The Modern People Leader: Forward-Thinking HR

Kirsten Moorefield, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder at Cloverleaf, Sarika Lamont, CPO at Vidyard, and Sarah Royer, Sr. Manager of People Ops at Nirvana Insurance, joined us on The Modern People Leader for a live discussion on AI coaching. 
We talked about what AI coaching actually means today, building these tools in-house versus buying, and why career growth will never be a perfect checklist.
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Sponsor Links:
🔗 Learn more about Intuit QuickBooks Payroll at QuickBooks.com/workforce
MPL Links:
🔗 Go sign up for MPL Build.
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(08:53) What AI Coaching Actually Means Today
(10:47) The AI Coaching Definition Problem & Human Coach Misconceptions
(12:01) Why AI Cannot Replace Human Relationships at Work
(13:54) AI as an Enabler for Better Manager Conversations
(15:05) Teaching Employees to Own Their Career Growth
(16:18) Building AI Tools for Managers, Coaching & Performance Conversations
(18:08) Connecting HR Systems, Context & Employee Data Together
(20:02) Sarah’s Approach to Building AI Coaching Skills in Claude
(22:01) Buying vs. Building AI Coaching Tools Internally
(24:05) Kinfolk, AI Employees & Workflow Automation at Vidyard
(27:00) Claude Skills, AI Coaching Gems & Legal Guardrails
(29:47) Why HR Teams Should Start Small & Experiment Fast
(31:00) What Makes an AI Coaching Tool Actually Valuable
(32:14) Why Daily Coaching & Relationship Context Matter Most
(34:11) The Importance of Personalized Coaching in the Flow of Work
(36:01) Cloverleaf’s MCP Approach & Integrating Behavioral Data
(37:12) Why Managers Struggle With Coaching Conversations
(38:04) HR’s AI Adoption Problem & Fear of Falling Behind
(40:07) Sarika’s Approach to AI Change Management at Vidyard
(42:02) Making AI Adoption Fun, Human & Transparent
(44:04) Focus Fridai, AI Enablement & Experimentation Culture
(45:12) Why AI Skills Are Becoming Mandatory for Employees
(46:09) Sarah on Creating Space for HR Teams to Build With AI
(47:53) HR Professionals as Builders & Full-Stack Problem Solvers
(48:49) AI Ethics, Compliance Risks & Responsible AI Coaching
(50:28) Balancing AI Pressure From CEOs While Protecting Employees
(51:15) Q&A: How Employees Are Actually Using AI Coaches
(52:43) Career Growth, Self-Ownership & the Limits of AI Guidance
(55:09) Why Career Growth Will Never Be a Checklist
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Past guests on MPL include Brené Brown, Annie Dean (VP of Team Anywhere, Atlassian), Josh Bersin, Katie Burke (Chief People Officer, Harvey), Liz Fosslien, Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot), Dave Scott (Chief People Officer, ADT), Melanie Rossenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox), Crystal Boysen (Chief People Officer, Sprout Social), and many more.

Cara Brennan Allamano (Founder of PeopleTech Partners and former Chief People Officer at Lattice) and Jevan Lenox (Chief People Officer at Writer) joined Stephen at Fix Healthcare Live.
They talked about the growing pressure on HR leaders and why modern people leaders need to rethink how they operate in a rapidly changing world.
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Sponsor Links:
🔗 Explore the 2026 ​Deloitte Human Capital Trends Report
🔗 Learn more about Cloverleaf at cloverleaf.me/mpl
🔗 Learn more about Intuit QuickBooks Payroll at QuickBooks.com/workforce
MPL Links:
🔗 Go sign up for MPL Build.
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(03:00) How the CPO Role Is Transforming in Real Time
(04:00) COVID’s Lasting Impact on Employee Expectations and Healthcare
(05:00) Why Healthcare Became an Emotional Workplace Issue
(06:00) The Tension Between Rising Costs and Better Employee Support
(07:00) The Shift From an Employee-Powered Market to an Employer-First Economy
(08:00) Why Modern CPOs Are Starting to Look More Like COOs
(10:00) Business Acumen, Operating Acumen, and the New Expectations for HR
(11:00) Why Traditional Benefits Systems Are Falling Behind
(12:00) AI’s Rapid Growth and What It Means for HR Leadership
(13:00) How AI Is Democratizing Technology for People Teams
(15:00) Why Judgment and Expertise Still Matter in the AI Era
(16:00) The Case for Strategic Partners Over Building Everything In-House
(17:00) Scaling Better Employee Experiences Through AI Systems
(19:00) HR Leaders as Major Buyers of Healthcare
(20:00) The Ethical Weight of Benefits Decisions
(21:00) Why CPOs Need Innovative Healthcare Partners
(22:00) Making Hard Trade-Offs With Integrity
(23:00) Why Healthcare Innovation Feels Risky for Finance Leaders
(26:00) Cara’s Advice: Stay Educated on Emerging Healthcare Innovation
(27:00) Jevan’s Advice: Stop Searching for “The Answer”
(28:00) Why the Future of HR Requires Constant Iteration
(29:00) Community, Partners, and Navigating Uncertainty 
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📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps
💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn
😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn
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Past guests on MPL include Brené Brown, Annie Dean (VP of Team Anywhere, Atlassian), Josh Bersin, Katie Burke (Chief People Officer, Harvey), Liz Fosslien, Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot), Dave Scott (Chief People Officer, ADT), Melanie Rossenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox), Crystal Boysen (Chief People Officer, Sprout Social), and many more.

Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, Co-Founder and CEO of Wellthy, and Stephan Dolling, AVP of Global Benefits & Well-being at Merck, joined us on The Modern People Leader. 
We talked about the rising pressures facing working families and what companies can do to support their employees that are caregivers.
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Sponsor Links:
🔗 Learn more about Tilt at hellotilt.com/mpl
🔗 Learn more about Intuit QuickBooks Payroll at QuickBooks.com/workforce
🔗 Explore the 2026 ​Deloitte Human Capital Trends Report
MPL Links:
🔗 Go sign up for MPL Build.
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(06:00) HR’s Expanding Role in Healthcare & Family Support
(08:00) The Rising Cost of Childcare & Caregiving Challenges
(10:00) Layoffs, Workplace Pressure & The “Sandwich Generation”
(11:00) How Employee Expectations Changed Post-COVID
(13:00) Merck’s Philosophy on Supporting Working Families
(15:00) What Real Employee Support Looks Like in Practice
(17:00) Flexibility, Compassionate Time & Supporting Diverse Workforces
(18:00) The Importance of Benefits Communication & Employee Awareness
(20:00) Simplifying Access to Benefits Through Journey Mapping
(22:00) Most Popular Benefits at Merck: Backup Care, Flexibility & Concierge Support
(24:00) Why Backup Care Peaks During School Breaks
(25:00) Senior Care, Pet Care & New Caregiving Trends
(26:00) Why Managers Need Better Support & Empathy Training
(28:00) What Great Managers Do During Caregiving Crises
(30:00) Building a Workplace Culture Rooted in Flexibility & Trust
(31:00) The $70 Billion Childcare Disruption Problem
(32:00) How COVID Changed Merck’s Backup Care Strategy
(34:00) Why Fast, Flexible Care Solutions Matter Most
(35:00) The Future of Backup Care & AI-Powered Matching
(38:00) Why Employees Don’t Engage With Benefits Programs
(39:00) Simplicity vs Specificity in Benefits Communication
(41:00) Keeping Benefits Top-of-Mind Before Employees Need Them
(42:00) Using Employee Testimonials to Normalize Caregiving
(45:00) Why Modern Workplaces Need to Normalize Care Conversations
(46:00) Real Stories of Caregiving Support During Crisis Moments
(48:00) Helping Employees Through Dementia Care & COVID Emergencies
(49:00) Navigating Grief, Medical Debt & End-of-Life Care Support
(51:00) Building the Business Case for Caregiving Benefits
(53:00) Productivity, Flexibility & the ROI of Caregiving Support
(55:00) Why Caregiving Is an Economic Issue, Not Just a Social Issue
(56:00) AI, Productivity & the Cost of Context Switching
(58:00) Mental Health, Burnout & What Employees Need Most Right Now 
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📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps
💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn
😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn
😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn
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Past guests on MPL include Brené Brown, Annie Dean (VP of Team Anywhere, Atlassian), Josh Bersin, Katie Burke (Chief People Officer, Harvey), Liz Fosslien, Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot), Dave Scott (Chief People Officer, ADT), Melanie Rossenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox), Crystal Boysen (Chief People Officer, Sprout Social), and many more.

Jessica Zwaan, VP People Strategy & Operations at Leapsome and author of Built For People, joined us for another MPL Build AMA. 
This time we talked about how to redesign your People team if you're running your team like a product team, why metrics like internal promotion retention matter more than traditional HR KPIs, and more.
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Sponsor Links:
🔗 Explore the 2026 ​Deloitte Human Capital Trends Report
🔗 Learn more about Intuit QuickBooks Payroll at QuickBooks.com/workforce
MPL Links:
🔗 Go sign up for MPL Build.
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(06:00) Building Internal AI Tools: From Non-Technical to Product Thinking
(09:00) The HR Paradox: More Strategic Power, More Emotional Pressure
(12:00) Why Most Employees Don’t Understand Company Strategy
(15:00) The Real Problem Isn’t AI — It’s Communication and Leadership
(19:00) How the CPO Role Changed After COVID and AI Acceleration
(22:00) Short-Term vs Medium-Term Thinking in High-Speed Organizations
(25:00) Trust, Transparency, and Decision-Making in Uncertain Environments
(27:00) Why Scaling HR Strategy Is Harder in Established Companies
(29:00) The Death of Traditional Career Paths and Org Hierarchies
(32:00) Why the CPO Role Is Still Misunderstood at the Executive Level
(34:00) Saying No: The Most Underrated Skill in HR Leadership
(36:00) HumanOps vs Strategic Work: Where HR Should Actually Focus
(38:00) Aligning AI Strategy with Business Outcomes (Not Just Tools)
(40:00) The “So What?” Framework for Driving Real Impact
(44:00) Why Most Companies Are Building the Wrong AI Stack
(45:00) AI as a Product Advantage: Driving Strategy Through Use Case
(46:00) When AI Adoption Becomes Non-Negotiable for Employees
(48:00) Why Long-Term Planning Is Dead (and What Replaces It)
(49:00) Rethinking Headcount: Hiring vs Rebuilding Roles with AI
(52:00) Where AI Will Actually Replace Work in HR
(54:00) Stop Thinking Roles — Start Thinking Workflows
(55:00) Rebuilding Teams for Human + AI Collaboration
(58:00) The End of the SaaS Hiring Playbook
(59:00) New Metric That Matters: Revenue per Employee
(01:01:00) The Risk of “AI Tech Debt” from Poor Implementation
(01:02:00) Why Every Company Will Face AI Pressure Soon
(01:03:00) HR as Crisis Management: The Reality of the Role
(01:05:00) If HR Isn’t in the Room Early, You’ve Already Lost Influence
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📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps
💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn
😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn
😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn
---- 
Past guests on MPL include Brené Brown, Annie Dean (VP of Team Anywhere, Atlassian), Josh Bersin, Katie Burke (Chief People Officer, Harvey), Liz Fosslien, Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot), Dave Scott (Chief People Officer, ADT), Melanie Rossenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox), Crystal Boysen (Chief People Officer, Sprout Social), and many more.

Amin Palizban, Co-Founder & CEO of TopicFlow, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about why managers are at a breaking point, how AI is transforming performance management, and what it takes to build AI-native people products that actually support managers in real time.
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Get the AI for Performance Management Toolkit: https://modernpeopleleader.kit.com/aiforperformance
Sponsor Links:
🔗 Explore the 2026 ​Deloitte Human Capital Trends Report
🔗 Book a conversation with Compete at compete.com/mpl
🔗 Learn more about Intuit QuickBooks Payroll at QuickBooks.com/workforce
MPL Links:
🔗 Go sign up for MPL Build.
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(03:33) Amin’s Career Journey: From Engineer to CEO of TopicFlow
(07:32) Early Exposure to Performance Management Tools and Market Gap
(10:05) AI’s Impact on Productivity and Internal Workflows (MPL 2.0)
(12:36) Why Managers Are Burnt Out and the “Code Red” Situation
(16:30) The Real Problem: Poor Manager Training and Promotion Practices
(21:34) Why Traditional L&D and HR Tools Are No Longer Effective
(24:21) What Real Manager Support Looks Like in the AI Era
(26:49) Coaching vs Performance Reviews: Why They Should Be Separate
(29:15) Why AI Coaching Can Be More Effective Than Human Coaching
(34:38) The Increasing Span of Control and Manager Workload Challenges
(36:02) Why Performance Reviews Are Still Not Data-Driven
(40:01) What Data Sources Actually Matter for Better Reviews
(46:15) Transcript Data as “Corporate Gold” and Cultural Shift Challenges
(52:05) From Asking AI to Ambient Intelligence and Proactive Coaching
(56:39) Personalized AI Coaching and the “Scale to One” Future
---- 
📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps
💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn
😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn
😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn
---- 
Past guests on MPL include Brené Brown, Annie Dean (VP of Team Anywhere, Atlassian), Josh Bersin, Katie Burke (Chief People Officer, Harvey), Liz Fosslien, Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot), Dave Scott (Chief People Officer, ADT), Melanie Rossenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox), Crystal Boysen (Chief People Officer, Sprout Social), and many more.