Flatter orgs, higher stakes: The future of middle managers with Malvika Jethmalani at Atvis Group and Women Shaping AI

The metrics trap: Why HR data needs context

Most HR dashboards are full of numbers. Few explain what those numbers actually mean. In this episode, Jennifer Ruza, EVP of HR and People Experience at VaynerX, explores why HR data needs context to drive better decisions across the business. Jennifer shares how HR leaders can move beyond surface-level metrics and uncover the story behind the data. From balancing qualitative feedback with quantitative insights to rethinking how turnover is interpreted, she explains how context turns HR data into meaningful business intelligence. You’ll also hear how AI is reshaping the way organizations measure efficiency and impact — and what leaders should keep in mind as they build more data-informed people strategies. Key takeaways: 00:00 Introduction  02:42 Qualitative feedback often highlights issues before quantitative data validates them  06:12 Internal changes and external market context help explain conflicting data points  07:53 Retention and turnover metrics require context to determine if they are healthy for the business  10:22 Talent planning focuses on keeping employees in the right roles to drive business success 14:19 AI is currently best used to free up time for higher-impact tasks rather than strict formulas 17:16 Digitized work will increasingly require project management software to track compressed time  23:20 Running controlled experiments is an effective way to safely measure AI's impact on productivity  28:05 AI provides directional information from large talent data sets to help HR tell a better story 32:12 Talent evaluation balances business output with empathetic behavior and psychological safety Resources mentioned: Jennifer Ruza [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-ruza-65a4331/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-ruza-65a4331/ VaynerX [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaynerx-llc/] https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaynerx-llc/ VaynerMedia [https://vaynerx.com/] | Website https://vaynerx.com/ Thank you for listening to the People Proud podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a five-star review and subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode.  The People Proud podcast is brought to you by HiBob. #PeopleProud #CorporateCulture #HumanResourceManagement #EmployeeEngagement

Rethinking resilience in the age of burnout with Hebba Youssef at Workweek

In this episode, Hebba Youssef [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef/], chief people officer at Workweek [https://www.linkedin.com/company/workweek-media/] and founder of the I Hate It Here podcast and newsletter, joins HiBob’s Tali Sachs and Dr. Ken Matos to unpack how resilience is often misunderstood at work. Hebba challenges the idea that resilience means pushing through at all costs and explores how trust, leadership behavior, goal setting, and organizational self-awareness determine whether teams bend, break, or rebuild during sustained change. Key takeaways: 00:00 Introduction 03:26 Resilience is built through overcoming hardship, not by repeatedly pushing people past their limits 06:20 Trust is built when managers understand people and how work gets done 15:34 Loss of creativity and inspiration is an early signal of burnout 17:40 Changes in everyday behaviors often indicate disengagement before it is spoken 22:38 Unrealistic expectations placed on managers weaken teams and leadership systems 25:47 Honest conversations about fit help employees and organizations move forward 30:10 Sustainable performance depends on reasonable goals and clear prioritization 36:03 Unresolved conflict and defensiveness drain energy needed to do meaningful work Resources mentioned: Hebba Youssef [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef/ Workweek [https://www.linkedin.com/company/workweek-media/] | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/workweek-media/ Workweek [http://www.workweek.com] | Website http://www.workweek.com "Talk To Me Nice" by Minda Harts [https://www.mindaharts.com/talktomenice] https://www.mindaharts.com/talktomenice "I Hate It Here" newsletter [https://workweek.com/dm/i-hate-it-here-newsletter-og/] https://workweek.com/dm/i-hate-it-here-newsletter-og/ “I Hate It Here” podcast [https://hateithere.co/podcast/] https://hateithere.co/podcast/ Thank you for listening to the People Proud Podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a five-star review and subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode.  The People Proud Podcast is brought to you by HiBob. #PeopleProud #CorporateCulture #HumanResourceManagement

Flatter orgs, higher stakes: The future of middle managers with Malvika Jethmalani at Atvis Group and Women Shaping AI

As organizations flatten, AI adoption accelerates, and expectations on leaders continue to rise, the manager role is changing fast. Malvika Jethmalani [https://www.linkedin.com/in/malvikajethmalani/], founder of Atvis Group [https://www.linkedin.com/company/atvis-group/] and Women Shaping AI [https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-shaping-ai/], joins HiBob to unpack what that shift means in practice. Drawing on her work with PE-backed organizations, she explores why management is becoming more complex, which human skills matter most in an AI-driven world, and how rethinking traditional org charts can unlock underutilized talent and ease burnout.  This episode offers a practical, human lens on what it takes to lead well when work and the way we organize it keep evolving.  Key takeaways: 00:00 Introduction 02:22 The manager role has become more complex as pressure increases from all directions 05:08 Many managers would step away from leadership roles if career growth did not depend on them 09:51 Sound judgment and discernment remain critical in AI-augmented work 15:34 Power skills such as communication and empathy are becoming key leadership differentiators 23:15 Organizations are moving from org charts to outcome-driven work charts 28:37 Management increasingly involves designing and overseeing human and digital labor 31:25 Creativity, critical thinking, and authentic connection make human work irreplaceable 40:32 Middle managers remain essential for translating strategy into execution Resources mentioned: Malvika Jethmalani [https://www.linkedin.com/in/malvikajethmalani/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/malvikajethmalani/ Atvis Group [https://www.linkedin.com/company/atvis-group/] | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/atvis-group/ Atvis Group [https://www.atvisgroup.com/] | Website https://www.atvisgroup.com/ Women Shaping AI [https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-shaping-ai/] | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-shaping-ai/ Women Shaping AI [https://www.womenshapingai.org/] | Website https://www.womenshapingai.org/ Microsoft Work Trend Index [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index “Irreplaceable” by Pascal Bornet [https://www.amazon.com/IRREPLACEABLE-Art-Standing-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1394264402] https://www.amazon.com/IRREPLACEABLE-Art-Standing-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1394264402 Thank you for listening to the People Proud podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a five-star review and subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode.  The People Proud podcast is brought to you by HiBob. #PeopleProud #CorporateCulture #HumanResourceManagement

Lost in translation: How to get HR and Finance on the same page

In this episode, Limor Raz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/limor-raz-1634b04/], VP of People Foundations and Experience at HiBob [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hibob/], and Joe Garafalo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-garafalo/], General Manager of HiBob’s FP&A product line, dig into one of the biggest barriers to strategic growth: misalignment between HR and Finance. Drawing on their own career journeys, they share what happens when these teams move from working in parallel to planning together. From building shared language to aligning data early, they explore how workforce planning becomes a driver of smarter decisions and stronger business outcomes. They also look ahead to the role AI will play in reshaping how organizations approach headcount planning, cost visibility, and long-term people strategy.  Key takeaways: 00:00 Introduction 03:47 Why HR and Finance often speak different languages 06:34 How perceptions of “HR” and “Finance” create friction across organizations 09:51 Why HR and Finance should operate as customer service partners to the business 12:23 The challenge of aligning KPIs across people and financial systems 16:38 Why workforce planning needs the same rigor as revenue forecasting 19:44 How org design decisions impact both cost structure and employee experience 24:23 Why finance teams need deeper visibility into people lifecycle data 27:21 How early co-design prevents budget surprises and broken trust 33:42 The role of leadership buy-in in making HR–Finance collaboration work 42:21 How AI is forcing a rethink of headcount and financial planning Resources mentioned: Limor Raz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/limor-raz-1634b04/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/limor-raz-1634b04/ Joe Garafalo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-garafalo/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-garafalo/ HiBob [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hibob/] | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/hibob/ HiBob [https://hibobl.ink/main_page] | Website https://hibobl.ink/main_page Thank you for listening to the People Proud Podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a five-star review and subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode.  The People Proud Podcast is brought to you by HiBob. #PeopleProud #CorporateCulture #HumanResourceManagement #EmployeeEngagement

AI in HR: Navigating the real opportunities and hype with Kyle Lagunas at Kyle & Co

Kyle Lagunas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelagunas/], founder and principal analyst at Kyle & Co [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyle-co], explores the real state of AI in HR, the pressures leaders face, and what it takes to build resilient, people-centric organizations in a rapidly shifting landscape. He shares insights on navigating hype cycles, strengthening HR credibility, and choosing AI tools with intention, rather than reacting to market buzz. Key takeaways: 00:00 Introduction 02:45 AI in HR touches every function, increasing both opportunity and confusion 05:21 AI efforts work best when anchored in clear business problem statements 08:09 Previous tech waves show the value of literacy and practical best practices 10:09 Change resilience and transformation skills become core capabilities for HR teams 13:27 Vendor ethos and credibility matter when selecting AI partners and platforms 18:15 Pilots should measure how AI changes daily work, not just tool metrics 23:57 Cross-functional coalitions help AI initiatives move beyond stalled experiments 28:38 Mapping processes and experiences ensures AI improves HR journeys, not weakens them Resources mentioned: Kyle Lagunas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelagunas/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelagunas/ Kyle & Co [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyle-co] | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyle-co Kyle & Co [http://kyleandco.com] | Website http://kyleandco.com HiBob [https://www.hibob.com/] | Website https://www.hibob.com/ Human-Centric AI Council [https://kyleandco.com/hcaic/] https://kyleandco.com/hcaic/ UNLEASH World [https://www.unleash.ai/unleashworld/] https://www.unleash.ai/unleashworld/ Thank you for listening to the People Proud podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a five-star review and subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode.  The People Proud podcast is brought to you by HiBob. #PeopleProud #CorporateCulture #HumanResourceManagement