#94: What Makes a Great DisruptHR Talk

#94: What Makes a Great DisruptHR Talk

Most people spend months preparing for a single DisruptHR presentation. Ashlynne Valdez delivered two different talks in 30 days, won Best Speaker at one event, and helps select speakers for DisruptHR Las Vegas. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of DisruptHR to explore what separates a good talk from a great one. Ashlynne shares how she develops topics, finds a disruptive angle, prepares for the fast-paced five-minute format, and what organizers are really looking for when reviewing speaker applications. Whether you're thinking about applying to DisruptHR or simply want to become a more impactful speaker, this conversation offers a rare look inside one of the most unique speaking formats in the workplace community. What You'll Learn: * Why a five-minute talk is harder than an hour-long presentation and how to prepare for it * The three things Disrupt HR selection committees look for in speaker applications * How to find the disruptive angle in any topic, even one that seems overdone * Why "less is more" is the most critical principle when the slides are beyond your control * How to use LinkedIn content to test and validate your talk ideas before you even submit * How to take a narrow, specific topic and make it land for every person in the room Resources Mentioned: * SoundHR Website: https://www.soundhr.com/ [https://www.soundhr.com/] Connect With Us: * Connect with Ashlynne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlynne-valdez-phr-295706219/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlynne-valdez-phr-295706219/%E2%81%A0] * Connect with Rhona: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce/] Want to turn your team into creators? Visit ⁠⁠workfluencermedia.com⁠⁠ [https://workfluencermedia.com/] to learn how we help companies build video-first content systems that attract, engage, and retain talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#93: How to Stand Out on LinkedIn

Most LinkedIn advice teaches you how to fit in. Jillian Richardson believes the opposite. In this episode of Workfluencer, Rhona sits down with one of LinkedIn's most recognizable ghostwriters to discuss why being a little weird might be your biggest advantage online. Jillian shares the story behind her viral "Be Weird on LinkedIn" movement, what founders get wrong about personal branding, and why authenticity is becoming the best defense against AI-generated content. They also discuss employee-generated content, ghostwriting, creator monetization, brand partnerships, and the realities of putting yourself out there online. If you've been playing it safe on LinkedIn, this episode will challenge you to rethink what professional content should look like. In this episode: * Why blending in is becoming riskier than standing out * The real meaning of "being weird" on LinkedIn * How founders and executives can create more engaging content * Why employee-generated content builds more trust than corporate messaging * How ghostwriting actually works behind the scenes * The relationship between authenticity and AI-generated content * What creators should know about negotiating brand partnerships * How to find your unique voice on LinkedIn Resources Mentioned: * Jillian's Website: https://www.makelinkedinweird.com [https://www.makelinkedinweird.com] Connect With Us: * Connect with Jillian: ⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/abiadamson/]https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatjillian/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatjillian/] * Connect with Rhona: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce/] Want to turn your team into creators? Visit ⁠workfluencermedia.com⁠ [https://workfluencermedia.com/] to learn how we help companies build video-first content systems that attract, engage, and retain talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#92: How to Write a Book About Workplace Culture

What does it take to turn years of workplace observations into a published book? In this episode of Workfluencer, Abi Adamson shares the story behind her debut book, Culture Blooming: Nurturing Workplaces Where People Grow. From witnessing favoritism, discrimination, and toxic leadership to developing her own workplace culture framework, Abi explains how she transformed real-world experiences into a book designed to help leaders create better workplaces. Abi pulls back the curtain on the publishing process, including how she landed a publisher through LinkedIn, rewrote her entire framework, worked through multiple drafts with her editor, and balanced personal stories with practical advice. She also shares some of the workplace experiences that shaped both her career and the book itself. Whether you've considered writing a book, building a thought leadership platform, or simply want a deeper understanding of workplace culture, this conversation offers an honest look at what it takes to turn expertise into intellectual property. What You'll Learn: * How to get your first book deal * Why you do not need a finished manuscript to approach a publisher * What it takes to write a business book that is accessible to people with dyslexia, non-native English speakers, and first-time managers * How to honor creative rest without losing momentum, and why forcing writing produces content that reads like filler * How to balance personal stories with practical workplace advice Resources Mentioned: * Pre-Order Abi's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/824116/culture-blooming-by-abi-adamson/ [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/824116/culture-blooming-by-abi-adamson/] Connect With Us: * Connect with Abi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abiadamson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/abiadamson/] * Connect with Rhona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce/] Want to turn your team into creators? Visit workfluencermedia.com [https://workfluencermedia.com/] to learn how we help companies build video-first content systems that attract, engage, and retain talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#91: How to Monetize a Podcast Without Losing Your Integrity

Most creators think they need a massive audience before brands will take them seriously. Chad Sowash says that's nonsense! In this episode of Workfluencer, Chad shares how he and his co-host, Joel Cheesman, built the Chad & Cheese podcast into a profitable business from day one, why most creators dramatically undervalue themselves, and what brands are actually buying when they sponsor content. We discuss why niche audiences outperform vanity metrics, how to create sponsorship packages that deliver real value, and why some of Chad's strongest sponsor relationships started after publicly criticizing those companies. Chad also explains how he evaluates HR tech vendors, why creators have a responsibility to vet the products they promote, and the rules he follows to protect audience trust. If you've been wondering whether it's possible to make money from content without becoming a spokesperson for every brand that waves a checkbook, this conversation is for you. What You'll Learn: * Why Chad built his podcast as a business from day one * What brands actually want from creator partnerships * The biggest mistake creators make when pricing sponsorships * Why niche audiences are often more valuable than large audiences * How Chad handles disagreements with sponsors * The role creators play in vetting AI and HR tech products * Lessons learned from nearly a decade of podcast monetization Resources Mentioned: * Listen to the Chad & Cheese Podcast: https://www.chadcheese.com/ [https://www.chadcheese.com/] Connect with Us: * Connect with Chad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadsowash/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadsowash/] * Connect with Rhona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce/] Want to turn your team into creators? Visit workfluencermedia.com [https://workfluencermedia.com/] to learn how we help companies build video-first content systems that attract, engage, and retain talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#90: Rebuilding a Personal Brand After a Layoff

Strong POV content feels risky for most creators, but Jillian O'Malior built her audience by removing the corporate pleasing filter completely. After being laid off in November 2024, she ran a 90-day experiment leaning into “strategically unhinged” content about layoffs, labor reform, and the dehumanization of workers — and the inbound work, brand deals, and podcast invites started rolling in. In this episode of Workfluencer, Rhona Pierce sits down with brand strategist and workplace advocate Jillian O'Malior about the moment she dropped corporate Jillian, the dinner-party framework she uses to keep her voice consistent, and the seven-story-plot approach she applies to every post. They cover how to be vulnerable without overexposing yourself, why a strong POV content strategy doubles as a filter, and how to build a personal brand without sounding like a rant. At its core, this episode is about what happens when you stop optimizing for the broadest possible audience and start saying what only you can say. The professionals who try to please everyone get scrolled past. The ones who plant a stake in the ground get hired. You'll hear Jillian's exact content framework, the difference between venting and a strong POV, why “strategically unhinged” outperforms safe corporate content, how she handled friends who thought she'd “gone off the deep end,” and the specific advice she gives clients building their personal brand from scratch. What You'll Learn: * How to build a personal brand after a layoff * Why authentic content outperforms sanitized corporate posting * How to use content as a filter for career opportunities * The difference between vulnerability and unhinged oversharing * How layoffs are reshaping conversations around work * Why AI-generated content is the reason for the loss of originality online * Why having a strong POV online is less risky than people think * How to create content that actually sounds like you * Jillian’s framework for developing a memorable personal brand * The future of work, portfolio careers, and labor reform Resources Mentioned: * Jillian's Website: https://www.jilliandoesbranding.com/ [https://www.jilliandoesbranding.com/] * The Liquidity of Truth Case Study: https://www.jilliandoesbranding.com/showrunner-methodology [https://www.jilliandoesbranding.com/showrunner-methodology] Connect With Us: * Connect with Jillian: ⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamorgan-recruiter-careerbff/]https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-omalior [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-omalior/] * Connect with Rhona: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce/] Want to turn your team into creators? Visit ⁠workfluencermedia.com⁠ [https://workfluencermedia.com/] to learn how we help companies build video-first content systems that attract, engage, and retain talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]