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What The HR!

What The HR!

Written by: Twin Cities Society for Human Resources Management Podcast - TCSHRM
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About this listen

What the HR! is an award-winning podcast. Presented by TCSHRM and hosted by Becky Lauseng, Jay Olson, and Lena Scullard. The podcast provides insights, strategies, and anecdotes that explore how to build better businesses through modern people practices and approaches. Topics covered include Organizational Development, Employee Engagement, Listening Strategies, Succession Planning, Performance Management, Company Culture, Transformation, Talent, and Leadership.

INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email sponsors@tcshrm.org.

Copyright MMXIX. All Rights Reserved.
Careers Economics Personal Success
Episodes
  • Episode 112: The Habits of Future-Ready Leaders: Talent, AI, and What Actually Matters
    Jan 15 2026

    Rick Rittmaster is a Leadership and Talent Development expert who leads the Leadership Solutions practice at Strategic Talent Partners and is a Co-Founder at Groveland Leadership. With over a decade of experience partnering with CEOs and senior executives, he helps organizations enhance leadership capability and drive sustainable growth.

    Rick is known for his unique ability to make complex leadership strategies attainable and actionable. He designs practical solutions that not only address the root causes of leadership challenges but also resonate across organizations, bringing leadership development to broader audiences.

    He holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology and has spent more than 10 years in Talent Management roles with companies including UnitedHealth, MTS Systems, and Starkey Hearing Technologies. Rick regularly presents at national leadership conferences, webinars, and industry panels, sharing insights on leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and talent strategy.

    Guest:

    Rick Rittmaster | Leadership & Talent Development Expert at Strategic Talent Partners, and Co-Founder at Groveland Leadership | linkedin.com/in/richardrittmaster

    Contact info: o Email: rrittmaster@strategictalentpartners.com

    Hosts:

    Jay Olson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/

    Becky Lauseng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-lauseng/

    INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email sponsors@tcshrm.org.

    Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels.

    Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member

    Attend a TCSHRM Event

    Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.

    © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only.

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Episode 111: Unlocking Human Potential: Neuroscience, Coaching, and AI for Better Leaders
    Dec 3 2025

    Heather Polivka helps leaders create workplaces where people thrive, great talent stays, and businesses grow. Whether clients are responding to a changing talent market, fueling high growth, or navigating accelerated change, Heather guides leaders to cultivate a way of working that fuels their business and empowers their people. She has been doing that for more than two decades at companies of all sizes.

    Her journey includes leadership roles at major brands such as Target—where she spent a decade in product management and development—and the Lenox Group, where she served as Managing Director of Product Marketing, honing her expertise in consumer behavior and brand strategy.

    Guest:

    Heather Polivka | Founder & CEO of Awesome People Leaders | https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherpolivka/

    Contact info: o Email: heatherp@awesomepeopleleaders.com o Schedule Time with me at: https://meetings.hubspot.com/heatherpapl/meetings o LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherpolivka/ o Our website: https://www.awesomepeopleleaders.com/

    Hosts:

    Jay Olson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/

    Becky Lauseng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-lauseng/

    INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email sponsors@tcshrm.org.

    Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels.

    Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member

    Attend a TCSHRM Event

    Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.

    © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only.

    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • Episode 110: Getting a Handle on Handbooks
    Nov 20 2025

    Lena Scullard and Becky Lauseng welcomed employment attorney Kate Bischoff to discuss employee handbooks, which she defined as documents setting expectations and guidance distinct from tactical policy manuals. Kate advised that HR should determine the handbook's tone to match the company culture, use the document to drive cultural change, and review the handbook annually, ideally from back to front and through the perspective of an employee needing guidance.

    Key recommendations included ensuring harassment and essential EEO policies are prominently featured, avoiding broad off-the-clock conduct language, and keeping the handbook concise (less than 35 pages) by removing specific policy details like employment classifications, lengthy discipline policies, and temporary trend topics like returning to the office.

    Guest:

    Kate Bischoff | Employee Attorney & HR Professional | https://www.linkedin.com/in/k8bisch

    Resources:

    Website: http://www.k8bisch.com

    Kate's LinkedIn Learning Session on Employee Handbooks: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/human-resources-creating-an-employee-handbook-26129200

    Email: kate@k8bisch.com

    Hosts:

    Becky Lauseng - https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-lauseng/

    Lena Scullard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenascullard/

    INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP? Please email sponsors@tcshrm.org.

    Twin Cities Society For Human Resources (TCSHRM): Recognized as one of the nation's largest SHRM chapters, TCSHRM is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. With an ongoing calendar of events, our mission is to provide high quality professional development, information exchange, and networking opportunities for the Human Resource professional through multiple channels.

    Join Us! Become a TCSHRM Member

    Attend a TCSHRM Event

    Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy our podcast episodes please consider leaving a review, as it helps us reach more listeners.

    © MMXXIII TCSHRM. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only.

    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
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