By HR for HR

#17 - Elles Skony: Building Community and Confidence in HR Entrepreneurship

In this episode of HRHR, host Jocelyn King sits down with Elles Skony, a dynamic leader in the HR space, to explore the journey of transitioning from in-house HR leadership to entrepreneurship. Elles, who has a rich background in high-growth startups, shares her experience of founding her own business and creating Fractional People People, a thriving community for HR entrepreneurs. Listeners will gain insights into the challenges and triumphs of becoming an HR entrepreneur, as Elles discusses the importance of networking, building confidence, and pricing services correctly. She also delves into the creation of a supportive community for HR professionals, emphasizing the value of peer support and shared experiences in overcoming the hurdles of entrepreneurship. Join us as we uncover the nuances of starting a business in the HR field, learn how to navigate the tricky waters of client acquisition, and discover the strategies Elles employs to maintain a thriving business while nurturing a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#16 - Junell Venord: Building HR Communities and Effective Communication

In this episode of HRHR, host Jocelyn King engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Junell Venord, a seasoned HR professional and Senior Director at the Washington Area Community Investment Fund. Junell shares her unique journey through various industries, from teaching to HR leadership, and how these experiences have shaped her approach to building strong HR communities. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the importance of leveraging HR communities like D.C. SHRM for support and professional development. Junell emphasizes the need for HR professionals to connect with peers to navigate workplace challenges, particularly during times of organizational stress, such as layoffs. She also shares practical advice on how to avoid common pitfalls when presenting to executives, highlighting the importance of tailoring messages to meet the audience's needs. Join us as we explore the critical role of community in HR, discuss the nuances of effective communication, and learn from Junell's experience in fostering collaboration and mentorship among HR professionals. Whether you're an HR leader or just starting in the field, this episode offers actionable takeaways to enhance your HR practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#15 - Jen Miller: Bridging Leadership and Strategy

Join us in this enlightening episode of HRHR as we dive into the intricacies of leadership and strategy with Jen Miller, founder of Leading Edge. With a rich background as an HR leader, Jen shares her journey from corporate HR to establishing her own company focused on developing effective leadership that drives business outcomes. In this conversation, Jen discusses how she helps organizations translate business strategies into clear expectations and leadership behaviors. She emphasizes the importance of aligning leadership practices with organizational goals and the challenges of managing diverse teams. Jen offers valuable insights into addressing common leadership hurdles, such as fostering synergy among leaders and ensuring consistent discipline across teams. Listeners will gain practical advice on improving communication within organizations, especially during times of change. Jen highlights the need for HR leaders to double down on clear and consistent messaging to facilitate smoother transitions. Additionally, she explains how bridging the gap between people and processes can enhance performance management systems, making them more effective and less frustrating for employees and HR professionals alike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#14 - Angela Cheng-Cimini: The Triumvirate - Aligning the CEO, CFO, and CHRO

Jocelyn King sits down with Angela Cheng-Cimini, a 30-year HR veteran and current Chief People Officer at the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Angela shares her journey from full-time leadership at Harvard Business Review to fractional work, offering a masterclass on what CEOs truly expect from their HR leaders. She emphasizes that HR’s core mission is to optimize talent to deliver on organizational objectives—whether through fair pay, skill development, or building a powerful employer brand. The conversation dives deep into the "triumvirate" of leadership: the alignment between the CEO, CFO, and CHRO. Angela explains how this partnership unlocks organizational productivity by justifying ROI for people investments and ensuring strategic alignment. She also challenges the traditional concept of "employee engagement," arguing that leaders should instead strive for "employee inspiration" by creating environments rooted in transparency, compassion, and a clear, noble purpose. Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠⁠ [http://www.virgilhr.com] and ⁠⁠follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynanneking/] for ongoing guidance and industry updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#13 - Tony Buffum: The Human Cloud - Driving the Future of Flexible Work

Tony Buffum, co-founder of The Human Cloud, joins host Jocelyn King to discuss the inevitable shift toward flexible work and the "freelance economy". Reflecting on his time at Upwork and Stanley Black & Decker, Tony explores why many HR professionals resist non-traditional staffing—citing fears of compliance, loss of control, and the "status quo" of full-time headcount. He encourages HR leaders to view themselves as the "change management function" of the organization, helping managers move from "order taking" to strategic workforce planning. Tony highlights business acumen as the key differentiator for HR professionals looking to move from administration to strategic influence. By understanding the balance sheet and partnering closely with finance, HR can transition into a "trusted advisor" or "consigliere" for the CEO. Looking ahead to the challenges of 2026, Tony advises HR practitioners to stay relevant by upskilling in agentic AI and staying hyper-aware of macroeconomic conditions to react with speed and agility. Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠⁠ [http://www.virgilhr.com] and ⁠⁠follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynanneking/] for ongoing guidance and industry updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]