Are you tired of transactional hiring that leaves everyone frustrated? In this episode, Kara Dennison reveals how to build an authentic sourcing and recruitment ecosystem that elevates the candidate experience while delivering top talent.The modern job market feels more divided than ever, but it doesn't have to be a battlefield. Today on Happy@Work, we are sitting down with the incredible Kara Dennison—Executive Career & Leadership Coach, CEO of Optimized Career Solutions, and contributor to Forbes.Together, we explore a critical question: What does “happy hiring” actually look like from both sides of the interview table? We break down how organizations can move past cold, automated tracking systems to build a more human, transparent, and mutually beneficial experience that actually respects people's time.Timestamps:00:00 – intro01:01 – self-presentation of Kara02:32 – what happy hiring means for Kara03:51 – how to increase the candidate experience and HR impact on the hiring process07:43 – making the transparent candidate experience for the culture fit of the company and employee12:29 – positive effect of recruitment on business results16:42 – how to make real feedback for candidates in the AI era 22:11 – strategy of networking that makes all happier26:00 – 3 tips from Kara for a happy hiring process (both for the company and candidate)Whether you’re an HR leader looking to overhaul your hiring funnel or a professional navigating your next career move, Kara's dual-perspective insights are a masterclass in modern talent strategy.Follow more content from Kara Dennison.Subscribe to Happy@Work for more episodes on building a workplace that actually works for people.Discover the text version of podcast episodes posted weekly on LinkedIn.#Hiring #Recruitment #CandidateExperience #TalentAcquisition #HRStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #HappyAtWork

Are you ready to transform your organization's growth? In this episode, Zech Dahms breaks down how to align your Culture, Performance, and Retention strategy to build a workplace that thrives in 2026.Most leaders treat employee engagement, reviews, and turnover as isolated HR headaches. But if you want sustainable success, you have to treat them as an interconnected ecosystem. Today on Happy@Work, we are unpacking the CPR Model—a holistic framework designed to get your people and your business objectives entirely in sync.Whether you are a founder scaling a team, an HR executive reshaping corporate policy, or a consultant looking for a proven model to deliver to your clients, Zech’s insights on strategic alignment will change how you look at organizational health.

Timecodes:

00:00 — intro

01:10 — self-presentation of Zech

03:15 — What to focus on in HR strategy in 2026-27

06:30 — What is the CPR Model

09:35 — People Strategy in the new era of AI

16:25 — How to improve the engagement in 2026?

22:50 — Belonging to the organization: what is the future of leadership?

30:21 — Psychological safety for the employee perspective

36:58 — 3 main tips for HR leaders from Zech to build People Strategy

Subscribe to Happy@Work for more episodes on building a workplace that actually works for people.

Discover the text version of podcast episodes posted weekly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/happyatworkclub/

#CorporateCulture #HR2026 #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeRetention #StrategicAlignment #CPRModel #HappyAtWork #Leadership

How does corporate culture evolve alongside technology? We explore how AI HR tools are reshaping business design with Perry Timms, an expert with 24 years of HR expertise.The world is moving too fast for traditional, rigid hierarchies. If your company can’t shift, adapt, and change shape in real-time, it’s already falling behind. Today on Happy@Work, I’m talking to the incredible Perry Timms about the concept of the Polymorphic Organization.Forget the static org chart. We’re talking about building a business that is fluid, human-centric, and powered by the right tech. Perry breaks down how to move away from "command and control" and toward a system that actually thrives in the 2026 landscape.If you’re a leader, a founder, or an HR professional tired of the same old "best practices," Perry’s visionary approach to business design is exactly what you need.

Connect with Perry Timms:https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrytimms/🕒

Timestamps:

00:00 - intro

01:34 - self-presentation of Perry

02:45 – concept of polymorphic organization

04:55 – what are the advantages of polymorphic organization

07:55 – what are the types of mental models suitable for the polymorphic organization

11:09 – challenges for leaders

15:03 – employee ownew company

20:30 – what should the leader do to change the behavior of employees

25:09 – balance between changes and stability

28:56 – 3 main tips for Leaders from Perry Timms

Subscribe to Happy@Work for more episodes on building a workplace that actually works for people.

Discover the text version of podcast episodes posted weekly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/happyatworkclub/

#CorporateCulture #HRStrategy #FutureOfWork #BusinessDesign #Leadership #HappyAtWork #PerryTimms