radical innovators podcast

In this episode of the Radical Innovators podcast, host Frank Congiu sits down with Stephanie Lilac, EVP and chief people officer at Mondelez. Stephanie details her extensive career journey, which began with 15 years in supply chain-oriented roles — including a stint as a plant manager — before transitioning into commercial HR leadership for major brands like General Mills, Dunkin' and Bumble. The conversation delves into the evolving role of the CHRO and how it has shifted from seeking a seat at the table to balancing high-level strategy with deep operational execution. Highlights from the discussion include:the power of managers: why managers are the most critical factor in the employee experience and how they can foster a supportive team environmentAI and continuous feedback: how Mondelez utilizes AI to analyze over 210,000 employee survey comments, creating a "flywheel" of continuous improvementdigital transformation: the strategy behind creating a "one-stop shop" for employees to access information 24/7, particularly for manufacturing staffbalancing strategy: Navigating the tension between long-term multi-year strategies and the "tyranny of the urgent" in a decentralized global organizationthe value of mentorship: Stephanie reflects on how a wide range of people, from her family to the experts on her own team, help her stay current with industry trends

In this episode of the Radical Innovators podcast, host Frank Congiu sits down with Stephanie Fehr, chief people officer at UnitedHealthcare, who discusses her career journey, how her company is using AI and what shapes her leadership style.Stephanie shares her perspective on why leadership is a critical, research-based skill rather than a "soft skill" and how creating the right environment is essential for innovation. The conversation also explores how UnitedHealthcare is navigating AI, particularly by leveraging it to enhance — not replace — human connections and fuel employee development.Key topics discussed in this episode include:leadership as a science: why leadership is the most important skill to develop and how it is rooted in valid, reliable researchthe power of feedback: how UnitedHealthcare introduced a "behavioral language" to provide objective, actionable feedback to employeesAI as an enabler: using AI to lift administrative burdens from doctors and employees, allowing them to focus on unique human skills like empathy and providing supportskills-based culture: how AI helps employees identify their strengths and acquire the specific skills needed to achieve their career goalshumility in learning: why "learners will rule the world" and the importance of being humble enough to learn from anyone in an organization

In this episode of the Radical Innovators podcast, host Frank Congiu sits down with Shaji Mathew, CHRO of Infosys. With more than three decades of experience at the company, Shaji shares his unique journey from software engineer trainee to global HR leader.The conversation explores how Shaji’s background in technology and business operations shapes his vision for HR as a strategic business function. Shaji and Frank also discuss how Infosys is navigating the human-plus-AI paradigm by rearchitecting career paths, reskilling a global workforce and leveraging AI-powered tools to enhance the employee experience and personalize learning and development.Key takeaways:Find out why Shaji believes business acumen is one of the most critical skills for HR professionals.Learn how Infosys categorized its workforce into AI consumers, integrators and creators to design targeted AI training programs.Discover how Infosys uses AI assistants to support employees and provide hyper-personalized learning.Hear why Shaji considers the three pillars for success to be business agility, talent transformation and fostering a culture of continuous learning.

In this special edition of Radical Innovators, Randstad Enterprise chief executive Mike Smith joins Frank Congiu for an engaging discussion with Kelly Jones, chief people officer at Cisco. Kelly discusses how her company excels in developing people-first, data-driven strategies that empower talent and allow the business to thrive. Drawing on her impressive 18-year career with Cisco, she shares advice from being at the forefront of driving efficiency, quality, connection and performance for more than 86,000 employees.Other highlights from the conversation include insights on how to:drive the AI transformation, from making sure employees are comfortable and confident in working with AI to leveraging it to build personalized learning experiencesempower Dyslexic Thinking and other forms of neurodiversity and provide an environment that nurtures different ways of thinking leverage purpose to drive retention, including how Cisco has an 80% employee participation rate in its philanthropy programsbuild community and connection despite having a hybrid work environmentrecognize how trust forms the basis of creating a workplace that is real, connected and purpose driven

In this episode of the Radical Innovators podcast, host Frank Congiu sits down with Shurawl Sibblies, Executive Vice President and CHRO of MetLife.Shurawl shares her non-traditional journey to HR leadership and tells us how MetLife champions a people-first strategy that focuses on empowering talent to learn and grow. She then dives into the critical importance of listening to employees, and explains why employee surveys are the key to taking action, building trust and boosting employee satisfaction.Key highlights include:Learn how MetLife creates opportunities for people to embark on unexpected career paths.Understand the power of listening to talent and driving change.Hear about the crucial role of employee surveys in building trust and satisfaction.Plus, find out why Shurawl says her grandmother is her biggest mentor.Tune in for plenty of wisdom and insight into working at the intersection of people, data, and strategy!

How do the world’s most elite firms transform "human capital" into a measurable competitive advantage?In this episode, we sit down with Matthew Breitfelder, partner and global head of human capital at Apollo. Managing a sprawling ecosystem of over 70 portfolio companies, Matt has a front-row seat to what drives outperformance in high-stakes environments.Matt reveals why he views empathy as a rigorous analytical tool, how Apollo uses sports psychology to sharpen its competitive edge and why the "soft stuff" is actually the hardest — and most profitable — part of modern business.Key highlights include:The mental game: why elite investors are adopting the mindfulness and visualization techniques of pro athletesPredicting performance: how to distinguish signal from noise in your organization to find growth opportunitiesThe "Chess not Checkers" philosophy: a masterclass in coaching for high-performance cultures

Tired of HR being relegated to a back-office "function?" Then join us for an inspiring conversation with Ola Snow, CHRO of Fortune 16 healthcare giant Cardinal Health, who proves that HR must not only have a seat, but the most important seat at the table.In this episode, Frank Congiu sits down with Ola to dive deep into how she spent almost 24 years relentlessly focusing on business leadership first and building an authentic, mission-driven culture.This episode is packed with practical strategies for any HR leader or talent professional looking to leverage authenticity and hoping to create a high-trust, high-performing organization.

In this episode of Radical Innovators, we’re joined by Payal Sahni, the chief people experience officer and executive vice president at Pfizer. She shares her unique career path, from studying Psychology to finding her way into HR, and how her experiences have shaped her into a more collaborative and adaptable leader. Payal also discusses Pfizer's approach to cultivating a culture of curiosity and adaptability, highlighting its intentional focus on internal talent development and how it is leveraging new tools and strategies, including AI, to enhance the employee experience and drive business innovation.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Allison Ausband, EVP and chief people officer at Delta Air Lines. Allison began her 40-year journey with Delta as a flight attendant. She shares how this unique, frontline-first perspective shapes Delta's "people-first philosophy" and drives their commitment to culture as their single greatest competitive advantage. Discover Delta’s high-return practice of "listen, act and respond," the power of cultivating a shared, empathetic culture (even on humanity's worst days), and how they tangibly recognize employees through programs like their industry-leading profit-sharing pool. This episode is a masterclass in leading from the front and making direct investments in your workforce to achieve unmatched performance.

Join us for this incredible conversation on the Radical Innovators podcast, with Lisa Chang, EVP and global chief people officer at Coca-Cola. Lisa shares her journey to the C-suite and the strategic shift underpinning Coca-Cola's innovative "Thrive" talent strategy, which prioritizes dynamic experiences and self-directed growth over rigid career paths.Discover how this iconic brand is:Embracing Generative AI to enhance the employee experience and streamline internal processesFocusing human capital on "headwork" and "heartwork" — the essential skills that cannot be automatedCultivating a strong culture of community and pride to attract and retain global talentLisa's insights offer a compelling look at how a global leader is adapting its workforce and culture for the future of work.