How DEI is Evolving in 2026

Is a Life Event Services Team an HR Secret Weapon?

On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Ava Mehta, Bank of America’s Head of Life Event Services about, frankly, giving a damn about your employees. We learn what a Life Event Services team is and how they help employees through difficult times in life, as well as small steps that current HR leaders can take to help their employees feel cared for.  00:00: Intro  01:30: What is Life Event Services? 04:30: Major life events BoA helps their employees with  07:25: How to get into this work  10:00: How HR teams can provide resources  13:40: Small ways to build company culture  For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events [https://www.hr-brew.com/events]  Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe [https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe] Watch People Person on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew [https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew] Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ [https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/] Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com [peopleperson@morningbrew.com] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [http://megaphone.fm/adchoices] People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers.  Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.

Is It Time to Audit Your HR Department?

On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Nancy Vitale, Chief People Officer at Omada Health, about giving your HR department a nice dose of spring cleaning, or an audit, if you will. They discuss where to start, if you tell the company about your plans, and how to make sure you are emphasizing purpose over process.  00:00: Intro  02:00: How Nancy thinks about spring cleaning in an HR department  04:45: What prompts a spring cleaning or department audit  06:20: Value stream mapping 08:40: Next generation people strategy 09:40: Should you announce your spring cleaning or department audit to the company 11:35: Which areas should you evaluate first 18:00: Process vs purpose  19:30: Lightning round on rewriting policies, HR tools and AI, and in-person time For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events [https://www.hr-brew.com/events]  Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe [https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe] Watch People Person on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew [https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew] Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ [https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/] Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com [peopleperson@morningbrew.com] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [http://megaphone.fm/adchoices] People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers.  Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.

AI & Hiring: What Every HR Leader Needs to Know

Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Sarah Tilley, SVP of Global Talent Management and Acquisition, ServiceNow about the role AI is currently playing in Talent Acquisition. They discuss how this technology has been used in the past and where it’s going, especially in relation to early stage recruitment, and how it can be used to make sure you’re hiring the right people and setting them up for leadership and success within your company.  00:00: Intro  02:05: Fill in the Blank AI thoughts  04:05: How AI is and has been used in talent acquisition and HR functions  12:08: Kate’s Take    13:00: How HR leaders should be using AI  16:00: What are the foundations of AI in an HR department 17:35: How AI affects early stage recruitment 21:50: Making sure you’re hiring the right people and future leaders  For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events [https://www.hr-brew.com/events]  Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe [https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe] Watch People Person on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew [https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew] Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ [https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/] Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com [peopleperson@morningbrew.com] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [http://megaphone.fm/adchoices] People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers.  Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.

How DEI is Evolving in 2026

Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with HR Brew Senior Reporter Kristen Parisi about their latest DEI survey. She fills us in how leaders are looking at, implementing, and changing their DEI policies in the workplace. Then Latesha Byrd, CEO of Perfeqta shares how she works with clients to make sure their practices aren’t just performative. Ultimately, we learn that the language on DEI may be changing, but its presence is still felt, despite decisions from the current administration.  00:00: Intro  02:00: HR Brew’s recent survey about DEI   03:27: How the current political landscape is and isn’t affecting DEI policies  09:25: Language being used to represent DEI initiatives  12:00: Trends and practices still in use  16:00: Latesha Bryd on how to put the data into action  21:00: How to do DEI right  24:25: How to make these practices sustainable  28:45: Preventing strategies from being politically reactive  32:20: Red flags to keep an eye on  Read HR Brew's State of the Industry DEI report: https://www.hr-brew.com/resources/state-of-the-industry-dei Follow Latesha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lateshabyrd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lateshabyrd/] For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events [https://www.hr-brew.com/events]  Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe [https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe] Watch People Person on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew [https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew] Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ [https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/] Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com [peopleperson@morningbrew.com] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [http://megaphone.fm/adchoices] People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers.  Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.

How Humor Can Be A Vital HR Tool In & Out of the Workplace

Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Ashley Bendell and Peter Phelan, the co-founders of Funny People, a comedy for for (and by!) HR pros. They discuss showing up to work as your authentic self, using humor as a tool at work, and how to know where the line is. Plus, why an HR humor show is proving to not only be comedic, but cathartic as well.  00:00: Intro  01:53: Why HR needs a humor space 07:10: Using humor to enforce policy   11:30: Not crossing the line with comedy  14:13: Bringing your authentic self is a powerful tool   19:00: When humor takes a turn  24:05: How a sense of humor helps with your work    This episode is sponsored by QuickBooks. To learn more, visit: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/workforce/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWVRaS1ZbnhkYmZKSTdob1NWSW5XU01VVVNHUXxBQ3Jtc0ttYy1XRnBEU0lyclpTMjVmWWU4UG9tek5mS183Q19mMVM3VURrRVZoTnlwZXJmZ2Npc21vczU1MFRUTkh5Z2kwSmRKTlpEcC1qdFE4blhaWXVSRlF0Wm95ZUl6RDUzbUYyNjk4TGc0SDFmRHBrUWs0bw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fquickbooks.intuit.com%2Fworkforce%2F&v=4D3guKcqVe8] Join us at HR Brew’s first-ever Summit in NYC on April 21, 2026: The Talent 2030 Collective  https://www.hr-brew.com/events/the-talent-2030-collective?utm_campaign=hrb_me_042126&utm_content=show_notes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=peopleperson [https://www.hr-brew.com/events/the-talent-2030-collective?utm_campaign=hrb_me_042126&utm_content=show_notes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=peopleperson] For all upcoming HR Brew events: https://www.hr-brew.com/events [https://www.hr-brew.com/events]  Read more about Funny People on HR Brew: https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025/12/19/meet-the-funny-people-behind-nyc-s-hr-themed-comedy-show [https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025/12/19/meet-the-funny-people-behind-nyc-s-hr-themed-comedy-show] Follow Funny People: https://funnyhrpeople.com/ [https://funnyhrpeople.com/] Subscribe to the HR Brew newsletter: https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe [https://www.hr-brew.com/subscribe] Watch People Person on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew [https://www.youtube.com/@hr-brew] Follow HR Brew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/ [https://www.instagram.com/hr_brew/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/ [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hrbrew/] Have a question for us? Send us an email or voice note to peopleperson@morningbrew.com [peopleperson@morningbrew.com] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [http://megaphone.fm/adchoices] People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers.  Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available everywhere you get your favorite Morning Brew podcasts.