HR & Payroll 2.0

Hosted by WRKdefined Podcast Network

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173

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Join Pete A. Tiliakos and Julie Fernandez as they combine their unique HR and payroll industry knowledge, experience, and POV’s for highly authentic conversations that unpack the key trends, challenges, and opportunities facing HR and Payroll leaders today! Powered ad-free by G-P, OneSource Virtual, and Zoho.

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October 20, 202636 min

The Talent Hiding in Plain Sight with Special Guest Erica McMannes

On this episode of HR & Payroll 2.0, Pete sits down with Erica McMannes, Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer at Instant Teams, to explore the realities of military spouse employment and why the challenge extends far beyond unemployment. Together, they discuss career portability, underemployment, skills-based hiring, remote work, and the hidden obstacles that prevent employers from accessing this extraordinary talent pool. Military spouses represent one of the most capable yet overlooked talent communities in today’s workforce. Despite bringing resilience, adaptability, leadership, and problem-solving skills shaped by years of navigating military life, too many still face barriers created by traditional hiring models that were never designed for mobility, career continuity, or distributed work. Drawing from her own experience as a military spouse and entrepreneur, Erica shares how organizations can rethink hiring, job design, and workforce strategy to unlock talent hiding in plain sight. The conversation offers an important reminder that the military spouse employment challenge is not a talent problem. It is a work design problem. Connect with Erica & Instant Teams: https://instantteams.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericamcmannes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/instant-teams/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

October 13, 202635 min

HR Tech & Fintech Marketplace Health Check with Bryan Bergin & Jared Levine of TD Cowen

On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome show alumni, Bryan Bergin and Jared Levine, equity research analysts with TD Cowen, for an annual check-in and Wall Street view into where HR tech and fintech are heading. This conversation goes beyond market performance for a timely look at how the lines between work, money, payroll, payments, benefits, compliance, and employee experience continue to blur. The group highlights the growing convergence of HR tech and fintech, where payroll is increasingly becoming a distribution rail for financial services, and employers are becoming a powerful channel for wallets, earned wage access, banking, stablecoins, cross-border payments, and broader financial wellness. They unpack what is really happening beneath the AI noise, from valuation pressure and consolidation to managed services, compliance complexity, embedded finance, stablecoins, and the growing importance of real adoption over market hype. Plus, why point solutions may face a tougher road ahead, why platform strategies are gaining strength, and how the next wave of innovation will be judged less by promise and more by proof. Pete's blog series on Fintech & HR Tech's convergence: https://hrexecutive.com/the-employee-consumer-experience-is-a-golden-opportunity-for-fintech-and-hr/ Connect with Bryan & Jared: TD Cowen research: www.tdsecurities.com/ca/en/themes-2025  Bryan Bergin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-bergin-cfa-cpa-456b3aa/ Jaren Levine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-levine-cfa-cpa-08524346/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

October 6, 202648 min

From Shadow AI to Strategic HR with Special Guest Mark Bradley

In this episode, Pete and Julie reconnect with longtime friend and former colleague Mark Bradley, Partner/Principal with EY People Consulting and a global HR transformation leader, for a practical look at what it will take to reinvent HR for the AI-powered future.  Following his completion of the U.C. Berkeley Transformative CHRO Leadership Program, Mark shares three lessons that reshaped his thinking: the extraordinary potential of AI to amplify HR’s impact, the often-unseen loneliness of the CHRO role, and the power of treating organizational change like a disciplined scientific experiment. Mark argues that AI transformation cannot be left to technology teams alone. Redesigning work means rethinking jobs, skills, rewards, operating models, and the employee experience and putting HR directly at the tip of the spear. The group explores how HR can lead enterprise AI adoption while managing shadow AI, building stronger governance, and keeping people at the center of transformation. They also unpack the future of HR business partners, the opportunity to modernize the frontline workforce, and why leaders must separate strategically valuable work from operational tasks that can be simplified, automated, or eliminated. Plus, Mark explains why HR leaders should look in the mirror before buying another technology platform, why AI is “overhyped in the moment and underhyped for the long term,” and how the C-suite itself may evolve. Connect with Mark:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdbradley/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

September 29, 202657 min

The Direct Primary Care Revolution with Special Guest Dan Thompson

Pete and Julie welcome Dan Thompson, Chief Benefits Officer at Vensure Employer Solutions and longtime advocate for direct primary care (DPC), for a candid conversation on why the way Americans access and pay for healthcare is overdue for reinvention. Dan traces how fee-for-service medicine, rising deductibles, fragmented benefit design, and misaligned incentives across insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, hospitals, and brokers have made primary care harder to access, all while employers and employees spend more each year.  Dan explains how DPC (Direct Primary Care) restores the doctor-patient relationship through a membership-based model designed around greater access, more personalized care, predictable costs, and fewer insurance barriers. The group explores where DPC fits within an employer-sponsored benefits strategy, how it differs from concierge medicine, and why it should complement rather than replace major medical coverage. They also dig into self-funding, care navigation, provider quality, employer incentives, scaling DPC across varied workforces, and the role HR and finance leaders can play in moving from passive benefits purchasing to active healthcare stewardship. Plus, what recent federal policy changes could mean for DPC, HSAs, and FSAs. How employers can begin evaluating options ahead of open enrollment, and why education, thoughtful regulation, and better advisor incentives will be critical to expanding access without recreating the complexity DPC was designed to remove. Connect with Dan:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/danthompsonbenefits/ https://thompsonrisk.com/ https://vensure.com/  Links mentioned in the episode: DPC Frontier: https://www.dpcfrontier.com/ *The annual Payroll Profession Confidence Index (PPCI) survey is open now through September 30, 2026. Payroll professionals and stakeholders interested in participating in the research can complete the survey at: https://www.payrollinfluences.com/ppci-2026.  Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

September 22, 202651 min

The Rise of Direct Primary Care with Special Guest Dr. Micheal Bianco

On this episode, Pete and Julie sit down with Dr. Michael Bianco, founder of Bianco Primary Care, to explore one of the fastest-growing trends in employer healthcare: Direct Primary Care. As healthcare costs continue to climb and employees struggle to access timely, personalized care, a new model is emerging that promises longer appointments, stronger physician relationships, and a more proactive approach to wellness. Pete shares his own experience as a patient while Dr. Bianco explains how Direct Primary Care differs from traditional insurance-based medicine and why more physicians and patients are embracing the model. Together, they examine the pressures facing today’s healthcare system, the rise of membership-based care, and what employers should consider as they evaluate new strategies to improve access, engagement, and employee outcomes. The conversation also tackles some of the toughest questions surrounding Direct Primary Care, including affordability, scalability, misconceptions about concierge medicine, and whether this approach could become a more effective front door into the healthcare system. Connect with Dr. Bianco & his practice Bianco Primary Care : https://biancoprimarycare.com/  https://biancoprimarycare.com/michael-bianco-biohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bianco-do-54133346/ Find a DPC: https://mapper.dpcfrontier.com/ *The annual Payroll Profession Confidence Index (PPCI) survey is open now through September 30, 2026. Payroll professionals and stakeholders interested in participating in the research can complete the survey at: https://www.payrollinfluences.com/ppci-2026.  Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

September 15, 202646 min

From Workforce Management to Workforce Transformation with Special Guest Tom Sterling

On this episode of HR & Payroll 2.0, Pete and Julie welcome Tom Sterling, VP of Enterprise People Solutions Operations at Cox Automotive, for a wide-ranging conversation on workforce transformation, AI, and the future of HR operations.  Tom shares lessons learned from leading a multi-year workforce management and scheduling transformation impacting nearly 18,000 frontline employees, unpacking the realities of governance, stakeholder alignment, data strategy, and why successful change initiatives depend as much on culture and partnerships as they do technology. The discussion turns to artificial intelligence (AI) and Tom’s belief that the greatest opportunities lie not in AI alone, but in the combination of artificial intelligence and human intelligence. Together, the trio explores why HR must move from the sidelines to the center of enterprise AI strategy, how organizations should rethink operating models, and why speed without control can create as many problems as it solves. Connect with Tom:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomlsterling/ SSON blogs by Tom:  https://www.ssonetwork.com/intelligent-automation/articles/ai-hi-equation-shared-services *The annual Payroll Profession Confidence Index (PPCI) survey is open now through September 30, 2026. Payroll professionals and stakeholders interested in participating in the research can complete the survey at: https://www.payrollinfluences.com/ppci-2026.  Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

September 8, 202634 min

Payroll as Financial & Compliance Infrastructure with Special Guest Shala Druin

In this episode, Pete and Julie welcome payroll expert and fractional payroll director, Shala Druin, Founder of Strategic Payroll Solutions, for a candid conversation on why payroll remains one of the most misunderstood and consequential functions in any business. The conversation explores how payroll leaders can better quantify risk, build stronger business cases, secure earlier involvement in strategic decisions, and shift the function from reactive processing to proactive business enablement. Plus advice for moving payroll forward in your organization and stepping out of your comfort zone and influencing for impact.  Shala also shares her perspective on AI readiness and potential, the importance of experimentation and governance, and why the next era of payroll will require stronger business and strategic alignment, better cross-functional integration, and a more impactful voice for the critical function. Connect with Shala & Strategic Payroll Solutions: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shala-druin-313807189/ https://strategicpayrollsolutions.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-payroll-solutions/posts/?feedView=all  https://substack.com/@strategicpayrollsolutions  *The annual Payroll Profession Confidence Index (PPCI) survey is open now through September 30, 2026. Payroll professionals and stakeholders interested in participating in the research can complete the survey at: https://www.payrollinfluences.com/ppci-2026 Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

September 1, 202652 min

HR’s New Risk Reality with Special Guest Andrew ‘AG’ Gadomski

In this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Andrew ‘AG’ Gadomski, Managing Director at Aspen Analytics and host of ‘Reciprocity with AG’, for a candid conversation on AI governance, cybersecurity, compliance, and the future of work. Andrew shares why HR is becoming an increasingly important attack surface, how fake applicants and social engineering are changing recruiting risk, and why HR leaders need to build much stronger partnerships with cybersecurity, legal, and technology teams. The conversation also explores the need for better workforce planning, clearer job architecture, stronger vendor scrutiny, and a more practical understanding of how AI will impact both work and workers. Andrew highlights why the future of work is not just about adopting AI, but rather governing it, securing it, and making sure innovation strengthens the workforce instead of exposing it. Connect with AG: Podcast: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/reciprocity-with-ag Aspen Analytics: https://www.aspenanalytics.io/about-3/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewgadomski/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

August 25, 202635 min

Inside the Modern HCM Buying Journey with Special Guest Meredith Reilly

In this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Meredith Reilly, Chief Sales Officer at isolved, for a candid conversation on what is really happening in the HCM and payroll buying market. The conversation explores why HR tech is often “sold” more than it is bought, why decision cycles are getting longer, and how buyers are navigating fatigue from overpromised technology, inconsistent service, and increasingly complex internal stakeholders. From board involvement and IT scrutiny to broker influence, AI expectations, managed services, and the growing importance of customer experience, this discussion unpacks the new realities shaping HR and payroll technology decisions. Meredith also shares why service, trust, proof points, and clear buying processes matter more than ever, especially as organizations look to AI not simply for efficiency, but for better data, stronger decisions, and a more strategic HR function. Meredith offers a practical look at the future of HCM buying and what it will take for vendors, advisors, and buyers to move beyond noise, make better decisions, and build more resilient people operations. Connect with Meredith:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-reilly-33750246/  www.isolvedhcm.com  isolved’s ‘Advisory Services Research’ report: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/resources/whitepapers/advisory-services-research  Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

August 18, 202640 min

Turning Payroll Complexity into Enterprise Agility with Special Guest Barb Vetula

In this episode, Pete and Julie catch up with Barbara Vetula, Director of Business Services for Payroll and HR Support at Bridgestone, for a practitioner-led conversation on what it really takes to modernize payroll, workforce management, and HR service delivery at enterprise scale. The conversation explores Bridgestone’s approach to workforce management standardization, payroll modernization, data governance, AI experimentation, union complexity, and the growing need for payroll teams to build new skills around technology, process improvement, and business partnership. Pete, Julie, and Barbara also dig into the realities of best-of-breed architecture, why “one platform for everything” is not always the right answer, and how enterprise leaders can evaluate technology based on business complexity, agility, and long-term sustainability. From piloting AI in service delivery to preparing teams for a future where bots, data, and human expertise work together, this episode offers a practical look at the next chapter of payroll and HR transformation. The conversation is a reminder that transformation is not just about systems. It is about building the right operating model, the right skills, and the right mindset to keep pace with a changing workforce.  Connect with Barb:  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbvetula/  *The annual Payroll Profession Confidence Index (PPCI) survey is open now through September 30, 2026. Payroll professionals and stakeholders interested in participating in the research can complete the survey at: https://www.payrollinfluences.com/ppci-2026.  Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/