s sponsor: Oyster HR, Inc.
• Connect with Kimberly on LinkedIn
• Check out Walker Advertising and End Workplace Abuse

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What do tech hiring, Olympic figure skating, and the shifting tides of global work culture have in common? According to Ann Kuss, CEO of Outstaff Your Team, more than you'd think. In this episode, Ann joins David Rice to dissect the rapidly evolving landscape of tech talent: who's winning, who's losing, and why so many companies are still playing yesterday's game with today's rules. From the rise of AI-native roles to the global appetite for remote work, Ann unpacks the contradictions shaping how we recruit, retain, and reskill in 2025 and beyond.

David and Ann explore the dual realities in tech hiring: one where AI-driven skillsets command premium salaries, and another where traditional roles face declining value and shrinking budgets. They also dig into the elusive promise of cognitive diversity, the myth of the "perfect skill fit," and why Gen Z talent won't be lured by ping pong tables and kombucha anymore.

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• Check out this episode’s sponsor: Oyster HR, Inc.
• Connect with Ann on LinkedIn
• Check out Outstaff Your Team

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Jared Kleinert, founder and CEO of Offsite, shares insights on the growing importance of team retreats in today’s distributed work environment. As remote and hybrid models become the norm, retreats have evolved from perks to essential strategies for keeping teams connected, aligned, and engaged.

Jared emphasizes that planning intentional offsites is crucial for retaining talent and fostering a strong company culture. The conversation explores how to design effective retreats by setting clear business goals and measuring impact through feedback and engagement metrics.

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• Connect with Jared on LinkedIn
• Check out Offsite

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Kelly Meerbott, CEO of YOU: Loud and Clear, dives into the growing disconnect between the C-suite and everyday employees, exposing how middle managers become "human shock absorbers" caught between corporate pressures and workforce realities. She calls out performative leadership and urges executives to prioritize coherence over charisma, advocating for leaders who genuinely embody their values rather than just posting them online.

Kelly also challenges traditional ideas around gender and leadership, encouraging women to replace "niceness" with "ferocious kindness" — honest, empathetic communication that fosters trust and drives results. This candid conversation offers powerful insights for leaders ready to move beyond outdated paradigms and build authentic, courageous connections with their teams.

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• Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn
• Check out Kelly’s website

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Many leaders still cling to outdated management styles focused on visible productivity rather than actual outcomes, despite a dramatic shift toward distributed teams. Brian Elliott, CEO of Work Forward, explains how the rise of hybrid work and AI tools highlights the need for outcomes-based management, rather than "productivity theater."

Brian also points out that return-to-office mandates often miss the mark, as workplace flexibility remains essential for attracting and retaining top talent. This conversation challenges traditional views on managing distributed teams and offers practical advice for fostering effective, outcome-driven organizations in today’s hybrid work environment.

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• Join the People Managing People community forum
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• Check out this episode’s sponsor: Oyster HR, Inc.
• Connect with Brian on LinkedIn
• Check out Brian’s newsletter on Substack: Work Forward

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Steve Cadigan, a talent advisor and former CHRO of LinkedIn, joins us to discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into today’s workplace. We explore how the AI revolution stands apart from past technological shifts due to its unpredictability and ongoing development, leaving even its creators both excited and uncertain about its future.

We also dive into the key question: How is your organization embracing AI? Are you fostering a culture of experimentation and innovation, or just focusing on cost-cutting? The way businesses approach AI could be the difference between leveraging it as a competitive advantage or letting it slip by as a missed opportunity.

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• Join the People Managing People community forum
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
• Check out this episode’s sponsor: Oyster HR, Inc.
• Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
• Check out Cadigan Talent Ventures

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The shift from managing individual contributors to overseeing other managers is one of the toughest transitions in leadership. Chris Williams, former Microsoft HR VP, explores why this change is so challenging and how organizations can better support these key leaders.

Chris dives into the unique struggles faced by second-level managers, including finding mentorship and translating vague strategic objectives into actionable plans. He emphasizes the importance of building influence across organizational boundaries through genuine connections with colleagues, which proves invaluable during tough decisions. This episode offers practical advice for those navigating this difficult leadership transition.

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• Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
• Check out Chris’ website

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Workplaces have become battlegrounds for political ideologies, with DEI initiatives at the center of controversy. In this episode, host David Rice speaks with Enrique Rubio, founder of Hacking HR, about the dangers of political polarization in organizations and why leaders must take a stand.

Enrique challenges listeners to move beyond acronyms and see DEI for what it truly represents—fair treatment and opportunity for all. He provides practical advice for HR professionals on setting boundaries, fostering community, and creating workplaces where civil discourse thrives. As political pressures mount, this conversation asks an essential question: What values will define your leadership?

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• Connect with Enrique on LinkedIn
• Check out Hacking HR

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DEI has become a polarizing topic, making it harder to have meaningful conversations about building truly inclusive workplaces. In this episode, host David Rice speaks with Amri B. Johnson, founder of Inclusion Wins, about shifting the focus from divisive debates to practical systems that create lasting change. 

Amri challenges traditional DEI approaches, advocating for inclusion-first strategies that move beyond representation to ensure people can meaningfully contribute. Whether you're skeptical or deeply invested in DEI work, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on making inclusion a sustainable reality.

Related Links:

• Join the People Managing People community forum
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• Connect with Amri on LinkedIn
• Check out Inclusion Wins
• Amri’s book: “Reconstructing Inclusion”

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