Episodes

  • Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 35: Live from San Antonio; Market Based Pay or Traditional Salary Structures

    Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 35: Live from San Antonio; Market Based Pay or Traditional Salary Structures
    May 14 2026
    Paul and Sean sit down with Amanda Williamson to break down why job architecture is the backbone of effective compensation—and where most organizations miss the mark. Amanda shares how to build job frameworks that actually work in today’s market, from navigating pay transparency to adapting structures with AI-driven data. Learn how to simplify job leveling, manage change without overwhelming your team, and why a hybrid approach to pay is gaining traction. From aligning stakeholders to making your pay philosophy actionable, this conversation is packed with practical strategies to build more transparent, scalable, and defensible compensation programs. Chapters: Introduction and Guest Introduction (0:00) Background and Career Path (1:19) Compensation Strategies (8:49) Session Highlights (9:53) Trends in Compensation (12:33) Job Architecture and Pay Transparency (16:23) Change Management in HR (19:14) Closing Thoughts (25:56)
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    28 mins
  • Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 34: Lets talk about AI - the sessions at W@W and beyond

    Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 34: Lets talk about AI - the sessions at W@W and beyond
    May 7 2026
    Paul and Sean sit down with Ryan on the WorldatWork Total Rewards '26 floor to explore how AI is reshaping work and rewards faster than most teams realize. Ryan shares how to use AI to amplify your skills, automate tedious tasks, and focus on what matters most. Learn how to build simple AI agents without coding, improve decision-making, and unlock creativity across your workflows. From refining emails to structuring jobs and turning ideas into data, this conversation is packed with practical ways to start small and scale impact. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Totally Rewarding Chats 01:37 Introduction to Ryan Berkey and AI in Total Rewards 03:11 The Role of AI in Enhancing Productivity 08:08 Personal Insights on AI Tools and Experiences 10:02 Challenges and Adaptations in AI Presentations 12:22 The Importance of Asking the Right Questions 18:35 AI as a Leveling Force in the Workplace 21:03 Starting Small with AI Initiatives 25:57 The Learning Curve of AI Utilization 28:30 Fixing HR with AI Solutions
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    31 mins
  • Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 33: Kawel's 2026 Conference Recap & Nashville 2027 Preview

    Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 33: Kawel's 2026 Conference Recap & Nashville 2027 Preview
    Apr 30 2026
    Paul and Sean sit down with Kawel LauBech live from the WorldatWork Total Rewards ’26 floor for an engaging conversation on the future of HR. Kawel shares his extensive background in HR and leadership, dives into the evolving mission of WorldatWork, and offers insights into the future of HR, culture, and global expansion. Discover practical strategies for creating great workplaces and a look ahead at what’s next for upcoming conferences. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 02:45 The Mission and Growth of World of Work 03:41 Global Expansion and Market Focus 08:08 International Opportunities: Brazil, India, and Beyond 08:40 The Significance of Affiliate Events and Community Engagement 11:20 Innovations: Bringing Great Work to Life and HR's Future 15:59 The Role of Pay and Culture in Employee Satisfaction 16:48 The Future of Rewards and HR Metrics 17:59 The Importance of HR as People Strategists 18:58 The Impact of AI and Data in HR Decision-Making 20:22 Final Thoughts and Call to Action for HR Professionals 22:55 Closing Remarks and Appreciation
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    28 mins
  • Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 32: Live from W@W Day 3!

    Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 32: Live from W@W Day 3!
    Apr 28 2026
    Live from the WorldatWork Total Rewards Conference 2026 floor, this conversation explores how AI is reshaping the way we work, think, and create. Featuring insights from industry experts, it breaks down how evolving technologies are changing the skills that matter, elevating the role of soft skills, and redefining how businesses approach complex challenges. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Anticipation for New Movies 02:29 The Evolution of AI in the Workplace 05:41 Soft Skills in the Age of AI 08:26 Letting Go of Traditional Skills 11:12 The Challenge of Being Strategic 14:38 Building a Strategic Mindset 17:18 The Role of Curiosity in Learning 20:21 The Impact of AI on Creativity 23:15 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement
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    38 mins
  • Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 31: Day 1 Recap and Looking at Day 2

    Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 31: Day 1 Recap and Looking at Day 2
    Apr 22 2026
    Sean and Paul sit down with Fernanda and Emerson live at WorldatWork to recap Day 1 of the conference and unpack the AI shifts reshaping HR and Total Rewards. From standout sessions to real talk on data quality and implementation, they share what's actually working—and what's not—straight from the conference floor. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 02:17 Experiences at the Main Stage 05:23 AI in the Workplace: Changing Perspectives 08:29 Skills-Based Pay: Myths and Realities 11:25 The Future of Salary Services 14:11 Navigating Data in Compensation 17:11 The Role of Soft Skills in Compensation 20:08 Community and Networking in Total Rewards 23:29 Conclusion and Reflections
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    34 mins
  • Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 30: Executive Compensation

    Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 30: Executive Compensation
    Apr 16 2026
    Sean, Paul, and Liz break down the complexities of executive compensation, from navigating C-suite conversations to designing effective pay programs. Liz shares expert insights on compliance, performance metrics, financial literacy, and balancing shareholder expectations with executive rewards. The conversation also explores tax implications, global equity practices, and the cross-functional collaboration needed to manage executive comp effectively. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome Back from Vacation 02:58 Introduction to Liz Neville 06:01 Speed Round of Questions 08:56 Differences Between Broad-Based and Executive Compensation 11:49 Navigating C-Suite Compensation Discussions 14:58 Best Practices in Executive Compensation 17:53 Understanding Financial Ratios and Executive Compensation 18:58 Tax Implications and Performance Measures 20:09 Impact of External Factors on Compensation 21:58 Complexities of Vesting and Performance Metrics 23:24 Resource Intensity in Executive Compensation 25:48 Collaboration with Legal and Financial Teams 28:09 Defining Executive Roles and Equity Distribution 30:19 Global Perspectives on Equity Compensation 32:10 Navigating Tax Consequences in Global Compensation 34:40 Key Advice for Executive Compensation Programs
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    39 mins
  • Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 29: Best Practices in Selecting Technology

    Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 29: Best Practices in Selecting Technology
    Apr 9 2026
    Sean and Paul sit down with Phil Strazzulla for an engaging conversation on how HR leaders can make smarter vendor decisions. Together, they break down best practices, strategies, and real-world insights for selecting the right HR software and partners. From building a strong business case to evaluating vendors effectively and fostering better long-term relationships, this episode is packed with practical guidance to help you get more value from your HR technology investments. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Backgrounds 09:04 Best Practices in Vendor Selection 15:30 Measuring ROI in HR 16:57 Understanding Churn and Its Impact 19:10 The Importance of Storytelling in HR 20:41 Overcoming Skepticism in HR 22:05 Building Internal Support for HR Initiatives 23:34 Navigating Vendor Selection in HR Tech 29:25 Evaluating Vendor Pricing and Value 35:34 The Role of Sales in HR Technology Purchases 41:31 Transforming HR to Be More Business-Focused
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    44 mins
  • Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 28: AI in Comp from the Practitioner Lens

    Totally Rewarding Chats | Ep. 28: AI in Comp from the Practitioner Lens
    Apr 2 2026
    Sean and Paul sit down with Josh Lemon to break down how leading organizations design compensation and benefits across markets—while balancing local expectations, compliance, and consistency. From leveraging market data to using technology and employee feedback, this episode covers what it really takes to get total rewards right at scale. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Backgrounds 02:47 Career Paths and Life Experiences 05:44 Personal Preferences and Insights 08:26 AI in Compensation and Total Rewards 11:36 Exploring AI Tools and Applications 14:26 Simulating Real-Life Scenarios with AI 16:23 Engagement in Professional Networks 17:30 Hesitancy in Adopting AI Tools 20:47 Automation and AI in Task Management 28:50 Pitfalls of AI Utilization 32:09 Humanizing AI Communications 38:06 The Future Role of AI in HR
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    45 mins