Podcast · Business

People Person

by Morning Brew Inc. · English · Business

People Person with Kate from HR provides People Professionals with a place they can feel seen and learn from experts in their field about the latest developments and insights to enhance their workplace and their careers.

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 34 min
Latest: 6 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026 · 36 min

The Pros and Cons of Fractional HR

On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Elles Skony, Founder of Fractional People People about what it means to have a fractional HR role, how you can find these opportunities, and the pros and cons you should know about doing this work. 00:00: Intro 03:00: What is fractional HR and how does it differ from consulting 06:40: Why startups look for fractional people 10:00: When to know if you need an HR role 12:00: How do fractional leaders balance the work 17:00: How Elles began her fractional work 22:40: Pros and Cons…

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Earlier episodes 26 most recent

22 Sep 2026 · 34 min
Advice You Can Actually Use to Become a Board Member
On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Deepali Vyas, Founder & CEO of Vyas Media, executive recruiter, and board member herself, about what it takes to actually land a board seat. Deepali explains what you can be doing in your career now to prepare yourself for this move later, what it takes to be qualified to sit on a board, and shares actionable advice about how you can make this into a reality for yourself, even when it feels far away. 00:00: Intro 04:00: Boardroom or BS game 08:10: What is a board member 12:20:…
8 Sep 2026 · 31 min
How HR Can Combat Spiking Healthcare Costs
On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Director of Benefit Solutions at Nava Benefits, Colleen Locke. From the reasons behind rising healthcare costs to what information about those expenses you should be sharing with employees (and when), this episode can help fellow HR pros navigate open enrollment season and your benefits strategy throughout the year. 00:00: Intro 04:08: What Nava Benefits does 07:30: Why are healthcare costs so expensive right now 11:00: How much should HR teams share about benefit expenses with…
25 Aug 2026 · 35 min
How to Avoid Burnout in HR
On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Eliana Goldstein and Amina AlTai, both career coaches with a history of corporate burnout, about how HR pros can be sure to prioritize their own self care. From building your community to practicing celebration rituals, they share tips on not only how to manage burnout, but how to prevent it before it gets in the way of your work. 00:00: Intro 02:20: Kate’s perspective on self care 04:00: Eliana and Amina define self care 10:50: Networking vs. relationship building 13:40: The…
11 Aug 2026 · 33 min
When is an Employee's Private Life HR's Problem?
On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Sarah O’Melia, VP of Talent at Cisive, and co-host of their podcast "Don't Get Played", about what elements of an employee’s personal life, actually affects the professional. From background checks during the hiring process to social media activity, we learn when HR has to step in, and when it’s better for them to step back. 00:00: Intro 02:25: HR business or Mind Your Business 05:50: Deciding what is personal information vs. a business risk 08:20: Informal background checks…
28 Jul 2026 · 34 min
From A Starbucks Store to the Board Room: Advice On The Road to CHRO
On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Sara Kelly, EVP and Chief Partner Officer at Starbucks. Sara shares her unique journey to leading people ops at Starbucks, the principals that have guided her career, and the programs around education, parental leave, and retention that have kept Starbucks employees growing within the company. 00:00: Intro 02:00: The recipe for being a CHRO 06:50: Starbucks college education program 08:55: Sara’s journey from store to Chief Partner Officer 12:35: How her principals have…
14 Jul 2026 · 39 min
Posting Responsibly: Emily Durham’s Best Social Media Practices for HR Pros
On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Emily Durham, a former recruiter and current content creator, podcast host, and author of the book “Clock In.” Emily shares tips for showing up authentically online without getting yourself in trouble with HR, how she transitioned from corporate to content, and what to keep in mind for your own social media so that it doesn’t impact your career. 00:00: Intro 03:00: How Emily’s social strategy is used with coaching clients 05:00: Transition from corporate to content 12:00: How…
30 Jun 2026 · 18 min
How HR Pro Deepali Vyas Uses AI in Her HR Department and Life
On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Deepali Vyas, The Elite Recruiter and an HR pro herself. The two HR powerhouses sat down at our latest HR Brew event in New York City to discuss how Deepali uses different AI tools in her personal and professional life, the little white lie she told around her PTO days, and why a return to office can be a good thing for you depending on what season of your career you’re currently in. 00:00: Intro 01:30: How she uses each AI tool 04:50: AI’s impact on the current job market…
16 Jun 2026 · 35 min
Using PTO to Boost Your Employees’ Performance
On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Jenna Young, Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry about the importance of PTO: taking it, not taking advantage of it, and how companies should actually be thinking about it for optimal employee performance. Plus, Jenna shares her idea for trading AI training with Summer Fridays. 00:00: Intro 02:15: Why people are hesitant to take their PTO 05:00: Policies HR leaders can implement to reduce burnout 07:25: Kate’s Take on PTO 08:05: How managers can best encourage employees to take…
2 Jun 2026 · 23 min
Is a Life Event Services Team an HR Secret Weapon?
On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Ava Mehta, Bank of America’s Head of Life Event Services about, frankly, giving a damn about your employees. We learn what a Life Event Services team is and how they help employees through difficult times in life, as well as small steps that current HR leaders can take to help their employees feel cared for. 00:00: Intro 01:30: What is Life Event Services? 04:30: Major life events BoA helps their employees with 07:25: How to get into this work 10:00: How HR teams can provide…
19 May 2026 · 29 min
Is It Time to Audit Your HR Department?
On this episode of People Person, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Nancy Vitale, Chief People Officer at Omada Health, about giving your HR department a nice dose of spring cleaning, or an audit, if you will. They discuss where to start, if you tell the company about your plans, and how to make sure you are emphasizing purpose over process. 00:00: Intro 02:00: How Nancy thinks about spring cleaning in an HR department 04:45: What prompts a spring cleaning or department audit 06:20: Value stream mapping 08:40: Next generation people strategy…
5 May 2026 · 33 min
AI & Hiring: What Every HR Leader Needs to Know
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Sarah Tilley, SVP of Global Talent Management and Acquisition, ServiceNow about the role AI is currently playing in Talent Acquisition. They discuss how this technology has been used in the past and where it’s going, especially in relation to early stage recruitment, and how it can be used to make sure you’re hiring the right people and setting them up for leadership and success within your company. 00:00: Intro 02:05: Fill in the Blank AI thoughts 04:05: How AI is and…
21 Apr 2026 · 41 min
How DEI is Evolving in 2026
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with HR Brew Senior Reporter Kristen Parisi about their latest DEI survey. She fills us in how leaders are looking at, implementing, and changing their DEI policies in the workplace. Then Latesha Byrd, CEO of Perfeqta shares how she works with clients to make sure their practices aren’t just performative. Ultimately, we learn that the language on DEI may be changing, but its presence is still felt, despite decisions from the current administration. 00:00: Intro 02:00: HR…
7 Apr 2026 · 33 min
How Humor Can Be A Vital HR Tool In & Out of the Workplace
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Ashley Bendell and Peter Phelan, the co-founders of Funny People, a comedy for for (and by!) HR pros. They discuss showing up to work as your authentic self, using humor as a tool at work, and how to know where the line is. Plus, why an HR humor show is proving to not only be comedic, but cathartic as well. 00:00: Intro 01:53: Why HR needs a humor space 07:10: Using humor to enforce policy 11:30: Not crossing the line with comedy 14:13: Bringing your authentic self is…
24 Mar 2026 · 39 min
Internship Programs That Benefit Students And Employers
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Chief Education Strategy Officer at Handshake, Christine Cruzvergara. They discuss the impact of the current job market and AI tools on intern programs, how interns can prepare before they begin their role, and why the benefits of an intern program can last for a long time, for both students and employers. 00:00: Intro 01:52: The purpose of internships 03:11: Impacts of current job market 04:50: The responsibility of HR vs. managers 06:30: Should all internships be…
10 Mar 2026 · 39 min
How HR Conferences Can Be Effective (And Fun!)
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew Inc.'s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Eleni DuBois, VP of Events at Morning Brew, and Kristen Parisi, Senior Reporter at HR Brew about their different yet complementary views when it comes to HR conferences. Which ones are worth it, what should you expect, and what should you be coming away from the experience learning, feeling, and ready to implement at your company? 00:00: Intro 02:07: What is the point of HR conferences today 05:55: How are events built to be satisfying for attendees 11:30: How to best…
24 Feb 2026 · 26 min
Exit Interview Questions That Reveal The Most Valuable Information
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew’s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Grüns Chief People Officer Jaime Petkanics about the reality of exit interviews – and how you can avoid them all together by keeping retention high. From the question HR pros wish they could ask, to the hypothetical question that gives concrete insight into the company culture, these are the things you should be asking before your employees are even thinking about leaving. 00:00: Intro 01:49: How do you kick off an exit interview 03:45: How do you share the information…
10 Feb 2026 · 35 min
Office Romances: How HR Should Navigate A Match Made at Work
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew’s SVP Head of People Operations, Kate Noel, speaks with Kaila Lopez and Kyle Hagge, hosts of Per My Last Email, a show that dissects the intersection of work and culture, all about office romances. Kaila, who met her husband at work, offers a strong opinion about getting romantically involved at the office, while Kyle has a slightly more optimistic outlook on the matter. From when to tell HR to the question of telling your boss first, and even asking if it’s ever ok to hold hands at the office, this conversation is as…
27 Jan 2026 · 34 min
How to take ERGS from Performative to Powerful
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew’s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Maceo Owens, CEO & Founder, The ERG Movement, about how companies can implement and support ERGs for maximum results — and what those results should even be. Maceo discusses how to make employee resource groups powerful and now just performative, especially without a large budget, and explains how leaders should be thinking about these groups within a company (hint: they are an internal marketing engine!). She also shares valuable advice on how involved HR should be with…
13 Jan 2026 · 31 min
The Effective Tips You Need For Setting, Tracking, And Achieving Big Goals This Year
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew’s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with President and Co-Founder of Biller Genie, Garima Shah about setting goals for the new year. How can leaders best help their employees to set and achieve goals? Garima breaks down misconceptions about setting lofty goals, explains how micro goals are the way to go, and gives tips for setting accurate timeframes and steps to take to actually achieve those goals. She also discusses how leaders and employees can work together to track, change, and implement their goals…
30 Dec 2025 · 40 min
The Old HR Playbook Won’t Meet Gen Z’s Workplace Needs – Here’s Why
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew’s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with HR Brew reporter Mikaela Cohen about what Gen Z wants, hopes, and expects in the modern workplace. She explains the benefits and training that can help all generations understand each other, and the simple tweaks in language and policies that can help employees of all ages feel included. 00:00: Intro 01:24: Mikaela’s recent work covering Gen Z’s workplace preferences 05:40: What different generations expect from benefits 09:00: Training for all generations 14:05: Leave of…
16 Dec 2025 · 42 min
Starting from Scratch: How to Build an HR Team at a Startup
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew’s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Josh Reeves, CEO & Co-Founder of Gusto. They discuss how Josh made some of Gusto’s early People Ops hires, the barefoot tradition that lived on for many years, how leaders can help employees find success in their role and with conquering new skills, and the business values that Josh is also teaching his family. 00:00: Intro 01:25: The beginnings of Gusto 05:57: Gusto’s early People Ops hires 12:30: Focusing on compliance vs. culture 14:20: Performance management 15:50:…
2 Dec 2025 · 35 min
HR for the Holidays: How to Navigate the Holiday Calendar & Company Parties
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew’s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Talent, Culture, and DEI Consultant Dani Herrera about navigating the company holiday party and setting the corporate holiday calendar for the year ahead. The two HR Pros discuss the ideal day to have the company party, the best terms to use so that it feels inclusive for all, and how to set employee expectations for the celebration. Dani and Kate also discuss setting the corporate holiday calendar for the year ahead, including how to choose which days are observed,…
18 Nov 2025 · 33 min
How to Actually Achieve Work-Life Balance For All Employees
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew’s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Sam DeMase, a writer, career coach, former HR exec, and current career expert at ZipRecruiter. Sam shares strategies for how HR teams can lead culture change and implement boundaries to actually achieve work-life balance, for both employees and HR teams. She also provides actionable tips on setting good examples, especially for managers and leaders, and explains why work-life balance is not just about taking your vacation days. Sam also weighs in on good and bad Out of…
4 Nov 2025 · 33 min
Perfecting the Performance Review with Barbra Gago, CEO and Founder of Pando
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew’s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Barbra Gago, the CEO and Founder of employee progression platform, Pando. Barbra explains how Pando came to be and how it is designed to help the performance review process for both employees and HR leaders, important tips for level-setting in reviews, where she sees AI’s role in the process, and how leaders can construct better feedback for their employees. 00:00: Intro 01:05: Barbra’s first performance review: 02:56: Why she launched Pando 06:30: Tips for HR leaders…
21 Oct 2025 · 33 min
Managing Open Enrollment Season: Handling Employee Comms, Missed Deadlines & More
Welcome to People Person! In this episode, host and Morning Brew’s SVP Head of People Operations Kate Noel, speaks with Melissa Foster, VP Head of Enrollment at Prudential Group Insurance about best practices for HR professionals during open enrollment season. Melissa shares some of her favorite tips for dealing with employees that miss deadlines, how to make sure your employees are aware of all the elements in a benefits package, and how HR professionals can get the best, up-to-date training on thriving during open enrollment season. 00:00: Intro 01:50: What is open enrollment 03:55: The…
14 Oct 2025 · 2 min
Introducing People Person, A New Show for HR Pros
People Person is a candid and conversational show where People Professionals can feel seen and heard, and learn from fellow experts in their field. Host and SVP, Head of People Operations at Morning Brew Inc, Kate Noel, brings years of expertise and a healthy sense of humor to discussions about the latest developments and insights that can help others enhance their workplace and their careers. Biweekly episodes will feature Kate speaking with entertaining and experienced professionals about everything from holidays to healthcare, and AI to onboarding, in compelling episodes available…

About People Person

People Person is a English business podcast from Morning Brew Inc.. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Morning Brew Inc.
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 34 min
Latest episode: 6 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1846130101

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