The Future of Payroll Is Personal — A Conversation with Michael Steen
In this episode of It’s About Payroll, we welcome Michael Steen, Client Solutions Director at Payroll Minds, for a powerful and insightful conversation on the intersection of payroll, leadership, and humanity. Michael shares his nontraditional journey from crisis intervention and mental health to global payroll consulting, and how compassion, personal branding, and listening are his keys to success.
We dive into:
What the future of payroll could—and should—look like
Why AI hasn’t quite arrived (yet) in payroll processing
The power of showing up authentically in a sales-driven world
The importance of building a personal brand on LinkedIn
Real talk on burnout, balance, and leading with kindness
If you’re a payroll professional, HR leader, or just someone who values thoughtful leadership and industry disruption, this episode is for you.
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Season in Review
In this episode, we hit pause to look back and talk through:
✅ What really stood out to us this season
✅ The challenges we navigated behind the scenes
✅ Powerful lessons learned along the way
✅ And most importantly—the amazing guests who brought their wisdom, energy, and heart to every conversation.
From compliance curves to pay transparency, global payroll trends to financial wellness tips, these seasons have been full of insights and impact. 🙌
Whether you're a payroll pro or just trying to better understand your paycheck, we’ve got something for you.
🎙️ Tune in to hear our takeaways, favorite moments, and what’s next for both shows.
👉 https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll, https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-your-paycheck, itsaboutpayroll.io, itsaboutyourpaycheck.com.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250623026106/en/Dallas-YMCA-Unleashes-Workforce-Efficiency-Saves-600-Hours-a-Year-with-AI-First-UKG-Suite
https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/2180/economics/economic-impact-of-war/
To all our listeners, guests, and supporters—THANK YOU. You help make these conversations real, relevant, and resonant.
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Blockchain vs. The Buck – A Payroll Perspective
In Episode 161 of It’s About Payroll, we dive deep into the growing conversation around cryptocurrency and fiat currency—and how both could shape the future of payroll.
We explore three major areas of debate: 🔹 Decentralization vs. Centralized Control 🔹 Inflation Resistance vs. Economic Flexibility 🔹 Transparency vs. Regulatory Protection
From the transparency and autonomy offered by blockchain, to the economic stability and legal safeguards built into the U.S. dollar system, this episode unpacks how each side stacks up when it comes to paying people fairly, securely, and sustainably.
As digital currencies continue to evolve, payroll professionals need to understand the opportunities and the risks. Could decentralized finance revolutionize how we pay employees? Or is the traditional system still the most reliable anchor in times of economic uncertainty?
Tune in for an insightful debate and practical payroll takeaways from both sides of the coin.
Links & References
wrkdefined.com
itsaboutpayroll.io
https://youtu.be/loISEZr38UU
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Brian Escobar and Walter William Duncan III are the hosts of It’s About Payroll. Collectively, they have over 4 decades of experience in the payroll industry. This podcast was created with the intent of sharing their knowledge and attracting new talent to the payroll industry.
ItsAboutPayroll.io
You can access their LinkedIn profiles.
https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/escobarbrian
https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/william-duncan-477051187
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