Let's Fix Work With Laurie Ruettimann

Punk Rock HR Episode 137:   My guests today are Deepa Purushothaman and Rha Goddess. They are the founders of nFormation, which is a first of its kind, app-based community created by women of color for women of color. The community provides a safe space for these women of color as well as career advancement opportunities. Deepa and Rha are on the show today because they are really trying to reimagine traditional power structures. They not only want to help more women of color find their seat at the table in corporate America but also want to leverage their collective power to change the way the table is formed. I like people with big ideas who do brave things and Deepa and Rha are doing just that. I am thrilled to introduce you to nFormation and these women who are shaking things up. If you’re like me and want to be a co-conspirator on this journey to revolutionize the workforce, tune into this conversation with Deepa and Rha. In this episode you’ll hear: Why they came together to create nFormation. How nFor

Punk Rock HR Episode 136: Every once in a while, I get to lean into my punk rock roots and do something a little different on this podcast. On today’s show, I’m introducing you to David Mahmoudieh and his new movie called Snake Dick. David is the writer and director of this film and today we are talking about his creative journey. You don’t just wake up one morning and say, “I’m going to write and direct a film.” There’s actually a lot of heartache and a lot of lessons learned along the way. I think it’s interesting to talk to a creative professional about his journey and think about the parallels to your journey in marketing, sales, procurement, or even in human resources. If you’ve ever dreamed about taking a risk and following your dreams, or even if you’re just a film of neo-noir short films, you’re going to love this conversation with David.  In this episode you’ll hear: David’s origin story. The part of the creative journey that he enjoys the most. The recurring themes in each of our lives. What Snake

Punk Rock HR Episode 135: I’ve got a book coming out in January and there’s a chapter in there all about money. There are some key themes in it that I’ve learned from friends. These include tips like budget, pay yourself first, and, more importantly, that debt is the single biggest thing that can hold you back, both personally and professionally. Obviously, money is messy. That’s why I have an expert on today’s show to help us sort through the basic things that we need to do to live simply and with a little bit of joy while managing our wealth. Jonathan DeYoe is a bestselling author, speaker, and the founder and CEO of Mindful Money. However, he’s really a financial literacy fanatic. Jonathan is both a money manager and Buddhist scholar and his book has really had an impact on me.  Maybe you have a great relationship with your cash. Or maybe you’re like me and spend more than you earn. Whatever the case, I know you’re going to enjoy this conversation. So, tune in to hear my discussion with Jonathan DeYoe. In

Punk Rock HR Episode 134: Today’s guest is Heidi Spirgi. She is the Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Cornerstone On Demand, an HR technology company. Heidi has done a little bit of everything, but the common thread of her career has been helping organizations to unlock the best of their employees through emerging practices and programs, building cultures that ensure people can be the best version of themselves at work, and leveraging technology to do all of that. Heidi is someone who I admire and look to in real life as well as on social media. Whenever there’s a new tool, trend, or something that’s gotten a lot of hype, I’ll know it’s real if Heidi buys into it. Our conversation today touches on all the good stuff: leadership, growth, learning, development, and what it’s like to be human at a time where it’s crazy even to be alive. If you’re wondering how to be there for your workforce and, really, be there for yourself, sit back and enjoy this conversation with Heidi Spirgi.  In this episode you’ll h

Punk Rock HR Episode 133: In case you haven’t heard, I have a new book coming out called Betting On You: How to Put Yourself First and Finally Take Control of Your Career. The journey of writing a book has been both straightforward and surprising. Throughout each step of the process, something happened to my health or my family, making it a journey for sure.  The easiest part of it all is writing the book; the business of publishing, on the other hand, is extremely complex. Beyond the many surface-level considerations, there’s the whole secondary market of getting your books into the hands of people. So that is what we’re talking about on the podcast today. I brought on my dear friend and Hall of Fame keynote speaker and author, Scott Stratten. Scott is the founder of The UnMarketing Movement and a true marketing genius. He has been where I am now, at the beginning of a book launch. So, this episode will be a good old-fashioned mentoring conversation. Tune in and I know you’ll learn something, too. In this ep

Punk Rock HR Episode 132: My guest today is Pierre Thiam. He was raised in Senegal, but he is a New York-based chef, author, restauranteur, social entrepreneur, and culinary ambassador. Pierre is best known for bringing West African cuisine to the global fine-dining world. He is also the Executive Chef and co-owner of Teranga, a fast-casual food chain from New York City. Pierre’s company, Yolele Foods, advocates for small farmers by opening up new markets for crops grown in Africa. Its signature product, fonio, is found at Whole Foods, Amazon, and other retailers across America.  Chef Pierre is on my show because I think he has an interesting perspective on COVID and what’s happening to small businesses, but also the climate crisis and, more importantly, leadership. We have an awesome conversation that highlights how an immigrant who got stuck in New York City can truly get things done. To learn more, sit back and enjoy this conversation with Pierre Thiam. In this episode you’ll hear: Pierre’s origin story.

Punk Rock HR Episode 131: My guest this week is Hannah Olson. She is the co-founder and CEO of an organization called Chronically Capable. Hannah had her dream job right out of college but later contracted Lyme Disease. Her treatments for her chronic illness got in the way of her job. Frustrated, she thought there had to be a better way. So, she created that better way: Chronically Capable. It’s a technology platform, an ATS, and really a community that tries to match individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses with employers who are thoughtful, progressive, and aim to support that community. It’s National Disability Employment Awareness month in America, a time when we recognize disabled and chronically ill workers and acknowledge their contributions to the economy. So, this is the perfect time to bring Hannah onto the show. Today, Hannah and I talk about her journey, her chronic condition, and what she’s doing to solve a problem that affects millions of people around the world. If you’re interested

I recently gave a keynote to a company called Curo Comp. It was about truth versus reality when it comes to talking about money at work. I’m so jazzed about this topic that I wanted to tell you about it. Years ago, I interviewed for a job and the VP of HR was full of himself. At the end of the interview, I asked him what differentiated their HR department from others. He gave a long answer full of buzzwords, but he didn’t believe in any of it. That was in 2004, but even now every trend I read about human resources and compensation uses those buzzwords. It makes them all feel like lies.  In my keynote, I had to tell the audience that those trends were lies. I had to tell them that everything they aspirationally believe in is a lie. It was difficult, but it’s true. It's important to disclose the lies and talk about where we stand and where we can go in the future. So, tune in and let's talk about it. In this episode you’ll hear: The lie that equal pay and transparency matter. The two things we’re terrible at i

Punk Rock HR Episode 129: My guest this week is Brant Menswar. Brant is a top 10 motivational speaker, critically acclaimed author, award-winning musician, podcast host, and the CEO and founder of Rock Star Impact, a boutique agency that teaches people and organizations how to cultivate value-based leadership.  Brant is also the author of a new book called Black Sheep: Unleash the Extraordinary Awe-Inspiring, Undiscovered You. And I'm so excited that he came by to talk about self-leadership, individual accountability values, and really finding your core values and purpose in your life. So if you like your motivational speakers to be former rock stars, which I do, sit tight and enjoy this conversation with Brant Menswar. In this episode you’ll hear: How a sports injury led Brant to his career as a musician. Why farmers don’t value black sheep as the rest of the flock. How living through his son’s life-threatening cancer diagnosis helped him realize his own black sheep values. How you know when you’ve made a g

Punk Rock HR Episode 128: Lindsay Crittendon is the head of Headspace for Work. If you thought that was a meditation app on your phone, so did I. However, it is actually so much more than that. They work with businesses across the spectrum to help them identify the best ways to improve the workplace. Mental Health Awareness Day is coming up on October 5th. Honestly, it should be every day. We need to be having consistent conversations on this topic and on the effect work can have on our mental health. Today, Lindsay helps bring this to the forefront. She’s dedicated to making the world and the world of work a little bit better. In this episode, we’re talking about the benefits of mindfulness and more thoughtful behavior on the work environment and on our individual lives when we’re not working. We also talk about COVID-19. We use this opportunity to talk about how to emerge from this pandemic in a healthier way. If you’re interested in a conversation about well-being at work and fixing work, sit back and enjo

Punk Rock HR Episode 127: Today’s guests are Robert Williams and Brian Baucom. They are the co-founders of a company called 4 Oaks Ventures. The team at 4 Oaks provides quality PPE and COVID-19 testing to employees and industries all over America. Robert and Brian are my neighbors in this community. They’re my friends. However, I also brought them onto the show to advise them on how to talk and work with HR departments to make clear the importance of quality PPE and COVID-19 testing and cut through the noise. We’re talking about the real issues behind the challenges of finding a PPE that’s not counterfeit or just disgusting and finding COVID-19 testing and strategies that really work. If you work in human resources, logistics, or marketing and you need to go back to work in an office at some point, this episode will be very helpful for you. Tune in for an informative and incredible conversation with Robert and Brian. In this episode you’ll hear: The impetus behind Robert and Brian co-founding 4 Oaks. Why the

Punk Rock HR Episode 126: Today’s guest is author and speaker Minda Harts. If you have ever wondered who’s fighting for women of color to get a seat at the table, it’s Minda. Her book, Memo, has opened the doors for women and other authors to talk about what’s really happening in the world of work.  On top of her nationally recognized book, Minda has a terrific LinkedIn account, a prolific blog, and great Instagram and Twitter accounts. Most importantly, she is an amazing podcaster and the host of the show, Secure the Seat. Minda is a self-proclaimed career revolutionary. Her goal is to leave the workplace better than she found it. In this episode, Minda and I are talking about her work, including her new book. We discuss where she gets her inspiration and passion for the content she creates. I’m so excited to talk to someone who’s kicking butt and taking names. Tune in to be a part of the conversation. In this episode you’ll hear: The different mediums Minda uses to get her message out. What her book, Memo,

Punk Rock HR Episode 125: Today’s guest is my friend Zach Ward. He is the former owner of a comedy theater whose career was ended in 2017. Zach was canceled before it was trendy. Zach is someone who fulfilled a dream which many of us have. He came back home after college, created a community, and monetized his passion. But in creating that community, other things happened. Eventually, allegations were made against him and he was canceled.  I want Zach to not only survive this tidal wave but rebuild his life. That is why I brought him onto the show. In today’s episode, we are talking about serious issues like cancel culture and sexual assault allegations. Zach helps us understand where his career began and the lies that eventually made it come to an end. My hope is that, by hearing Zach’s story and his commitment to transparency, we can all begin to pause and ask our own questions when we hear accusations.  In this episode you’ll hear: Zach’s college experience and how he came to open DSI Comedy Theater. The

Punk Rock HR Episode 124: Today’s guest is author and podcaster Mimi Nicklin. She is the author of Softening the Edge, a book all about empathy and how humanity’s oldest leadership trait is changing our world. Mimi believes that the ability to connect authentically with others has the power to shape not only our business environments but every part of our lives. Michelle Obama recently gave a speech and said that there is an empathy deficit among many people in power in our country. I feel that truth in my bones. Empathy is something so primal, yet so hard to achieve. Mimi’s big ideas drive the conversation around empathy into the world, which is why I brought her onto the show today. In this episode, Mimi and I talk about empathy. We discuss what it is, what it isn’t, and how you actually put empathy into practice at work. If you wonder how seeing someone’s perspective can help you be a better leader, listen in to this conversation with Mimi. In this episode you’ll hear: A simple definition of empathy. How

Punk Rock HR Episode 123: Carl Camden is the former CEO of Kelly Services and the current president of iPSE-U.S. He has dedicated more than 25 years of his life to advocating for the independent workforce. This has looked like creating career opportunities and seeking justice for independent workers by challenging leaders to adapt to the future of work. In 2017 Carl assembled industry leaders, House members from both parties, and association leaders for an exclusive D.C. event. This eventually became the genesis for iPSE-U.S. Today, this organization partners with a variety of other companies to provide the protection that corporations offer to their employees for independent workers. In this episode, we talk about the differentiation between full-time workers and the gig economy and how often that differentiation turns people into second-class citizens. We also talk about the third rail of work, health-insurance benefits, and how iPSE-U.S. helps make it accessible to contractors. The gig economy covers every

Punk Rock HR Episode 122: Today's guest is Damon Klotz. Damon has spent his career working at the intersection of people & technology. He's held roles as an HR Consultant, Digital Strategist, and he’s the co-founder of a men’s mental health charity. He joined Culture Amp as an early employee where he grew their community to one of the largest in the world and scaled the company during a time where the employees and customer base grew by over 2500%. But what I want you to know about Damon more than anything is that he believes that businesses can be a force for good in this world.  I have known him for over 11 years, and a lot of people mistake optimism for naivete. But here's the deal about Damon, he is savvy, he understands how to build relationships, he understands the world of work. And yet, knowing how nefarious the startup scene can be, and knowing how crazy the world of work is, he still believes that people are good that human resources can make a difference. And then when it comes down to it, cult

Punk Rock HR Episode 121: Just like the conversation all over America, and really the world, about defunding police work, today I want to talk about defunding human resources, recruiting, and compensation.  HR oversees a system with rules that they don’t control and might not even agree with but can’t change, and they rarely see people at their best. For the past 40 years, we’ve been pumping money into human resources and we are not getting the ROI we deserve. In this episode you'll hear: Management science is not with HR. How compensation programs are still biased. How to embrace the golden age of technology. Why you need to quit a job that requires you to police people. Have you thought about the legacy you’re leaving behind?   Resources from this episode: Laurie on Instagram Laurie on LinkedIn Read more from Laurie Work with Laurie   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, ex

Punk Rock HR Episode 120: Gary Beckstrand is the vice president of The OC Tanner Institute. OC Tanner is a recognition company that’s focused on aligning people with their passion and their purpose. They do a tremendous amount of research on the employee in order to accomplish that goal.  I have the amazing opportunity to partner with OC Tanner during the month of August on a webinar series called the Culture Trends Tour. This is a tour that brings together HR leaders, experts, and professionals to really connect and talk about the insights from OC Tanner’s 2020 Global Culture Report. I'm excited and honored to participate in it. We talk a little bit about this partnership in today’s episode, but mostly Gary and I talk about terms like recognition and employee experience. We discuss what these things really mean for modern leaders and the people that they support. Listen in for a really great conversation about leadership and employee experience in 2020 and beyond. In this episode you’ll hear: What employee

Punk Rock HR Mentorship Friday: Cameron Sackett is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan who is looking for his first full-time job right now in marketing or social media management. Cameron is not just a young adult entering the workforce but is facing searching for a job in the middle of a pandemic. I first met Cameron when he was in middle school. Now, we have known each other for over 10 years. I wanted to bring him on to have a conversation on what he’s looking for in a job, how he’s doing it, and what it’s going to take to get him into the workforce. This episode isn’t a workforce generational discussion. Instead, Cameron and I talk about life stages and what he is looking for at this period in his life. He has some keen insights and lessons for all of us. Whether you work as a leader or a human resources professional, you’ll want to listen in to this great conversation with Cameron. In this episode you’ll hear: Cameron’s unconventional college journey and how his worldview has changed during

Punk Rock HR Episode 119: Zach Nunn is a change management consultant and one of the co-founders of the podcast and movement Living Corporate. The goal of that platform is to tell black and brown stories related to the world of work. You think you’ve heard good conversations about diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging, but you have not heard Living Corporate.  On the show, Zach and his team talk to all kinds of people and have real conversations. They talk about the types of things that aren’t normally talked about at work or even in diversity inclusion programs. It is a terrific podcast that everybody needs to download and listen to. In the episode, Zach shares about the work he is doing. He explains why it has become his goal to create platforms in spaces that amplify and center black and brown voices at work. Zach has a perspective that causes him to speak with authority and provide answers to the questions many of us are asking, especially regarding what we can do to help right now. Listen in for an