Have you ever wondered about the hidden dramas lurking in office emails? In this ‘True Stories at Work’ episode, meet Leah, the former girls’ basketball coach turned legal sensei.
Leah had so many great stories to share, that her stories cover two episodes. Episode one shared her experience working on employment challenges involving everything from bank heists to ‘mouse jigglers?’
This episode explores the wild world of e-discovery, revealing surprising tales of sexual misconduct (and preferences), tasteless pranks, and the complexities of addressing political tensions at work. This show covers the gamut of taboo dinner topics, which reinforces the importance of creating a culture of respect and professionalism at work.
In this episode of True Stories at Work, host Michelle Aronson introduces Leah, a management-side attorney with great insights and stories about the human side of work.
Leah takes us through her journey from dreaming of being the boss to finding her path into employment law. We explore the imperfections of humans at every level of the workplace, including two executives caught in an intimate embrace after hours on a conference room table.
We discuss some legal challenges of remote work (mouse jigglers, anyone?) and the evolving impact of AI on HR practices, while emphasizing the importance of keeping human connection at the heart of performance management.
Don’t miss the workplace confession about a stairwell romance, brought to life by an AI voice. And stay tuned for the next episode where we discuss the off-limit dinner party trifecta of: sex, tech, and politics!
Leah Stiegler is a principal and management-side employment lawyer at the Virginia-based law firm Woods Rogers. She stars in her own YouTube series, What’s the Tea in L&E, where she and a colleague tackle – with good humor and straightforward advice – topics that HR leaders really need to navigate.
What is your favorite piece of leadership advice? Strive for servant leadership. A manager who is willing to put on flame-resistant overalls on the manufacturing floor is going to be one with fewer complaints against him.
A few favorite HR resources: Bloomberg Law helps me in my practice, local SHRM chapters are always incredible for networking.
Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me
Have you ever wondered about how your people and culture influence your business financials? In this True Stories at Work episode you get to meet Jolene who began in Financial Forensics on wall street to turning around companies through HR… using culture as her gateway drug into shaping companies for the better. You’ll hear how moving 33 times during the grades K-12 impacted her ability to connect quickly and build trust. Jolene shares her union negotiation tactics, call to action for leaders to be authentic, and how to solve HR problems by looking at them from a different angle. You will also learn how she used those connection skills during her union negotiations. We discuss the challenge of entitlement, catty behavior at work and how incredible it can be when you don’t do things the way you’ve always done them.
And don’t miss the workplace confession, read in an AI voice, to hear some of the more subtle ways that culture drives financials by reducing theft or sabotage at work.
In this episode of True Stories at Work, host Michelle Aronson sits down with Stella, an HR executive, who shares her journey from sales to Human Resources during the 2009 housing crisis. Stella opens up about the art of building a strong company culture, highlights the core values driving her employees, and reflects on her career journey across three different industries. Don’t miss the workplace confession to find out what happens when three people try to hide in the same closet—for very different reasons!
Stella’s favorite resources? Other HR professionals. Building a network of experts as a sounding board is essential—especially if they’re smarter than you! And don’t forget to offer support in return. Stella’s best friend, a labor & employment attorney, is a prime example of how handy these connections can be. Nurture your network so you’re always one connection away from the answer or advice you need.
Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me
In this episode of ‘True Stories at Work,’ Michelle Aronson interviews Keri-Lynne (KL), a seasoned HR professional who transitioned from sales and marketing to human resources by accident. KL shares her unique journey from selling cars to becoming a Chief People Officer, highlighting the importance of career ownership, empathy in leadership, and navigating challenges during the pandemic. She also discusses her experiences with global HR projects and the critical role of culture in organizations. The episode concludes with KL’s perspectives on career growth, a listener’s workplace confession, and advice for taking charge of one’s career.
Accidentally HR: From Car Sales to the C-Suite: Keri-Lynne
00:00 Introduction
02:39 About KL
12:34 Stories at Work
30:59 Workplace Confessions
34:16 Haiku for KL
Haiku
KL’s a baller.
Wants you hustling for big dreams,
you’re the shot caller.
Resources
Curious about career development + having essential conversations at work, here are some links to get started:
About our guest: Keri-Lynne Shaw is a Fractional Chief People Officer who started in the trenches and learning the hard way, KL has mastered the nuances of compensation dynamics and is dedicated to empowering people to recognize their market and negotiate with intent.
Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me
This episode of ‘True Stories at Work’ hosted by Michelle Aronson features a conversation with Travis, an experienced HR professional and Talent Acquisition leader. Travis shares his journey from aspiring to be in a rockstar to falling into Human Resources. Travis discusses the challenges, surprises, and emotional moments he has faced in his career. He reflects on a powerful moment with an executive coach that changed his outlook on leadership and his life. We discuss the importance of HR in business strategy, the value of coaching, and the need for companies to be transparent and aligned in their values and actions.
0:00 Rockstar to Recruiter: Living on the Talent Acquisition Treadmill: Travis
00:01 Introduction
02:05 Travis’ Story
11:36 Stories at Work
28:41 Workplace Confession
33:11 Haiku for Travis
Resources
Curious about the benefits of coaching + how to set yourself up for success in college and life, here are some links to get started:
Did you ever think it would be easy to work in England, because you already speak the language? Well tune into this episode of ‘True Stories at Work’ to meet Dina, an executive coach and former HR professional, shares her experiences working in human resources across different cultures and the unique challenges that come with it. She shares challenges with the English language and culture while working in the UK, New York City and Texas. You’ll learn why she quit a job to save herself from a bad boss. And how she stays adaptable, resilient, and trusts herself to always move toward a better version of herself. We wrap it up with a workplace confession involving a playful prank in the parking lot involving a squirty wiper washer and a boss.
0:00 HR and Culture Shock, From the US to the UK: Dina
02:21 Dina’s Story
06:54 Stories at Work
30:15 Workplace Confession
33:24 Haiku for Dina
Resources
Curious about Culture Shock + How Damaging a Bad Boss is at work? Here are some links to get started:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live with your coworkers on the ocean for 8-months each year? In this True Stories at Work episode you get to meet Lauren. Who wanted to be a pirate, astronaut and is now an HR leader on a cruise ship.
Michelle Aronson hosts Lauren, who aspired to be an astronaut, however ended up in HR after a health issue crashed her aerospace engineering dreams. Lauren talks about her practices in addressing HR issues and the unique challenges she faces living and working on a cruise ship, including dealing with staff from 30-40 different nationalities, overseeing personal issues that become HR matters, and handling romantic relationships on board. HR is personal, as Lauren recounts a heart-wrenching incident of an immigration scam involving one of her potential hires. The episode wraps up as Lauren shares how she changed her approach to HR after laying off an entire hotel staff at the beginning of the pandemic… and how she makes HR personal and connected to improve her workplace.
00:00 Introduction
02:09 Lauren’s Story
07:19 True Stories at Work
36:25 Workplace Confession
40:05 Haiku for Lauren
Resources
Curious about cross-culture challenges + how to connect more deeply with colleagues at work, here are some links to get started:
How does an HR professional build a connected, inclusive, and tech-forward culture? Find out in our latest podcast episode with Karen, who considers herself an accidental tourist in HR! #HRLeadership #InclusiveWorkplace #Podcast
In this episode, Karen shares her experience crafting a culture to support high-growth companies. She discusses the importance of creating an inclusive culture and how to align the executive team and care for the HR team. We discuss how to keep culture (and humans) in focus as you implement technology for your HR practices. Karen shares that “employees want to know that tomorrow will be better than today and that they have a say in it.”
00:00 Introduction
01:55 Karen’s Story
05:45 Stories at Work
32:02 Workplace Confession
37:29 Haiku for Karen
Resources
Curious about culture and tech at work, here are some links to get started:
This True Stories at Work episode begins where my last podcast episode dropped off, with Lauren on the brink of her first leadership role and her first sexual harassment investigation (at the same time!).
Lauren shares a few of the ‘insane moments’ she has experienced during her career and how reveals how these experiences have shaped her into a better HR professional.
We discuss the many challenges that HR faces, the shifting expectations of employers, and how HR is often the junk drawer for everyone else’s people problems.
The episode wraps up with a workplace confession (and debate) from a former colleague of Michelle’s that increased his empathy toward Michelle and pets left in cars.
Timeline
00:00 Introduction
01:40 Lauren’s Journey to HR Leadership
02:31 Lauren’s First Sexual Harassment Investigation
03:33 The Aftermath of the Investigation
05:49 Lauren’s Reflections on Her HR Career
06:11 Lauren’s Most Insane HR Moment
15:43 Lauren’s Workplace Pet Peeve
18:31 The Changing Landscape of HR in a Post-COVID World
22:41 Workplace Confession
29:44 Thanks for Listening
Resources
Curious about the topics discussed on the show, here are some links to learn more:</p>
HR leaders have difficult conversations, around an incredible range of topics “It would just be easier to say, we don’t want you around than to say, hey, I need you to wear a bra to work.”
Welcome to True Stories at Work, where we discuss the best things about working in Human Resources. The people, the stories, and the things that happen at work that we didn’t know even about… workplace confessions!
I’m a recovering HR executive, certified coach, and business school professor who knows that THE BEST stories happen at work, from heartbreaking to heartwarming, from hilarious to outrageous.
In a past role, I was a member of a magical HR executive committee, pulled together by a Group Purchasing Organization to represent a variety of members from each region of the country.… and I loved going to the meetings to connect with them, learn what they were doing, and hear their great stories! Today, you get to meet Michael, who was a member of that executive committee.
You will get to hear his journey into and out of HR. As an attorney, he shares “The importance of ripping off the Band-Aid and having difficult conversations, even when they are uncomfortable” and even when they don’t go as planned. “It’s actually hard to do the things when you’re in the moment and experiencing it as a human as well”
He shares a story that demonstrates the impact that subtle, non-verbal behaviors can have on feelings and perceptions “even if I’m not saying it, or even if it’s not intentional, simply the, the chair I pick is sending a message.”
The approach he took to teaching people how to treat his HR team, and how he reinforced “that HR is not just a punching bag”.
Micheal shares a great practice to keep your leadership team connected to the people in your company who are impacted by your decisions “It’s easy to start thinking about people as simply numbers or FTEs as opposed to remembering that real people are losing their jobs, and those are having real impacts on their life.”
At the end, you get to hear a workplace confession, something that happened at work that never made it through the doors of HR. This one is about me… a director sharing a story about me that he wanted to confess on my behalf, how generous!
Curious about how to improve your skills with difficult conversations?
