In this engaging episode, the HR Misfits and a special guest explore the credibility crisis in HR, the controversial idea of licensing the profession, and the innovative HR Accountability Project aimed at elevating standards and trust in HR.

Three HR leaders. Three takes on AI. Zero agreement at the start.

In this episode of The HR Misfits, Ami, LaToya, and Marci go all in on the conversation every HR team is having right now - but probably not like this. LaToya's ready to embrace it, Marci's side-eyeing it, and Ami's somewhere in the middle trying not to pick a fight. What starts as a debate, lands somewhere way more honest: AI isn't the enemy, but it's not the savior either. And the human stuff? That part's not optional.

The pandemic didn’t just change where we work, it exposed everything broken about how we work.

In this episode of HR Misfits, we dig into the reality of remote and hybrid work beyond the headlines, policies, and performative debates.

Because here’s the truth:
Not everyone works best the same way. And trying to force a single model? That’s where companies are getting it wrong.

We talk about:
Why the “return to office vs. remote” debate is missing the point
How different roles, personalities, and life realities shape how people perform best
The gap between leadership expectations and employee experience
Why flexibility still isn’t being applied fairly
What actually drives productivity (hint: it’s not location)

This isn’t about picking sides.
It’s about rethinking work entirely.

If you’re a leader still trying to figure out what actually works or an employee feeling stuck in a model that doesn’t - this conversation is for you.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro – Building a High-Performing Agency
00:48 The Secret Behind 80%+ Staff Retention
02:30 Why Culture Must Start From Day One
03:30 Becoming an Employee-Owned Company
04:30 Why Most Company Values Are Useless
06:00 The 3 Values That Actually Work
08:30 Turning Values Into Real Behaviors
11:30 Performance Improvement Without Fear
13:00 How Junior Employees Bring Big Clients
14:30 Making Everyone Think Like an Owner
15:50 What Actually Changed After Employee Ownership
17:00 Employees Sitting in Board Meetings
19:30 Breaking the “Us vs Them” Culture
21:00 Salary, Bonuses & Fairness Explained
23:10 Preventing Employee Frustration Early
24:00 Why Team Trips Boost Performance
27:30 The “Olympics” Idea: Fitness + Charity + Fun
30:10 The Future Vision of the Company
32:30 Final Thoughts – Culture Drives Everything

What if some of HR’s most “trusted” tools are actually holding your business back?

In this episode of HR Misfits, we take on two of the most sacred (and untouchable) frameworks in HR: the 9-box and the annual performance review… and make the case for why it might be time to let them go.

These tools were designed to bring structure, clarity, and fairness. But in reality? They often introduce bias, slow down decision-making, and create more performative process than meaningful impact.

We get into:

Why the 9-box oversimplifies people and amplifies bias

How annual reviews fail both employees and leaders

The hidden cost of “checking the box” HR practices

What high-performing organizations are doing instead

Practical ways to move beyond outdated frameworks (without creating chaos)

This isn’t about being anti-structure.
It’s about being anti-lazy structure.

If you’ve ever sat in a talent review meeting thinking, “Are we really making better decisions because of this?” - this episode is for you.

Welcome to HR, rethought.

Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – Why Managers Ignore High Performers
Managers over-focus on low performers and neglect top talent
00:45 – Podcast Intro: HR Misfits & Anti-Framework Thinking
What this show is about and today’s topic setup
02:10 – Are We Really Anti-Framework?
Challenging blind use of outdated frameworks
03:30 – The Nine-Box Framework Explained (Origin & Purpose)
History (GE, 1970) and how it works
06:00 – Problems with the Nine-Box Model
Overcomplication, forced categorization, and lack of clarity
09:00 – Bias in Talent Evaluation
How subjectivity and unconscious bias shape outcomes
12:30 – Does the Nine-Box Actually Help Employees?
Lack of actionable outcomes and employee confusion
16:00 – High Performers vs Low Performers: Misplaced Focus
Why companies lose top talent
19:00 – The “Steady Performer” Problem
Ignored middle performers and retention risks
22:00 – Evolution: From 9-Box to 4-Box Models
Attempts to simplify performance frameworks
24:30 – Annual Performance Reviews Are Broken
Infrequent feedback and employee frustration
28:00 – Forced Rankings & Compensation Issues
How ratings tie into pay and create unhealthy systems
32:00 – Gaming the System & Leadership Gaps
Managers manipulating ratings and lack of leadership skills
36:00 – Transparency Problem: Employees Don’t Understand Business Health
Why workers feel disconnected from company performance
40:00 – Corporate Communication Failures (Acronyms & Confusion)
Why “transparency” often doesn’t work
44:00 – The Need for Business Education in HR & Teams
Importance of financial and business acumen
48:00 – Real Fix: Better Leadership, Not More Frameworks
Root cause behind broken systems
52:00 – Rethinking Performance Systems (Simpler Models)
Idea of reducing ratings and moving to continuous feedback
55:30 – Anti-Framework Philosophy Explained
Questioning outdated systems, not eliminating structure
58:00 – Introducing the HR Misfits Framework
Deconstruct → Diffuse → Design approach
01:01:00 – Final Thoughts: Evolving HR & Leadership Systems
Why change is necessary and how to move forward

In this episode of HR Misfits, we dive into the world of corporate cringe - the buzzwords, clichés, and HR-speak that have somehow become normal in the workplace.

We talk about:

Why phrases like “we’re a family” can actually be problematic
The real meaning behind “let’s circle back”
How “culture fit” can quietly reinforce bias
The corporate language we all say… even when we don’t like it
What authentic leadership communication should sound like instead

If you've ever sat in a meeting thinking “did that sentence actually mean anything?” - this episode is for you.

At HR Misfits, we believe work conversations should be honest, human, and a little less scripted.

Join us each week for thought-provoking conversations that challenge the status quo and explore how we can build better, more human-centered workplaces.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro – HR Misfits Podcast & Corporate Cringe Topic
(01:25) Why Corporate Buzzwords Feel Annoying
(03:10) “Circle Back” and Other Overused Office Phrases
(05:20) The Problem With “Culture Fit”
(08:45) Bias Hidden Inside Hiring Decisions
(12:30) The Peacock vs Penguin Story (Diversity in Companies)
(16:20) Why Companies Say They Want “Disruptors”
(19:10) Culture Fit vs Culture Add
(22:40) Values vs Culture – What Companies Get Wrong
(26:10) Why Corporate Culture Is Often Misunderstood
(29:30) The Real Meaning of Workplace Culture
(32:00) “Let’s Take This Offline” – The Meeting Problem
(35:10) Endless Meetings and Decision Avoidance
(38:20) The Problem With “We’re a Family” at Work
(41:30) Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life
(44:10) How Workplace Language Shapes Company Culture

Connect with us:
Explore The HR Misfits: https://www.thehrmisfits.com/

Ami Graves on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amigraves/
Check out Ami’s website: www.amijograves.com

LaToya Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latoyandavis/

Marci Coppola on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcikerwick/
Check out Seshen Coaching & Wellness: https://www.seshencoaching.com/

If you’re tired of corporate jargon and HR “theater,” you’ve found the right place.

Welcome to The HR Misfits, hosted by Ami Graves, LaToya Davis (Executive HR Business Partner), and Marci Coppola (Founder & President, Seshen Coaching & Wellness).

In this episode, we discuss the SHRM lawsuit debacle that’s shaking the HR world. With candid discussions on leadership, accountability, and the realities of workplace bias, the Misfits tackle what happens when an organization’s actions don’t match their stated policies. Expect honest takes on the importance of policy enforcement, how HR must lead by example, and why accountability is key in every organization. This isn’t your average HR podcast. tTis is the place where we break down real-world scenarios with sass, depth, and a dose of humor that will make you rethink how HR is handled in the workplace.

Join us each week for thought-provoking conversations that challenge the status quo and explore how we can build better, more human-centered workplaces.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro

(01:31) HR gone wild

(02:27) SHRM lawsuit and allegations explained

(06:29) Policy vs. behavior

(12:15) Performance management and discrimination risks

(23:40) Coldplay incident

(26:43) Actions speak louder than words in HR

(27:26) Leading for the first time

(27:50) Addressing biases and inequities at work

(28:43) HR’s role in enforcing standards

(31:20) Consequences of ignoring workplace policies

(36:49) University of Michigan scandal and HR

(40:49) The importance of documentation in HR

Connect with us:

Explore The HR Misfits: https://www.thehrmisfits.com/

Ami Graves on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amigraves/

Check out Ami’s website: www.amijograves.com

LaToya Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latoyandavis/

Marci Coppola on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcikerwick/

Check out Seshen Coaching & Wellness: https://www.seshencoaching.com/

If you’re tired of making assumptions about people based on surface-level judgments, especially in the workplace, you're in the right place.

Welcome to The HR Misfits, hosted by Ami Graves, LaToya Davis (Executive HR Business Partner, Corporate Function), and Marci Coppola (Founder & President, Seshen Coaching & Wellness).

In our debut episode, we explore the Peacock hit All Her Fault through the HR lens. We discuss themes of judgment, assumptions, and biases, both in the workplace and personal life. With candid insights, the Misfits share their own experiences with leadership, juggling motherhood, and how biases impact decision-making in professional settings. This is not your typical HR podcast. This is where you expect real, raw conversations, a little sass, and stories that will make you rethink how we manage people in the workplace.

Join us every week for honest conversations that challenge the status quo and explore how we can build better workplaces, places that don't just function, but work for humans.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro

(00:56) First official episode: Discussing All Her Fault

(01:22) Themes of judgment and bias in HR

(02:22) Personal reactions: Workplace assumptions and bias

(05:14) Gender bias in workplace dynamics unpacked

(07:05) Navigating the balance between work and motherhood

(12:45) Self-imposed pressures: Expectations in the workplace

(17:35) Authenticity and success: Breaking the corporate mold

(21:38) Defining what you really want in life

(21:59) Judgment and support among working mothers

(22:24) Personal experience: Balancing career and family

(25:32) Work-life prioritization: A new perspective

(26:25) Corporate loyalty vs. Personal sacrifice explored

(29:20) Gender bias in performance management dissected

(34:50) Women supporting women: A key to leadership

Connect with us:

Explore The HR Misfits: https://www.thehrmisfits.com/

Ami Graves on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amigraves/

Check out Ami’s website: www.amijograves.com

LaToya Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latoyandavis/

Marci Coppola on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcikerwick/

Check out Seshen Coaching & Wellness: https://www.seshencoaching.com/

If you believe HR should be a catalyst—not corporate theater—you’re in the right place.

Welcome to The HR Misfits, hosted by Ami Graves, LaToya Davis (Executive HR Business Partner, Corporate Function), and Marci Coppola (Founder & President, Seshen Coaching & Wellness).

Born from The People of Work, The HR Misfits evolved into something bigger: a space for HR leaders who don’t fit the traditional mold. Leaders who are business-minded and human-centered. Strategic and empathetic. Bold enough to challenge outdated systems while still caring deeply about people.

In this intro episode, we share why we created The HR Misfits, the moments that showed us polished playbooks weren’t enough, and what it really means to lead from the HR seat when work gets messy, political, or uncomfortable. You’ll hear how each of us found our way into HR, why we’re pushing back on the “policy police” stereotype, and what to expect from the show—real stories, real leadership lessons, and a little sass.

Each week, we bring honest conversations from behind the scenes of leadership—where people, power, and progress collide. Alongside guest voices and featured People of Work episodes, we explore what it takes to build workplaces that actually work.

Up next: we unpack Peacock’s All Her Fault through an HR lens and share what we’re building with the HR Misfits Collective for leaders who want real counsel—not performative HR.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro

(00:58) Why The HR Misfits exists

(03:37) LaToya Davis and 22 years in the HR seat

(05:18) Marci Coppola from wellness to HR coaching

(08:46) What makes a true HR misfit

(15:19) How we fell into HR on purpose

(17:03) The talent acquisition entry point

(19:51) Marci’s pivot and the corporate reality check

(22:16) How HR work has changed and why it matters

(24:29) Three paths one shared point of view

(26:44) What you’ll get here real talk and real leadership

(31:45) Next up, All Her Fault through an HR lens

Connect with us:

Explore The HR Misfits: https://www.thehrmisfits.com/

Ami Graves on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amigraves/

Check out Ami’s website: www.amijograves.com

Check out Bell Techlogix: https://belltechlogix.com/

LaToya Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latoyandavis/

Marci Coppola on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcikerwick/

Check out Seshen Coaching & Wellness: https://www.seshencoaching.com/