#89: How to Build an HR Conference People Actually Want to Attend

#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]

#89: How to Build an HR Conference People Actually Want to Attend

Most conferences focus on information. Anna Morgan focused on belonging. In this episode of Workfluencer, Anna takes us behind the scenes of building Evolve — a fast-growing HR and recruiting conference brand built around trust, community, and real human connection. From hosting LinkedIn audio rooms and recruiter communities to executive dinners and a full-scale conference ecosystem, Anna shares how she turned years of relationship-building into one of the most community-driven experiences in the HR space. We talk about: * How she launched her first conference in just 69 days * Why most networking at conferences feels transactional * The realities of bootstrapping an event business * How she designs experiences people actually want to return to * Why content should extend the life of an event instead of just marketing it * What sponsors really want from conferences in 2026 * How Evolve On Demand is expanding the conference beyond the room If you care about HR events, employer branding, community building, recruiting, or creating experiences people genuinely connect with, this episode is packed with practical insights. Resources Mentioned: * Join the waitlist for EVOLVE on Demand: https://evolve.short.gy/5EKAv9 [https://evolve.short.gy/5EKAv9] Connect With Us: * Connect with Anna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamorgan-recruiter-careerbff [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamorgan-recruiter-careerbff/] * 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]

#88: How Honest Employer Branding Attracts Better Candidates

What if candidates were lining up before you even posted the job? In this episode, Rhona sits down with Bradley Clark to break down how his team turned honest, transparent employer branding into a high-performing talent engine. They get into why most employer branding fails, how transparency filters in the right candidates (and repels the wrong ones), and the exact system behind their “early access” hiring strategy that drives 60% of hires before jobs ever hit job boards. This is a tactical, behind-the-scenes look at what happens when employer brand is actually aligned to hiring goals—not vanity metrics. What You’ll Learn: * Why honesty is the most effective employer branding strategy * Why “aspirational” employer branding hurts hiring * How radical transparency improves candidate quality * The early access hiring strategy (and how to copy it) * Why you should close jobs early (and stop collecting resumes) * The 4 content pillars behind a high-performing employer brand * How to use rejection emails as a brand-building tool * Why unpolished content outperforms high-production campaigns * How employer brand should directly support talent strategy Resources Mentioned: * Visit Article's LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/article.com/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/article.com/] * If you've been wanting to post more consistently on LinkedIn, try Stanley for FREE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://workfluencerpodcast.com/stanley ⁠⁠ [https://workfluencerpodcast.com/stanley] * Subscribe to Rhona's Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.rhonapierce.com/newsletter2⁠ [https://link.rhonapierce.com/newsletter2] Connect with Us: * Connect with Brad: ⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonsharpston]https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradmclark/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradmclark/] * 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]