The People Strategy Podcast
Episodes
Episode 214: Gratitude-Driven Leadership: Closing the Chapter with Traci Austin
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if gratitude could transform how you lead through endings and unlock your next breakthrough? Here's what most leaders get wrong: You think finish...
Episode 213: Meeting People Where They Are: Lessons from Rolling Tides
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At Rolling Tides Construction, people aren't just employees—they're the heart of the company. CEO Matt Rasmussen has built a culture that truly care...
Episode 212: Engineering Spaces for Belonging: The Power of Intentional Culture-Building
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the most successful companies aren't the ones with the best perks or highest salaries, but the ones that have cracked the code on engineering ...
Episode 211: Elevating Our Tradespeople: Building Culture, Clarity, and Passion on the Jobsite
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The trades have often been seen as a fallback rather than a first-choice career. But what if we challenged that narrative and recognized the skilled t...
Episode 210: From High Turnover to High Commitment: How a Janitorial Company Became a People-First Powerhouse
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the issue isn't who you're hiring, but what they're walking into? That was the pivotal question Greg Brouwer asked himself when he took the re...
Episode 209: The Hidden Cost of Letting It Slide - Core Values in Trades Leadership
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you think about core values in your workplace, what comes to mind? A few words painted on the breakroom wall? A mission statement buried in an on...
Episode 208: Purpose-Driven Construction: Building Homes and Businesses That Actually Last
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever inherited more than a business—like a legacy, a mission, or a responsibility that feels deeply personal—this episode will resonate....
Episode 207: Rebuilding a Business That Serves Your Life
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever led a business that looked impressive on paper but felt like it was quietly eroding your well-being behind the scenes, this episode wil...
Episode 206: Head, Heart, Hustle: Building Trust and Culture Across Trades Teams
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the trades, it's not the perks that define culture—it's how your people show up when things get hard. On job sites, in tight deadlines, across fi...
Episode 205: Stop Yelling Into the Void: How to Actually Get Through to Your Trades Team
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If your communication strategy only works for half your crew, it's not a strategy—it's a risk. And in the trades, that risk doesn't just affect pro...
Episode 204: How a People-First Strategy Helps Retain the Best Crew with Ray Cox
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Culture, Coaching & Core Values: How Highfill Retains Talent Through Purpose Forget ping-pong tables and pay raises—this is what actual retention lo...
Episode 203: Generational Disconnect in the Trades: Proven Strategies to Lead and Retain Across Generations
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you're constantly hiring but still coming up short, the issue might not be the labour market. It might be something deeper—a generational disconn...
Episode 171 Recast: Coaching New Hires: How Leaders Can Build Confidence & Competence
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most new hires don't fail because they're unskilled. They fail because they're unsure—and no one showed them how to build confidence on the job. In ...
Episode 177 Recast: Onboarding that Works: Setting New Trades Employees Up for Success
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New hires in the trades don't just need a paycheck—they need a reason to stay. First impressions matter, and a lack of communication between the off...
Episode 68 Recast: Mental Health & Safety in the Trades: Why It Matters More Than Ever
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ignoring mental health in the trades isn't just costly—it's dangerous. Stress, burnout, and unspoken struggles impact retention, decision-making, an...
Episode 53 Recast: Why Mentorship is the Key to Retaining Your Best Tradespeople
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How Mentorship Builds Stronger Trades Teams & Reduces Turnover Hiring is hard. Losing good people is even harder. So how do you keep top tradespeople ...
Episode 121 Recast: Transforming Hiring and Retention Through A Data-Driven Approach
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Revolving Door to Retention: The Hiring Fix That Worked Most companies hire fast and regret it later. Mid-States Concrete changed their approach—...
Episode 202: Curiosity Unlocks Leadership with Marliz Briano
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marliz Briano, Operations Manager at Cydcor, began her journey with the company six years ago as part of the compliance team. In this role, she over...
Episode 201: Growing Leaders From Within
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vera Quinn is the CEO and President of Cydcor, a global provider of outsourced sales. In her role, she's grown revenue by more than 35% and led the co...
Episode 200: Joy as a People Strategy
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah McKitrick is the Founder and CEO of My Intuitive Health, which helps corporate leaders transform employee wellness through luxury culinary well...
Episode 199: What Your People Really Think... About Each Other?
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Murray is the Co-founder and CEO of Confirm, a performance management system that enables CEOs to increase capital efficiency. As a product desi...
Episode 198: Leadership Best Aligned to Your Behaviors
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Philipp (Phil) Siegel is the Lead Product Manager at Maymont Homes, a full-service acquisition, renovation, and property management company. In his ro...
Episode 197: Smart Tech for Team Retention and Talent Growth
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Sackett is the President of HRU Technical Resources, an IT and engineering contract staffing firm. With over 20 years of experience in talent acqu...
Episode 196: Mastering Change Management (Leadership Development)
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue's Information Technology Security Manager, where he ...
Episode 195: Great Problem Solving Comes From Critical Thinking (Leadership Development)
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue's Information Technology Security Manager, where he ...
Episode 194: Conflict as a Leadership Tool (Leadership Development)
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue's Information Technology Security Manager, where he ...
Episode 193: Designing & Elevating Teams (Leadership Development)
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue's Information Technology Security Manager, where he ...
Episode 192: (Leadership Development) Magic of Designed Accountability
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue's Information Technology Security Manager, where he ...
Episode 191: (Leadership Development) 4 Levers of Employee Engagement
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue's Information Technology Security Manager, where he ...
Episode 190: (Leadership Development) Leadership Coaching That Impacts
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue's Information Technology Security Manager, where he ...
Episode 189: (Leadership Development) Leadership Foundation in Action
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue's Information Technology Security Manager, where he ...
Episode 188: Exit Strategy as a People Strategy
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ab DeWeese is the Founder and Non-executive Chairman of Good Automation, a data science and test automation company he exited when he was 37. He is al...
Episode 187: Navigating Organizational Change Management
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Katie Spahnie is the VP of HR Operations at Westfield Bank, where she focuses on employee engagement programs, total reward strategies, risk managemen...
Episode 186: Change Management: Painful or Purposeful
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Bernatovicz is the Founder of Willory, which provides payroll and HR staffing and consulting support. As a serial entrepreneur, he has owned six ...
Episode 185: Unlocking Productivity and Well-Being With the Four-Day Workweek
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Barnes is the Co-founder of 4 Day Week Global, the world's leading organization changing the future of work by implementing a four-day workweek...
Episode 184: Empowerment and Accountability: The Growth Equation
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Sunshine is the Managing Partner and CEO of The Center for Sales Strategy, a sales performance consulting company helping B2B organizations attra...
Episode 183: (Team Retention) Mastering the Performance Review
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief str...
Episode 182: (Team Retention) The Trust Equation: Building Better Engagement Through Gratitude
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief str...
Episode 181: Building Connection and Community in Virtual Teams
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jenna Spencer is the Founder and CEO of AssistPro®, a virtual assistant matching and delegation coaching service. Since founding the company, she has...
Episode 180: (Team Retention) Crafting Talent Pathway Plans That Work
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief str...
Episode 179: (Team Retention) The WHY Factor: How Intentional Goals Drive Success
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief str...
Episode 178: (Team Retention) The Power of Trust: Key Ingredients for Effective Teamwork
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief str...
Episode 177: (Team Retention) Onboarding Your New Employee To Optimize Team Performance
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief str...
Episode 176: Brian Confer on Building Resiliency in Times of Change Management
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Confer is the Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer at Capturely, which offers professional headshots tailored to corporate clients. With experien...
Episode 175: (Team Retention) The Evolution of Job Structures: Flexibility and Innovation
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Loper is the President of C3, a family and children brand marketing and design agency. As a marketing and communications leader, she has over...
Episode 174: (Team Retention) Crafting a Magnetic Employee Value Proposition
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief str...
Episode 173: Strategic Hiring: Unlocking Organizational Growth
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief str...
Episode 172: Impact of Appreciation at Work with Dr. Paul White
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Paul White is a psychologist, speaker, consultant, and coauthor of The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. For over 20 years, he has...
Ep 171: Gaining Confidence and Competence in First Times
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From onboarding new hires to building a culture of accountability, Traci Austin delves into the intricacies of leadership in this special solo episode...
Ep 170: People Strategy Insights Into Action with Adam Gruszcynski
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From IT director to strategic innovator, Adam Gruszcynski the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, has masterfully reinvented the onboarding proces...
Ep 169: Impact of Team Coaching with Tom Mahoney
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From the classroom to the superintendent's office, Dr. Tom Mahoney has charted a transformative journey through the educational landscape, drawing on...
Ep 168: Team Coaching Outcomes to Transform Organizational Culture with Brad Zimmerman and Tom Willis
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From personal development workshops to influential education leaders, Brad Zimmerman and Tom Willis have carved impactful paths in transforming organi...
Ep 167: Cultivating a Culture of Inclusiveness with CEO Bryan Wolff
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From investing to innovating in employee engagement, Bryan Wolff has mastered the art of cultivating inclusive workplaces where every voice is heard. ...
Ep 166: Unleashing Potential with Technology Strategies with Ben Mones
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Step into the world of innovation as we chat with Ben Mones, the visionary CEO and founder of Fama. In this electrifying episode, Ben and host Traci A...
Ep 165: Creating a Psychologically Safe Workplace with Jessica Bensch
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica Bensch is a renowned advocate for workplace culture transformation and is currently building a not-for-profit global movement (Vanguard Voices...
Ep 164: Intentionally Using AI in Communication to Build Employee Trust with Tarek Kamil
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tarek Kamil, CEO and Founder of an internal communication software, Cerkl, is passionate about using AI and big data to transform how organizations...
Ep 163: Impact of Job Clarity in the First 90 Days with Traci Austin
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Traci Austin discusses the importance of clarity in defining roles and expectations for new employees. She shares valuable insig...
Ep 162: Authenticity and AI in Recruitment with Chris Allaire
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Allaire, CEO of staffing firm Averity, is passionate about recruiting people for the right role. With extensive expertise in blending technology...
Ep 161: Power of 'Think Weeks' in Empowering Your Team with Jeff Mould
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Mould, once a reluctant leader has gracefully embraced the mantle of leadership as president and CEO of Stoney Creek . Alongside host Traci Austi...
Ep 160: Impact of Your BIG WHY on Your People Strategy with Byron Low
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Navigating the 'big why' of business with precision and insight is at the heart of this episode featuring Byron Low, a predictive index partner and se...
Ep 159: Turning Complaints into Requests with Traci Austin
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Traci Austin has seen the power of listening to employee complaints and turning them into opportunities for growth and transformation first hand. In t...
Ep 158: Nurturing Individual Potential with Jonathan Reynolds
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Navigating the intricacies of leadership and the vitality of people strategy, Jonathan Reynolds, CEO of Titus Talent Strategies, brings his compelling...
Ep 157: Second Chances in the Workplace with Michelle Cirocco
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Transitioning from incarceration to corporate leadership, Michelle Cirocco has forged a unique and impactful career trajectory, demonstrating the tran...
Ep 156: People-First HR with Tina-Marie Wohlfield
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tina-Marie Wohlfield believes nobody should ever feel isolated in their missteps; instead, she advocates for a culture where individuals are encourage...
Ep 155: Communication Clarity as a People Strategy with Coye Harrett
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the People Strategy Podcast, Coye Harrett, president and owner of Prairie Rivet, shares his insights on expanding a business and pu...
Ep 154: Identifying Your People Strategy with Traci Austin
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the People Strategy Podcast host, Traci Austin, shares a real-life example of working with a rapidly growing renewable energy compa...
Ep 153: Merging Organizational Values with AI with Drew Fortin
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A philosopher at heart, Drew Fortin, posits that decisions are akin to the vital currency that propels development forward. In this episode of the Peo...
Ep 152: Operating Systems as a People Strategy with Andreas Dankelmann
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode of the People Strategy Podcast, we have a captivating conversation with guest Andreas Dankelmann, from FifthAscent. He joins Traci ...
Ep 151: Creating an Employee Evolution with Charlie Saffro
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Saffro is not just the founder of CS Recruiting, a company known for excellence in logistics, transportation, and supply chain recruitment—i...
Ep 150: Goal Setting with Traci Austin
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, Traci Austin reflects on the year 2023 and the importance of goal setting. She shares her personal experiences with setting and ac...
Ep 149: It's Not About the Pump, it's About the People w/Rob Grady
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Grady is a passionate and insightful leader of a top-tier hydronics rep firm that prides itself on serving better than anyone else. He joins Traci...
Re-Release: Multiple Competing Priorities w/Traci Austin
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are times where we, as leaders and as employees, get frustrated with being asked to complete a specific task, and then being asked to complete a...
Ep 148: Start with Loving Your People w/Marcia Barnes
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Marcia Barnes has a knack for rallying people together. Widely recognized for her enthusiasm and strategic mindset, she champions growth not merely as...
Ep 147: Building a Culture of Passion and Strategy with Matthew Schneider
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Schneider is a visionary entrepreneur deeply rooted in his middle-class upbringing. Fueled by a passion for financial inclusivity, Matthew has...
Ep 146: The 5 Languages of Appreciation at Work
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With Thanksgiving soon approaching, today's episode is designed to share the importance of gratitude. Traci Austin explores the power of gratitude and...
Ep 145: What is a People Strategy?
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Traci Austin will be discussing the importance of getting to know your people incredibly well and creating an environment that allows...
Ep 144: How to Create Fulfilling Work - Traci Austin on Gut + Science
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Traci Austin, Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting joins Nikki to discuss the importance of fulfilling work and the rip...
Re-Release: How to Implement Talent Optimization in Your Business with Matt Poepsel
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Poepsel is known as "The Godfather of Talent Optimization." Vice President of Partner Growth for The Predictive Index, Matt has a very in...
Introducing The People Strategy Podcast
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The People Strategy Podcast provides an ongoing coaching experience that the C-suite can leverage to align their people to more effectively execute th...
Re-Release: Implementing Talent Optimization into Your Business with April Moldenhauer
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We speak on the subject of talent optimization within organizations quite often on this podcast, and this is something we often help other organizatio...
Re-Release: Leading a Self-Managing Team with Mike Zani
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To grow a business, there's no way around delegation. If you hold all of the responsibility in your own hands, you can't scale at a desired rate. In o...
Re-Release: Solve Turnover in the First 90 Days with Sam Kloppmann
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Turnover Problems in the first 90 days? On today's show we talk about the importance of slowing down to speed up in hiring and retaining the right s...
Ep 143: The Culture of Gratitude
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's really important about gratitude? It's sharing very specifically what it is that another has done that you you're grateful for. Here's a coupl...
EP 142: How to create talent pathway plans inside your organization
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we talk about the story of how we got to where we are right now, so many was by accident but we found that thing that we liked, and we kept goin...
EP 141: Hiring to win in today's competitive market
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What we're specifically digging into within this specific conference is, how do we hire in a way that allows us to bring in the best quality candidat...
EP 140: How pressure impacts performance
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When your stress levels are very low, the cortisol in your bloodstream is low. We actually perform really poorly and it means that we don't do very ...
EP 139: How to build a solid organization through Talent Pathway with Andrew Wegner
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Wegner, Senior HR Generalist, defined talent pathway as everything that you use to initially source talent up, through bringing it on board an...
EP 138: Conscious Alignment of Organizational Values
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Consciousness serves as a mechanism for alignment, enabling us to establish harmony within ourselves, our connections, the workplace, and our alignmen...
EP 137: Inspiring Managers to Perform with Michael Kester
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Fostering a fun atmosphere that aligns with desired business outcomes isn't achieved solely by exerting effort and labor. Instead, it stems from cult...
EP 136: Talent Pathway Planning with Steve Van Remortel
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We put a talent plan around the number one issue that really limits our growth, and where we spend most of our time. Talent planning works upstream t...
EP 135: People First - What they want with what we need featuring Tracie Sponenberg
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can I design a really great people experience? It's the mind shift that makes the difference. That people experience doesn't have to be anyt...
EP 134: Gen Z in the workplace with Tammy McKinney
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we inspire people from different generations, especially Gen Z? Diversity in the work force is causing leaders to be challenged, one of which ...
EP 131: Creating Impactful Job Offers
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An offer makes it impactful as we're offering an individual an opportunity to make an impact and add value to you as an organization. You want to t...
EP 133: Coaching for Performance With Anna Kosova
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we inspire people to perform? And how do we also inspire ourselves as we align with the mission, vision and values of our organization, and rea...
EP 132: Pre-boarding: Creating a Team Before Day 1
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pre-boarding is what happens between when the offer is made and when the individual starts. We want to ensure that the applicant journey into the empl...
Ep 130: The Great Renegotiation! With Mandolen Mull
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We have been chatting so much about the hiring process, and how important it is to hire the right people for the role. We also have a great renegotiat...
EP 129: Seasons of Life with Shari Simpson
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel like your organization suffers when you or your staff are going through a season of life? Ensuring your organization is supported during t...
EP 128: Two-way process to determine a great fit!
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Having a process and training our team on that process make it better for the applicant journey, employee journey, and you as the HR leader. If you h...
EP 127: You are It! Identifying Great Candidates
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel like your organization is suffering from turnover? The reason why may surprise you! Identifying great candidates is easier said than done,...
EP 126: Successful Interview Preparation
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What determines your success? Your preparation. Yet, this is oftentimes the most time consuming and is not seen. In bringing in the best people to fil...