Advertise on podcast: HRO Today Educational Podcast Series

Compensation planning requires HR leaders to balance salary budgets with changing labor market conditions, economic trends, and employee expectations. But while inflation can influence how employees experience their pay, salary increases are driven by the supply and demand of labor. In this HRO Today Educational Podcast, HRO Today CEO Elliot Clark speaks with Lori Wisper, Senior Managing Director at Willis Towers Watson, about the factors shaping salary increases and compensation budgets. They explore the difference between cost of living and cost of labor, how economic shifts have influenced salary budgets over the past 50 years, and what current labor market conditions can tell us about where compensation is headed. Tune in to hear how long-term salary data can provide context for today’s compensation environment, why salary budgets have remained in the “land of 3%,” and how HR leaders can use labor market insights to make more informed compensation decisions. You can read Lori Wisper's article mentioned in the podcast here.

As AI continues to reshape talent acquisition, organizations are facing a bigger question than which tools to adopt: how should their recruiting infrastructure evolve? Rather than replacing recruiting, new technology is creating greater demand for flexibility, specialized talent access, scalable models, and partners who can keep pace with a rapidly changing market.  On the latest episode of the HRO Today Educational Podcast, HRO Today CEO Elliot Clark speaks with Greg Summers, CEO of Orion Talent, about the evolving role of recruitment process outsourcing and the infrastructure organizations need to navigate a more cyclical and technology-driven workforce landscape. Summers shares his perspective on performance-based partnerships, variable cost models, specialized talent pools, and the challenges of keeping up with rapid technology investment.  Listen in as Clark and Summers discuss why organizations should look beyond the technology itself and consider how their RPO partner's systems, processes, talent access, and ability to scale can support long-term recruiting performance.

As organizations face an accelerating pace of change, workforce strategies need to be built for flexibility, not just for the conditions leaders can predict today. Resilience in talent acquisition means having the ability to achieve business outcomes even as hiring demand, labor markets, technology, and broader business conditions shift.  On the latest episode of the HRO Today Educational Podcast, HRO Today CEO Elliot Clark speaks with Jim Becker, Vice President, RPO Client Services, KellyOCG, about what it takes to build a more resilient and adaptable talent acquisition organization.  Listen in as Becker discusses why organizations need to plan for change rather than trying to anticipate every possible scenario, and how flexibility in processes, technology, and sourcing can help organizations respond to shifting demand.

Navigating workforce strategy means making key decisions about talent, skills, pay, and hiring approaches. But how can you be sure your choices are informed and future-ready? Reliable data and actionable insights are critical. In this HRO Today Educational Podcast, HRO Today CEO Elliot Clark joins Amy Bush, president of RPO, and Brian Knapp, vice president of digital operations, at KellyOCG®, to discuss how the right data drives better talent outcomes. They explore integrating internal and external data into a single view, using AI to anticipate talent needs, and practical advice on engaging an RPO partner early to stay ready for whatever the market brings.  Tune in to hear how access to the right data and expertise transforms your hiring approach and turns data into smarter talent decisions.

Through economic uncertainty, cultural changes, or major global events, Companies need an HR infrastructure that can scale and support the organization through whatever they may face. According to the 2026 HRO Today Top Concerns of CHROs report, CHROs around the world are worried about the ability of their operations to adapt to a changing hiring pace. While leaders may not be expecting major growth, CHROs want their teams to be prepared for the next major shift.  Grant Jessup, Chief Client Officer & SVP International of LevelUP joins the latest episode of the HRO Today Educational Podcast to discuss the need for a resilient and flexible HR infrastructure to navigate an ever-shifting global workplace.   Jessup and host Elliot Clark, CEO of HRO Today, dive into HR infrastructure and explore what HR operations can be doing to anticipate major global workforce changes rather than simply react to them.  Note: At the time of recording, Grant Jessup's title was Global Head of Sales and Solutions. Grant has since been promoted to his current title, Chief Client Officer & SVP International. Congratulations to Grant on behalf of HRO Today!

Talent acquisition has long been treated as a supply chain – but trust is rarely treated as part of the infrastructure. In this episode of the HRO Today Educational Podcast, HRO Today CEO, Elliot Clark, speaks with President of Consulting Services for Procom, Carolyn Levy, about why assurance, verification, and transparency are becoming essential in modern talent acquisition. The conversation explores how remote work, increasingly sophisticated fraud, layered supplier ecosystems, and changing hiring behaviors are exposing new risks for employers. Rather than relying on one-time checks, Levy suggests that organizations should evaluate trust continuously across the hiring lifecycle and ask stronger questions of workforce partners. The discussion also looks at what verification can look like in practice – from reference checks and identity validation to evidence-based candidate review and continuous assessment designed to build greater confidence throughout the talent supply chain.

Healthcare workforce strategy is evolving. While hiring demand remains strong across the industry, many healthcare organizations are reassessing traditional staffing models in favor of more flexible, long-term approaches that offer greater visibility and control over workforce planning. Rather than relying solely on external staffing partners, providers are increasingly exploring internal talent pools, technology-enabled workforce management, and more customized labor strategies.  On the latest episode of the HRO Today Educational Podcast, Trevor Strauss, Chief Growth Officer at Trio Workforce Solutions, joins HRO Today CEO Elliot Clark to discuss how healthcare organizations are rethinking workforce delivery. Strauss shares how health systems can move beyond legacy staffing approaches, reduce dependency on agency labor, and build workforce programs tailored to their operational goals.  Listen in as we explore the changing healthcare labor landscape and the growing shift toward more strategic, service-driven workforce solutions.

Gone are the days when recruitment success was defined by having a local office in every market. Today’s workforce is global, remote, and increasingly complex, requiring talent solutions that can deliver results anywhere, regardless of location. As organizations look to hire critical talent across borders and time zones, expectations for RPO and workforce services providers have shifted toward speed, agility, and globally connected delivery models.  On the latest episode of the HRO Today Educational Podcast, HRO Today CEO Elliot Clark is joined by Amy Bush, President of RPO at KellyOCG + Sevenstep, to explore the rise of “Everywhere RPO” and what it means for today’s talent acquisition leaders.  Listen in as Bush discusses how unified technology, standardized training, and integrated global systems enable organizations to recruit effectively at scale, and how HR leaders can evaluate RPO partners based on their ability to deliver consistent, data-driven outcomes in an increasingly borderless talent market.

The supply chain of contingent labor requires that staffing providers have the financial ability to meet the needs of their clients and organizations. Like any business, recruitment and staffing companies must meet their operational requirements even before the revenue starts rolling in. Providers need a financing partner that can stand by them through the ups and downs of the labor market. Raul Esqueda, President of 1st Commercial Credit, stops by the HRO Today Educational Podcast Series to discuss receivable financing in the provider space. Together with host Elliot Clark, CEO of HRO Today, they discuss the nuances and challenges of financial backing for B2B clients and share how financing companies, such as 1st Commercial Credit, support providers looking to grow their businesses. Listen in as Raul and Elliot explore the financial pressures that staffing providers face and define what a good financial partner looks like. For more podcasts and award-winning HR reporting, visit hrotoday.com

As global workforces become more mobile, HR and relocation teams are under increasing pressure to deliver efficient and cost-effective relocation experiences. With nearly half of organizations already using AI in their global mobility programs – and more planning to adopt it – HR leaders must determine where AI can deliver real value without sacrificing compliance, data security, or the human touch.  On the latest episode of the HRO Today Educational Podcast, HRO Today SVP and Editorial Director Debbie Bolla speaks with Angela Tan, CapRelo’s SVP of Global Client Services, and Kelly Cannon, CapRelo’s Director of Operations, about how AI is reshaping global mobility. The conversation explores practical applications of AI—from automating administrative tasks and improving reporting transparency to enhancing transferee experiences and enabling predictive, data-driven decision-making.  Listen in to learn how thoughtful AI adoption can help mobility programs shift from reactive service delivery to proactive workforce strategy.

Employee recognition is the center of workforce morale and productivity. But with the rise of new workforce technologies, the recognition industry has shifted from an occasional award to an ongoing social acknowledgement program. Top recognition leaders need to know how to incorporate this new technology so that they can see HOW their workers are doing, not just WHAT their workers are doing. Akiko Valverde, Vice President, Product & Sales Engineering at Madison Performance Group, stops by the HRO Today Educational Podcast to talk about technology in the employee recognition space. Together with HRO Today CEO Elliot Clark, they examine how leaders can utilize new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, to enhance their recognition programs. Listen in as Akiko and Elliot explore how recognition technology has enabled employers to connect with employees in meaningful ways.

Artificial Intelligence is unavoidable in the new employment landscape, and according to the 2026 Korn Ferry Talent Trends Report, more TA leaders will be looking to incorporate autonomous Agentic AI into their tech stack. Agentic AI can make decisions and operate independently as another member of the team without constant human input. But is agentic AI a passing fad or will it grow to replace traditional TA functions?  Claire Grant, Senior Director – Client Services, RPO at Korn Ferry, stops by the HRO Today Educational Podcast to demystify agentic AI and explain how TA leaders should be thinking about this new technology. Together with HRO Today CEO Elliot Clark, Claire explores how TA leaders can and have used agentic AI to improve efficiency in TA teams and candidate experience in the hiring market.  Listen in as Claire and Elliot discuss the value and risks of Agentic AI and the importance of maintaining the human touch.

How Global Workforce Strategies Are Redefining Talent Acquisition  The modern workforce is no longer defined by geography. Astechnology continues to dissolve physical boundaries and offer new options for getting work done, organizations are increasingly exploring offshore and nearshore hiring models to expand their access to global talent. By leveraging these strategies, companies can achieve greater scalability, cost efficiency, and flexibility while maintaining high-quality standards across regions.      On the latest episode of the HRO Today Educational Podcast, Daniel Cornett, Senior Director of RPO for APAC at KellyOCG + Sevenstep, joins host Elliot Clark, CEO of HRO Today, to discuss how talent leaders can successfully navigate the shift toward borderless workforces.      Listen in as Cornett discusses how forward-thinking companies are redefining talent acquisition to create cohesive, collaborative teams across the globe.

Talent acquisition leaders have the complicated role of fulfilling the workforce needs of their companies while meeting the operational needs of their workforce. A constantly evolving landscape requires leaders who think on their feet and adapt to the changing landscape. In Episode 2 of the HRO Today Leaders of Distinction Podcast, Amanda Cupido speaks with Leader of Distinction and TA Leader of the Year Award winner Jason Munoz, Director of Talent Acquisition at Entergy. In this podcast series, host Amanda Cupido brings conversations that will shape the future of HR and explain how you can help lead the way. This is the podcast both you and your team will not want to miss. Be sure to hit that follow button now so you catch every episode!

Gone are the days of widespread resignations and job changes. Now, with voluntary quit rates at historically low levels, many organizations are experiencing a new workforce challenge called “job hugging.” Employees are staying in their roles due to a number of factors, including economic uncertainty, a tight job market, and concerns over change. As a result, HR leaders must keep an eye on the workforce, ensuring productivity and engagement levels remain high. On the latest episode of the HRO Today Educational Podcast, Paul Gordon, Senior Vice President of Sales at Rymax, shares how employee recognition can act as a powerful tool to boost engagement and productivity among workers. Listen in as Gordon speaks with HRO Today SVP and Editorial Director Debbie Bolla about the best approaches to recognition in today’s market, and how HR leaders can navigate the challenges associated with “job hugging” employees.