Advertise on podcast: The HX Podcast with Stacie Baird

Welcome back to The HX Podcast. In this episode, we're wrapping up our series on the intersection of human experience, technology, and AI with a guest I've wanted to bring on for a long time: Anita Grantham, former HR leader at BambooHR, Pluralsight, and Infusionsoft, and now a fractional partner to top CEOs. We tackle the real reality of AI leadership: why true AI adoption requires eliminating your job so you can build, and how CEOs and CHROs must partner to elevate organizational proficiency without falling into fear or self-preservation. We also get very real about the emotional weight of leadership—from navigating layoffs to practical self-care tools like Martha Beck's five-senses grounding technique. Plus, Anita leaves us with an unforgettable challenge for Monday: If you had to start your company from scratch today in the current tech landscape, how would you build it? Whether you're in the C-suite or leading on the front lines, this conversation is packed with wisdom on adaptability, trust, and driving change. Stacie For More About Our Amazing Guest: Anita Grantham: LinkedIn Profile Culture Creators Podcast: Culture Creators Website For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

We're wrapping up our three-part series on how AI is shaping the human experience, and today we are talking about the real magic: closing the gap. We all know that simply buying an AI tool isn't a competitive advantage anymore—everyone has access to them. The real winners are the organizations that capture the ROI by building deliberate systems, processes, and governance over 90 days. If you're a leader, a CFO, or a manager wondering how to turn AI adoption into a serious, repeatable return on investment (we're talking north of 150% within seven months!), this episode is your wake-up call. In this episode, I'm laying out the exact, concrete 90-day sequence to transform how your team functions—from running our capture gap scorecard to training your high-usage teams and measuring output. But it's about more than just numbers; it's about trust. Did you know a huge chunk of younger employees trust AI more than their managers? We need to change that narrative by becoming credible co-pilots who lead with trust and make AI feel like support rather than a mandate. Grab our Compounding Advantage Roadmap, tune in, and let's go—your competitors aren't waiting, and neither should you! Stacie To find the tools and resources mentioned in each episode, head over to www.thehxcoach.com and start closing the capture gap in your organization today. For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

Welcome back to the HX Podcast, where we are diving deep, deep into the intersection of human experience and AI. Today, I'm reporting as your on-the-street reporter on a silent productivity killer creeping into our teams: "work slop"—AI output that looks finished on the surface but is actually riddled with mistakes. Workers are losing a massive chunk of their time savings, up to two hours of rework per incident, trying to fix these AI-generated blunders. But let's be clear—this isn't a character issue with your staff; it's a design issue. With only 13% to 26% of organizations providing formal AI training, we've handed our teams powerful tools without a manual, forcing them to build exhausting, hidden workarounds just to get the job done. In this episode, we're reframing that hidden tax of rework as the training investment you simply haven't made yet. I'm sharing a simple, three-step handoff protocol that any team can adopt by Monday to close this proficiency gap and make AI speed sustainable. We will walk through why an AI draft is never the final artifact, how a named human reviewer can utilize a quick checklist, and why logging AI misses is the key to sharpening your training over time. Don't let AI run loose like an unsupervised intern. Tune in, grab our one-page protocol PDF in the link below, and let's explore how humans help humans do better, faster, and smarter work every single day! Stacie To find the tools and resources mentioned in each episode, head over to www.thehxcoach.com and start closing the capture gap in your organization today. For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

Hey beautiful humans, welcome back to the show! In this episode, we are diving deep into a massive disconnect that is hiding in plain sight across organizations today: what I call the "capture gap". Did you know that 97% of executives say they personally benefit from AI, yet only 29% say their organization sees significant, measurable ROI at the company-wide level? That is a staggering sixty-eight-point gap between individual wins and bottom-line organizational success. Individual performance and task-level productivity are undeniably lifting by double digits, but when you zoom all the way out to the enterprise level, eighty-nine percent of firms report zero measurable impact. If you've been wondering why a company full of individually productive people doesn't automatically add up to a more productive, high-revenue enterprise, you are not alone—and AI itself is absolutely not the problem. The truth is, this isn't a technical blocker; it's a people-and-process issue, which means it belongs squarely on the desks of our HR and people strategy teams. This is the first episode in a brand-new three-part series where we break down exactly who is positioned to close the knowing-doing gap and how senior leadership can actively step into AI governance to capture real value. Closing this gap is the single highest-leverage growth project sitting on your desk right now, and to get you started, we've built a ten-question capture gap scorecard that your executive team can sit down and answer together. Listen in, grab something worth stealing for Monday, and let's figure out how to turn a thousand individual wins into an organizational triumph! Stacie To find the tools and resources mentioned in each episode, head over to www.thehxcoach.com and start closing the capture gap in your organization today. For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

We are revisiting one of our most resonant conversations today—a topic that continues to hit home for so many of you who feel like you're constantly juggling 85 balls while "performing normal." In this encore episode with the incredible Dr. Nikia Smith, we explore the high cost of the "Superwoman" persona. Dr. Smith, a board-certified anesthesiologist, shares her journey of reaching the top of her field only to burn out—not once, but twice. We peel back the layers on the physiological and psychological toll of always being the one who handles everything. We dive into the structural features of healthcare and corporate culture that silently demand women take on the "invisible labor" of committees, note-taking, and emotional de-escalation. From the "allostatic load" caused by microaggressions in high-stakes environments to the revolutionary power of "soft strength," this episode is a vital reminder that it's okay to pause, reset, and reimagine what thriving actually looks like. If you missed it the first time, or if you need a reminder that you don't have to carry it all, this episode is your permission to reset. Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

Let's talk about the single most important metric for your organization's long-term financial health: your leadership bench. We often get caught up in the constant cycle of external talent acquisition —scouring job boards and competitors' org charts —but the research is consistent: building from within is the highest-return move you can make. When you develop leaders at all levels, you aren't just filling roles; you're hitting top-decile financial performance over 50% of the time. It's time to stop looking outside and start seeing, developing, and preparing the talent already in your building. But here's the kicker: this isn't just an HR statistic; it's a shareholder return statistic, and it requires a true partnership between the CEO and the CHRO. In this episode, we're cutting through the noise to connect those dots. I'm also addressing how to use AI to spot high-potential talent without forgetting that machines only point—humans do the actual work of mentoring and belief. If you're tired of saying you "should" work on succession planning and want to move to actual execution, I've got a one-page, five-question guide ready for you. Reach out, send me the word "BENCH" on LinkedIn, and let's turn those good intentions into a real, actionable plan. Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

We just walked through the CHRO Paradox series, and I know how this usually goes: you nodded along, felt aligned, and then your calendar immediately ate the follow-through. We don't need more data or another complex framework; we need the moves. This episode is about stripping back the noise and giving you three actionable steps—one for defining your role, one for aligning your partnership, and one for building your bench—that you can actually execute before Monday hits. You don't need a massive transformation to see results; you need one clear conversation about ownership, one dimension of partnership to sharpen, and three rising leaders to stretch. I've built a one-page People Leadership Alignment Guide to help you have those exact conversations without the heavy lifting. It's the easiest way to turn your strategy into an honest, shared plan with your CEO. Comment "ALIGN" below and I'll send the guide straight to you—no cost, no catch, just the work. Clarify the Role: Have one conversation this week that defines what the CHRO role owns, advises on, and observes. Align the Partnership: Pick one of the five dimensions discussed (budget, org design, AI strategy, board engagement, or succession) and get shared clarity on that single dimension this month. Build the Bench: Look two levels down, identify three rising leaders, and give each of them one stretch experience this year. Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

"Did someone drop the ball?" is the wrong question when an escalation slips through the cracks. The right question: "Did we design a system where the ball could be seen at all?" @StacieBairdHX on how automating the routine tickets erodes the instinct to spot the non-routine ones — HX Podcast Episode 2 out now.   Key data points: Klarna cut "hundreds" of support roles for AI, saw quality decline, began rehiring1 CEO admitted "prioritizing cost over experience"1 Salesforce cut support from ~9,000 to ~5,0002 CEO said AI handles about half of cases, meaning humans still do the other half2 Gartner projects 50% of companies that cut support for AI will rehire by 20273 Visier analysis of 2.4M workers: highest boomerang rate since 2018 (Visier, 2026)4 Footnotes Orgvue Survey, 2025 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 Forrester Research, Predictions 2026: The Future of Work ↩ ↩2 ↩3 Robert Half Survey, 2026 (via CNBC) ↩ ↩2 Careerminds Survey of 600 HR Professionals, 2026 ↩ ↩2 Harvard Business Review, Executive Survey, 2025 ↩ Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. AI-Attributed Layoffs, 2026 ↩ Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

When "the AI can do 80% of the work" turns into "why are decisions taking longer six months later," you're caught in The AI Headcount Trap. @StacieBairdHX unpacks the 55% regret rate, the 101,000 layoffs, and the question every CEO needs to be asking on HX Podcast Episode 1.   Key data points: 39% of business leaders made employees redundant due to AI (Orgvue, 2025)1 Of that group, 55% later said the decision was wrong (Orgvue, 2025)1 55% of employers regret AI-driven layoffs (Forrester Research, 2026)2 32% of US hiring managers cut roles for AI, then rehired for the same position (Robert Half, 2026)3 52% of companies that cut for AI were rehiring within 6 months (Careerminds, 2026)4 600+ executives admitted most AI-driven layoffs were for future capability, not current performance (Harvard Business Review, 2025)5 101,743 layoffs attributed to AI, Jan-Jun 2026 (Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2026)6 Footnotes Orgvue Survey, 2025 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 Forrester Research, Predictions 2026: The Future of Work ↩ ↩2 ↩3 Robert Half Survey, 2026 (via CNBC) ↩ ↩2 Careerminds Survey of 600 HR Professionals, 2026 ↩ ↩2 Harvard Business Review, Executive Survey, 2025 ↩ Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. AI-Attributed Layoffs, 2026 ↩ Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

The best leadership benches aren't bought — they're built, and they're built together.   In the finale of The CHRO Paradox series, Stacie makes the data-led case that developing the next generation of leaders is the most rewarding work a CEO and CHRO ever share.   From the "founder returns" headlines to the 54% financial-performance edge of companies that develop leaders at every level, this episode reframes succession from a risk to manage into a partnership to build. Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

We are diving back into one of my favorite topics—values—but from a perspective that is as refreshing as it is necessary for the current state of our industry. I'm thrilled to welcome Marc Robertz-Schwartz, founder of Red Apples Media and author of The Red Apples Way, for a deep dive into the foundational DNA of leadership. We explore the "CHRO paradox," addressing the critical gap between the stated values on a company's wall and the lived reality of the people in the seats. Marc shares his powerful "Red Apples" framework, starting with the unexpected anchor of "respecting the universe," and explains why surrender is often a leader's most effective tool.   This conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating the high-stakes intersection of technology and human systems. We break down Marc's five-step diagnostic for organizational health and discuss the "black flags" that signal when a company's culture is out of alignment. Whether you are leading a massive restructuring or trying to supercharge your team's engagement, Marc's insights on authenticity, accountability, and the "human behind the automation" offer a clear roadmap for building an organization that doesn't just survive, but truly thrives. Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

CHROs have more responsibility than ever but less structural power than the role requires. In Part 2 of The CHRO Paradox series, Stacie explores the "C-suite gap"—the disconnect between where the CHRO sits and where real decisions are made. Drawing on data from The Conference Board, the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, Protiviti, and the Josh Bersin Company, this episode maps the four derailers keeping the authority gap open, illustrates what success looks like when organizations close it, and provides five concrete moves for HR leaders operating inside the gap right now. Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

The CHRO role is changing faster than the people in it. In this episode—the first in a three-part series—we unpack the five paradoxes reshaping HR's top seat: the influence gap, the pay gap, the diversity dynamic, the broken career pipeline, and the aspiration ceiling. With fresh data from Gartner, Josh Bersin, SHRM, and Korn Ferry, Stacie makes the case that the machine didn't just change the work—it exposed every structural flaw in how we've been building HR leadership. And then she tells you what to actually do about it. Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

Big changes are coming to The HX Podcast, and it's about a lot more than just shifting a date on the calendar! In this special season six teaser, host Stacie Baird reveals why the show is officially moving its weekly drop day to Fridays. For over five years, Stacie has championed "Freedom Friday", a personal practice dedicated to hiking, sharing, and learning how to reset your mind and body before the weekend hits. Now, she's weaving that exact spirit into the podcast to help you elevate the human experience at work by prioritizing your own self-care first. Get ready for a fresh format that seamlessly blends evidence-based science and neurology regulation with core HX pillars: the talent engine, benefits and well-being design, and leadership development. Stacie shares a personal mindfulness exercise—the "heart walk"—to show how simple it is to quiet the noise in your brain and find grounding amid a busy week. This quick update is your official invitation to give yourself more grace, reclaim your Fridays, and step into a more powerful way of living and leading. Tune in and get ready for the official new format launching this Friday! Stacie For more episodes, visit StacieBaird.com.

Welcome back, humans, to season six of the HX podcast. Y'all, we need to talk. We have a major posture problem in HR when it comes to technology; too many organizations are acting like ostriches, waiting around while falling behind at the speed of everyone else's progress. But we aren't here for the hype or the terrifying robot apocalypse version of AI. We're getting relentlessly practical about how this actually changes our work, diving into a stunning reality where automating everything leaves us with more human work to do than ever. Because while AI is extraordinary at replicating yesterday, it takes real human judgment, context, and situated taste to figure out what happens next.  This season, we are tackling the top two line items on your budget: transforming our talent engine and designing living benefits systems. Let's be real: if you deploy AI without a commitment to the human experience, you are just going to automate your mediocrity to scale. It's time to put our heads back above ground, lean in, and reposition ourselves at the top of the value chain. Buckle up. Let's go!