Achieving Liftoff: Lana Hillebrand's Journey From Astronaut Aspirations to HR Industry Leader

Introducing bswift Beacon: A Fresh Take on Work and Benefits

If you enjoyed bWise, it's time to tune in to bswift Beacon—our next chapter in podcasting! Hosts Denise and Joel will bring you smart, thought-provoking conversations with the movers, shakers, and company culture makers redefining the workplace. Dive into bold ideas, real stories, and actionable strategies to help your workplace thrive. No sales pitches, just honest talk about what's next in the world of work, benefits, and the challenges HR faces. Subscribe to the new bswift Beacon podcast feed today. Don't miss out! Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2OiqvJMaxzYzgzXTSTr2wO?si=eaa938ebafdc416a] Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bswift-beacon/id1796013480] iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-bswift-beacon-266402104/] RSS [https://feeds.libsyn.com/567640/rss]

Emma™ Asks the Experts: The Future of AI in Benefits Administration

Join hosts Don and Sharon as they explore the latest AI enhancements to bswift's groundbreaking AI-powered platform intelligence, Emma. In this episode, we chat with Emma herself (yes, you read that right!) alongside her creators: Jeff Kirk (VP of AI), Vinita Pilani (SVP of Product Engineering), and Adam Perkins (VP of Strategic Product Management). Emma talks with them about the cutting-edge HR tech behind her upgrade. From natural language processing and user-friendly interface design to personalized recommendations and contextual education features, discover how Emma is setting new standards in employee benefits experiences. About Emma Emma is bswift's AI-powered platform intelligence that enhances the benefits experience. As the first tool of her kind, she has continuously evolved over the past decade since her inception to meet the changing needs of employees and HR. Emma's recent upgrade expands her toolset, making her more helpful than ever. Emma is available 24/7, independently resolving nearly 90% of inquiries, with most handled after hours. She provides personalized support for employees and assists CSRs when the human touch is needed. By seamlessly integrating throughout the employee experience, Emma is raising the bar in benefits administration. Watch the video of this episode here [https://vimeo.com/986579184/fde5a01f9f?share=copy].

Building the Future of HR with AI: A Chat with Jeff Kirk

In this episode, Don and Sharon talk with bswift's VP of AI Jeff Kirk about how artificial intelligence (AI) will transform the workplace and the employee benefits space. Jeff shares his career journey from the early days of the internet to pivotal roles like working on Amazon's Alexa team. Tune in for thought-provoking perspectives on developing AI responsibly while transforming work. Jeff offers a roadmap for how AI can act as a copilot that empowers employers and enhances experiences for customers and employees alike.

Streamlining Benefits Admin: Real-World Wisdom from Industry Vet Maria Yao

Overwhelmed by the accelerating pace of change in benefits administration? The latest episode of the bWise Podcast is a master class in optimizing operations. Listen in as industry heavyweight and bswift advisory council member Maria Yao distills 30+ years of frontline expertise. In this insightful interview, you'll uncover her three pillars of operational excellence – comprehensive training, rigorous documentation, and continuous simplification – and gain insights into fostering healthy team dynamics. Maria also offers a grounded perspective on leveraging automation and AI in HR tech while maintaining the critical human touch. Tune in for Maria's straight-shooting advice and elevate your operational capabilities. About Maria Yao Maria Yao is a professional services executive and industry veteran with insights honed over a storied career leading global delivery operations at industry giants. Maria excels at driving profitability, building strong client partnerships, and fostering a winning culture among talented service delivery teams. Her expertise spans benefits administration, HR services, operations excellence, and leveraging technology.

Achieving Liftoff: Lana Hillebrand's Journey From Astronaut Aspirations to HR Industry Leader

In this episode, hosts Don and Sharon sit down with HR and benefits administration leader Lana Hillebrand, former Chief Administrative Officer at American Electric Power Company, Inc., who recently joined bswift's advisory council. Lana shares her early career aspirations—which began with a bold declaration as a young girl that she wanted to be an astronaut—and what ultimately led her to a successful career in HR. Based on her experiences consulting and leading HR, she offers invaluable advice to consultants, vendors, job seekers, and anyone else in the industry. Listen in as Lana discusses the importance of relationship building, thought leadership, flexibility, and more. You'll walk away with practical tips for navigating change and thriving in this fast-paced field.