Dave is joined by the Chief People Officer at AEW, Piper Sheer, in this episode of The Hennessy Report.

Piper begins by sharing how her father's love for his work influenced why and what she does today. She joined AEW to be a part of shaping the next generation of leaders, and with employees all around the globe, Piper is focused on building and maintaining culture, especially through these hybrid times. 

There is a real diversity problem in the commercial real estate industry and Piper covers the different ways they have begun to address this, including a committee, affinity groups, and a speaker series. 

She also discusses their work with Project Destined, whose goal "is to transform minority youth into owners and stakeholders in the communities in which they live, work and play."

Piper is a very engaging speaker and we are excited to share her story. 

Up next on The Hennessy Report, Carlos Echalar, the CHRO of CDM Smith and the President of the Board of Directors at NEHRA.

Episode 73 - Piper Sheer - AEW

Dave is joined by Fred Skinner, the CHRO at EVERSANA, for this episode of The Hennessy Report. He is also joined by Chad Brantner, a Keystone colleague and childhood friend of Fred from the small town of Sycamore, Illinois. 

Fred describes the "ridiculously awesome" culture at EVERSANA and their mission to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry for both patients and providers. 

With 8,000+ employees, Fred says they've "cracked the code" on how to maintain culture while remaining inquisitive by leading with trust. He credits CEO Jim Lang for understanding the weight culture holds on a company and supporting HR initiatives.

Listen now!

The Hennessy Report 

Episode 78 — Fred Skinner — EVERSANA

Dave was joined by Rich Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller at Menlo Innovations, Speaker, and Author of "Chief Joy Officer" and "Joy, Inc." at the NEHRA 2022 Conference in this live edition of The Hennessy Report. 

Rich describes the truly unique culture at Menlo, with leaders traveling from around the world to tour their workspace and hear the team's stories. 

Whether it's working in teams of two on one computer, managing and conducting performance reviews with no "managers" but as a group, or pitting candidates towards each other rather than against - judged on how they support their rival - Rich paints a culture of true joy. 

You don't want to miss this unique episode of The Hennessy Report. Tune in now!

Episode 80 — Rich Sheridan — Menlo Innovations

Dave interviews Josh Bersin, Founder and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company and author of "Irresistible." 

Josh describes his unique path to become an industry analyst, researcher, educator, and technology analyst covering all aspects of corporate HR, training, talent management, recruiting, leadership, and workplace technology. 

An innovative thinker, Josh shares his insight on the future of AI in HR, best practices during layoffs, upskilling, the danger of job descriptions, new models of performance management, people sustainability, and why companies should focus on purpose to remain productive. 

This is an insightful episode of The Hennessy Report you won't want to miss!

Episode 85 — Josh Bersin — The Josh Bersin Company

Dave is joined by colleague Kim Littlefield and guest Paul Francisco, the first Chief Diversity Officer for State Street. On that topic, Paul speaks about a mindset change he experienced, no longer believing the goal is to work himself out of a job. 

Paul shares what it was like growing up in Honduras and his unexpected move to the US, which prompted his passion for DEIB. He also discusses the importance of employee networks, which they manage through the Four C's model: building community, culture, commerce, and creation and who the burden of allyship falls on.

Dave and Paul share a connection to NEHRA, which Paul praises, along with Tracy Burns, for their dedication to spreading Frank McCarthy's memory, the godfather of diversity and recruiting in Paul's eyes. 

Next up on the podcast is Bob Selle, CPO at Ocean State Job Lot.

Episode 86 — Paul Francisco — State Street

Dave is joined by Bob Selle, CPO at Ocean State Job Lot, in this episode of The Hennessy Report. 

From a memorable presentation at NEHRA, to sitting on NEHRA's board with Dave, to the podcast, we've been fans of Bob for years and are excited to share his unique expertise with our audience! 

Bob shares the origin story for Ocean State and how they've maintained their humble, family culture through the continued leadership of Marc and Alan Perlman. 

He also speaks to the importance of listening sessions to deliver on the benefits and ideas that will keep their associates "from hire to retire" and achieve greater business success. 

Bob discusses their fail fast, entrepreneurial spirit, hiring "athletes" for his HR team, and his belief that we are at an inflection point for workplace culture. 

Bob is an amazingly thoughtful speaker with so many great stories to share. You won't want to miss this episode! 

Next up on The Hennessy Report: Ajit Vakharia, founder and CEO of Flare Education.

Episode 87 — Bob Selle — Ocean State Job Lot

Dave is joined by Ajit Vakharia, President and CEO at Flare Education. Dave first met Ajit three years ago, at the start of Flare's creation, and has remained inspired by the mission ever since. 

Ajit shares that mission of providing high school students, often from generationally poor backgrounds, with work-based learning experiences. 

Flare is redefining the way internships can and should be done. Ajit describes the best practices employers must follow in order to consistently cultivate culturally significant internship programs that benefit the students, supervisors, and overall business goals. 

Tune in to this truly invigorating discussion and join us in supporting Ajit's mission of unlocking the potential of young learners and shaping a brighter future for all.

Episode 88 — Ajit Vakharia — Flare Education

Dave is joined by Keystone colleague Shawna Simcik in this special edition of The Hennessy Report. 

Shawna and her team from ICC, the company Shawna co-founded with Susan Ruhl, recently joined the Keystone Partners community, bringing some amazing expertise and passion for leadership development. Together we will continue to support organizations and leaders at all levels through defining moments. 

One of the key offerings Shawna's team brings to Keystone Partners is the Accelerator program, a technology-based, holistically threaded development program teaching through micro-learning, practical application, cohort sessions, and accountability for front-line leaders and first-time managers who are often overlooked. She explains how Accelerator can impact critical pain points such as high turnover, low employee engagement, and retention issues within 30 days. 

Shawna also explains part of the research that influenced Accelerator - the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve, a study on when and how we memorize material. Two weeks from now, how much will you remember from this episode? 

A self-proclaimed "geek" for research, Shawna is excited for Keystone Partners upcoming research study on creating a resilient workforce - stay tuned for more! 

Shawna has an electric personality and some wonderful analogies you won't want to miss!

Episode 89 — Shawna Simcik — Keystone Partners

On this holiday edition of The Hennessy Report, Dave is joined by Erin Lovering, the CHRO at Edelman Financial Engines. 

Erin discusses her start in clinical psychology, juggling strong legacy cultures after a merger, as well as their mission statement: everyone deserves to move their financial lives forward. 

She believes HR’s job is to get the best out of organizations and the best out of leaders, and describes her role to her children as, "helping bosses be better bosses." 

At one point, Erin shares her beliefs on the importance of investing in new managers' skill sets and examining the end-to-end employee experience to identify how to pulse sentiment during those moments that matter. This holistic way of thinking is growing in popularity, mirrored in Keystone's own research and evolving messaging around preparing for the defining moments organizations and employees alike consistently face, from coaching to transitions. 

You'll enjoy this fast-paced, engaging conversation!

Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

The Hennessy Report Podcast by Keystone Partners

Episode 90 — Erin Lovering — Edelman Financial Engines

Dave is joined by Jen Nash, strategist and author of "The Big Power of Tiny Connections: How Small Interactions Spark Awesome Outcomes." This episode of The Hennessy Report was recorded live at NEHRA's annual conference after Jen's appearance as the keynote speaker.

Through her research for her book, she has found that "highly engaged workforces are 21% more profitable and 17% more productive" and that "companies with connected workforces are 4 times more productive." 

In this episode Jen describes why and how you should engage your teams and urges companies who don’t see a link between dollars spent and productivity and profitability to take the leap into coaching, assessments, and more, noting "it costs us money to have disconnected staff." 

She also explains where her belief in connections came from as a child, and calls networks "the rockstar foundations of our world."

Jen is upbeat and an amazing speaker you won't want to miss!

Episode 91 — Jen Nash — Author

Dave is joined by long-time friend, going all the way back to the start of the podcast, Ann Hargraves. Ann is the SVP at TScan Therapeutics and an amazingly eloquent speaker, passionate about the work and mission of TScan that she feels so connected to.

As a cancer survivor herself, Ann speaks to the impact she feels working at a company whose mission is focused on life changing therapies for patients and their families.
 
She also discusses how they choose not to publicize values to outside world, to encourage candidates to focus on who they are and what they are looking for first. 
   
Ann believes learning development should be offered equally across the company, and provides that across the company. 

Next up on the podcast is Nancy Folan, the CHRO of Amundi Asset Management US.

Episode 92 — Ann Hargraves — TScan Therapeutics

Dave is joined by Nancy Folan, the CHRO at Amundi Asset Management US on this episode of The Hennessy Report by Keystone Partners. 

Nancy shares her journey as a first generation Italian working for a European owned organization, initially taking the opportunity to work as a liaison at the Italian parent company to aid in sourcing talent. 

Having headed HR for over 20 years, Nancy shares the challenges and bridge building that come with a global organization and how to build skilled teams. 

Nancy also describes her leadership development philosophy and her strategy behind using external coaches to create a coaching culture. 

This episode's NEHRA question of the podcast covers how to identify key moments for leadership development for organizations with lean budgets, and the pitfalls of promoting technical leaders without providing coaching.  

She is very proud of her team's work in identifying unconscious bias and their evolving DEI journey. To build an inclusive organization Nancy discusses partnering with the NeuroLeadership Institute, whose work is scientifically based and difficult to dispute. 

Nancy is a captivating speaker with deep expertise in global HR. 

She is so known for attracting and developing HR leaders that our next guest, Kim Hazen - CPO at Fulcrum Therapeutics, was previously a member of Nancy's team.

Episode 93 — Nancy Folan — Amundi Asset Management US

On this episode of The Hennessy Report, Dave is joined by Kim Hazen, CPO at Fulcrum Therapeutics. 

Kim speaks with Dave about her unique career path from financial services to life sciences, the way employees are treated on their way in and out of biotech, and how they are developed while there, and being a new mom while taking on the role of CHRO at the same time.

Kim speaks passionately about making sure all employees know the impact their work has on patients' lives. 

Tune in today!

Episode 94 — Kim Hazen — Fulcrum Therapeutics

On this episode of The Hennessy Report podcast, Dave is joined by Amanda Bailey, the VP for HR at Boston University. 

With 140 HR liaisons supporting over 10,000 students and staff and programs across 20+ countries, Amanda has a lot to share! 

She describes how BU's employee engagement begins even before onboarding. It begins at an individual's first interaction with someone within the BU community. They believe how they treat each other spreads beyond the campus borders and effects the perception of future employee and student applicants.

Amanda also discusses how they track success in leadership and check in with individual contributors, the future of work, and social activism as they continue to advance learning outside campuses, where free exchanges of ideas happen. 

Amanda is an engaging, inspiring speaker with a lot to share, so tune in today!

Episode 95 — Amanda Bailey — Boston University

On this episode of The Hennessy Report, Dave is joined by Erik Zotter, the VP of People, Organization, and Communications at Ellab. (Happy 75th anniversary to Ellab!)

Erik shares their mission statement, "together we provide confidence in consumer safety" for the denmark-based organization that makes highly precise temperature sensing equipment for biotech, pharma, and even food/beverage manufacturing industries. 

Are your new and emerging leaders built for the challenges of tomorrow? 

Erik describes how onboarding is a key moment that matters inside Ellab. He explains the importance of building out a career path with employees and making sure they hold agency over their career. In that vein, he also discusses their strong training program. 

At Keystone Partners we are committed to leadership development. This Thursday, 9/12/24, we are hosting a webinar on "Unlocking a Learning Culture" for emerging leaders. Register here! https://keystonepartners.zoom.us/webinar/register/3617258949845/WN_js4zroVeTbiv8EJV-y3Pmw 

Erik is proud of Ellab's transparent communication structure with training procedures in each department and unique interview process where they use predictive indexes to rank fit. 

You won't want to miss Erik's episode and his unique journey to HR and IT!

The Hennessy Report by Keystone Partners 

Episode 96 — Erik Zotter — Ellab

Want to know how a regional bank is winning the talent war? Don't miss this conversation with Josh Varone, SVP of Centreville Bank, who's team is revolutionizing their employer brand through innovative people-first strategies.

Key takeaways from our discussion:

- Fostering a workplace culture that attracts top talent as an employer of choice
- Developing managers into inspiring leaders
- Creating meaningful connections across multiple locations

Plus, we're excited to announce our upcoming 100th episode featuring HR legends and THR alumni Beth Grous and Tracy Burns! 🎉

The Hennessy Report brings you authentic conversations with HR leaders who are shaping the future of work, in cooperation with NEHRA. 

Join our community of forward-thinking HR professionals: https://www.keystonepartners.com/all-resources/#subscribe

Episode 97 — Josh Varone — Centreville Bank

On the 98th episode of The Hennessy Report by Keystone Partners, Dave is joined by Gary Ware, founder and corporate facilitator of "Breakthrough Play," author of "Playful Rebellion," and frequent Keynote speaker.  

His mission? To help creative professionals in sales and marketing use the power of play to be more creative, confident, and develop deeper relationships with their team and clients.

Are you struggling with workplace stress and declining creativity? Listen in to discover how strategic play can revolutionize your organization's performance.

In this episode you will learn about: 

The science of play and productivity
MAP Framework for workplace transformation
Evidence-based strategies for reducing stress
Real success stories from transformed organizations

Learn why leading companies are embracing purposeful play to boost innovation, enhance team collaboration, and drive sustainable growth.

Episode 98 — Gary Ware — Breakthrough Play

Is your organization still sitting on the AI sidelines while 80% of employees are already using it?

On this episode of The Hennessy Report by Keystone Partners, Dave is joined by Bucky Dodd, a pioneering voice in the AI and learning development space who's helping HR leaders navigate the AI revolution without losing sight of what matters most - people.

WHY LISTEN:
* Learn the "people-first" approach to AI adoption
* Discover what's actually working in corporate learning
* Avoid costly AI implementation mistakes
* See how HR leaders are managing AI risks

KEY INSIGHTS:
* Latest shifts in AI adoption
* Real performance evaluation successes
* Knowledge management breakthroughs
* Practical implementation strategies

From performance evaluations to knowledge management, learn how leading HR teams are thoughtfully integrating AI to enhance human potential rather than replace it.

Whether you're an AI skeptic or enthusiast, Bucky's practical, people-first approach will help you chart a course through the AI revolution that's already transforming our workplaces.

Episode 99 — Bucky Dodd — ClearKinetic

7 Years & 100 Episodes: A Milestone HR Leadership Conversation 

The Hennessy Report celebrates its 100th episode by bringing back its first two guests - Dave is joined by Tracy Burns (CEO of NERA) and Beth Grous (CPO at Generate Biomedicines) - for an insightful discussion on how HR has evolved and where it's heading.

Key Highlights:
* How HR has transformed from an administrative function to a strategic business driver
* The evolution of workplace transparency, with younger generations expecting more open dialogue about compensation and company decisions
* The future of work: Breaking down traditional hierarchical structures and embracing skills-based organizational design
* The critical importance of leading with empathy in today's workplace

"I hope if we're sitting here 10 years from now, we'll be looking around saying 'wow, people got really innovative and creative about how they build organizational structures to drive a differentiated set of outcomes.'" - Beth Grous

Looking Ahead: Tracy and Beth both emphasized the need to "fix work" by creating more flexible, human-centric organizational structures that better support both business objectives and employee wellbeing.

In memory of Paul McKinlay. 

Celebrating Episode 100 — Tracy Burns & Beth Grous

EVERY MANAGER INTERACTION IS A MAKE-OR-BREAK MOMENT

Boston Beer's CPO reveals why those quick hallway chats and casual feedback sessions matter more than you think.

Episode #101 of The Hennessy Report features Carolyn O'Boyle, CPO at The Boston Beer Company speaking with host Dave Hennessy and Keystone Partners' colleague Brenda Stanton. 

Carolyn shares how she's transforming manager-employee interactions at the makers of Sam Adams, Truly, and Twisted Tea. Why? Because she's tired of seeing promotions announced via text and performance reviews done in airport lounges.

Learn how The Boston Beer Company is:
- Training managers to nail the moments that matter
- Replacing outdated retention strategies with real engagement
- Moving talent across the business (not just up)
- Managing burnout before it starts

The Hennessy Report - Where HR leaders learn from HR leaders.

Episode 101 — Carolyn O'Boyle — The Boston Beer Company

Building a Relationship-Centered Banking Culture

Episode #102 of The Hennessy Report features Maria Harris, EVP & CHRO at Rockland Trust speaking with host Dave Hennessy.

Maria explains how focusing on a culture "Where Each Relationship Matters" drives both customer experience and employee engagement across 2,000 employees and over 100 locations.

STANDOUT STORIES:
- Taking artwork off the wall for customers with ancestral connections
- An employee who personally helped a customer download the mobile banking app during COVID
- How their Hispanic/Latino employee resource group "Unite Us" was formed

LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS:
- Valuing potential over past experience when hiring talent
- Operationalizing culture through leadership development programs
- Using data and spreadsheets to understand employee experiences at scale
- Creating career development opportunities through their "Rising Stars" program

The Hennessy Report - Where HR leaders learn from HR leaders.

The Hennessy Report is produced in partnership with NEHRA. 

Episode 102 — Maria Harris — Rockland Trust

From Legal Eagle to Culture Champion: The Planet Group's HR Revolution

In this lively episode, Dave Hennessy chats with Marni Helfand about her fascinating journey from courtroom litigator (inspired by her dad's dinner table practice arguments!) to leading both legal and HR at Planet Group.
WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER:

- How Planet Group placed a staggering 80,000 people in jobs while expanding globally
- The secret sauce behind their "One Planet" culture integration (hint: they let everyone BUT executives lead it!)
- Why Gen Z wants feedback every two weeks while Boomers clutch their annual reviews
- Marni's love for Kim Scott's Radical Candor approach to leadership: "compassion = empathy + action"
- The "career lattice" that lets people zigzag between departments based on passion

Perfect for HR leaders navigating acquisition integration, generational workplace dynamics, and the tricky balance between legal compliance and people-first strategies.

Episode 103 — Marni Helfand — The Planet Group

🎙️ Marianne Monte on Authentic Leadership & Building Inclusive Cultures

Dave is joined by Marianne Monte, CPO at Shawmut Design and Construction, on the 104th episode of The Hennessy Report. She shares her journey from coming out in the early 90s to leading a $2 billion construction firm.

🔥 Key Takeaways:
* The "F-you fund" every HR pro needs
* How bringing your whole self to work transforms leadership effectiveness
* Succession planning done right: How to promote your replacement (and feel good about it)
* Building inclusive culture in a traditionally male-dominated industry

Marianne's story reminds us that the courage to be authentic - whether it's coming out at work in the 90s or having difficult conversations with leadership - ultimately makes us better leaders and creates stronger, more inclusive organizations.

This episode is perfect listen for HR leaders, construction professionals, and anyone interested in authentic leadership during challenging organizational transformations.



Episode 104 — Marianne Monte —  Shawmut Design and Construction

On this episode of #TheHennessyReport David Hennessy is joined by Janine Taylor, CHRO of Advocates. 

From learning to "listen first" as a young HR professional to leading 2,700 employees who serve 40,000 individuals with disabilities and life challenges - Janine's journey shows why supporting the supporters matters.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

✅ Early wage access over 401k focus - Creating benefits that meet employees' immediate needs
✅ Career pathway success - Two nurse practitioners who started as direct care staff and tripled their income
✅ The respect principle - How treating everyone with dignity during transitions creates "boomerang employees" and reduces lawsuits
✅ Building representative teams - Growing HR diversity to reflect their workforce

Janine's approach to understanding her diverse workforce and building systems around their real needs offers practical lessons for creating cultures where mission-driven employees can thrive.

🎙️ Brought to you by Keystone Partners - experts in helping HR and organizations meet business goals through leadership development and career transition. Made in partnership with the Northeast HR Association - and a warm welcome to NEHRA's newest board member, Janine! 

Episode 105 — Janine Taylor — Advocates

Dave Hennessy is joined by Charu Manocha, CHRO at SmartEquine, on this episode of The Hennessy Report Podcast, by Keystone Partners.

Charu shares how she built workforce agility during major organizational change.

Key insights:
HR rotations that develop business-savvy leaders
Team performance models that actually work
Managing multi-generational workforce expectations
Leading talent assessment during "shrink to grow" phases

"We had 40 volunteers for our transformation task-force out of 360 employees. That's how you know change management is working."

This episode is perfect for CHROs, CPOs, and emerging HR leaders navigating today's complex workforce challenges.


Episode 106 — Charu Manocha — SmartEquine

Dave interviews Juna Pierre, President of the New England chapter of The National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR). Listen in to hear the story of how Juna started the chapter and the grit she embodies to bring her passion to life.

Episode 30 Juna Pierre NAAAHR

Celebrating Essex Partners'  20th anniversary, Dave sits down with colleagues Ralph Roberto, President of Keystone Partners and Founder of Essex, and Howard Seidel, Senior Partner and Leader of Essex. The three discuss the changing landscapes in executive coaching while sharing stories and advice they've learned over the past 20 years.

Episode 38 Ralph Roberto & Howard Seidel Essex Partners

Dave recorded with Katie at Brightcove, just around the corner from our Boston office! She discusses taking risks early in your career, finding a thirst for working in global environments, refreshing Brightcove's values and her team's practice of "drinking their own champagne."

Katie also helps Dave (and any curious listeners) understand what a video platforming company entails and how they utilize video to communicate internally.

Be sure to listen out for Katie's story about participating in her family's improvisational theatre troupe at the age of five, and how improv can play a role in business!

Episode 40 Katie Kulikoski Brightcove

The third keynote speaker in our series from the NEHRA Conference back in September, Margaret Spence is a nationally recognized, Florida-based HR leader looking to transform the C-Suite. 

In her own words, Margaret focuses on closing the diversity gap for women and men by working within the "tiny space between making a difference and accepting the status quo."

Margaret is an eloquent speaker who is passionate about helping HR professionals develop talent, offering actionable advice and anecdotal experience.

Episode 45 Margaret Spence C. Douglas & Associates

Dave is joined by Toni Canada, CHRO of the AMA, to discuss their response to COVID-19 as they pursue their goal to improve the health of the nation. 

Toni discusses the implementation of "pulse surveys" to determine employee morale and makes predictions for the future of work and the new normal for the medical industry.

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