In this episode of DriveThruHR, Michael VanDervort and Robin Schooling engage with Caitlin MacGregor, CEO and co-founder of Plum, to discuss the importance of durable skills in the hiring process and organizational culture. Caitlin explains how durable skills, such as innovation and communication, are more predictive of job success than traditional skills. The conversation also covers the need for organizations to align their culture with strategy, the significance of cultural dexterity, and how companies can future-proof themselves in a rapidly changing world, particularly with the rise of AI. Caitlin MacGregor, CEO and Co-founder of Plum, is passionate about helping people reach their true potential. That’s why, after building two businesses for other people, she founded Plum – to help organizations fully leverage the human potential within their workforces. With Plum, business leaders gain access to vital talent data that aligns employees with roles where they’ll flourish, setting the stage for the entire business to thrive.   She is a regular speaker at global events, including CES, the HR Executive HR Tech Conference & Exposition, the Americas’ SAP Users’ Group (ASUG) Women Connect, the HRCI Higher Standards Summit, and more. She is also a sought-after guest on podcasts, including Recruiting Daily, The Recruitment Flex Podcast, and 3Sixty Insights. In addition, she has been quoted in The New York Times, The Financial Post, The Globe and Mail, The Record, Global News, Human Resource Executive, and Benefits Pro. Caitlin was selected for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning WomenTM and the Worthy 100. She is also a Bronze Stevie® Award winner for Best Female Entrepreneur in Canada and a Gold GLOBEE® Women World Awards winner for Achievement in Innovation. She was named an Inspiring Leader by InspiringTM Workplaces. Takeaways Durable skills are critical for long-term career success. Organizations should focus on behavioral fit over traditional experience. Cultural alignment is essential for effective strategy implementation. Measuring company culture can reveal gaps and areas for improvement. AI is changing the nature of job skills and hiring processes. Companies should prioritize employee development based on durable skills. High-volume hiring can benefit from assessing candidates' durable skills. Resumes should not be the primary tool for candidate evaluation. Change management requires understanding employee experiences and needs. Organizations must embrace innovative technologies to stay competitive. Michael VanDervort Robin Schooling Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Drive Thru HR 01:21 Caitlin McGregor and Plum Overview 03:19 Understanding Durable Skills 10:31 Case Study: High Volume Hiring Success 15:36 Aligning Culture with Business Strategy 20:48 Cultural Dexterity and Change Management 24:06 Future-Proofing Organizations in a Changing World

In this episode of DriveThruHR, Michael VanDervort and Robin Schooling engage with Rebecca Trotsky, Chief People Officer at HR Acuity, discussing the evolution of employee relations, the importance of talent development, and the role of technology in HR. They explore the significance of communities like empowER in improving HR practices, the necessity of continuous learning, how HR tech has changed employee relations, and the adaptability of HR professionals across various industries. The conversation ends with a fun speed round of HR-related questions, emphasizing the human aspect of HR and the employee experience. Takeaways Employee relations have evolved into a proactive partner in the employee experience. Developing talent requires more than just sending employees to training classes. Experience is the best teacher in talent development. Standardizing employee relations metrics is essential for measuring success. The Empower community provides a supportive network for HR professionals. Continuous learning is crucial for HR practitioners to stay effective. HR skills are transferable across different industries. Building relationships is key to effective leadership in HR. Daily interactions with management shape the employee experience. Community engagement helps alleviate the loneliness often felt in HR roles. Sound Bites "Experience itself is the teacher." "You learn by doing in HR." "We all need ongoing training to stay fresh."

In this episode of DriveThruHR, Michael turns the mic on his longtime co-host, Robin Schooling, about her brand-new book, Real HR: What It Is, What It Can Be, and How to Get There. What unfolds is part interview, part therapy session, and part HR real-talk manifesto. Robin shares the behind-the-scenes journey of writing a book that doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of the HR trenches. From the lonely moments to the WTF ones, Real HR is about cutting through the corporate noise and saying the quiet parts out loud. Michael and Robin talk about why empathy matters (like, actually matters), how storytelling makes us better HR humans, and why HR pros must stop waiting for permission to lead with their values. Oh, and they also talk about burnout. (Because, duh, it’s HR.) TL;DL (Too Long; Didn’t Listen) Takeaways: Real HR is messy, human, and long overdue. Writing a book is like doing HR: it’s hard, personal, and not for the faint of heart. Storytelling isn’t fluff - it’s how people learn and connect. Tech is a tool, not a substitute for empathy. Burnout is rampant; community and reflection are survival gear. Robin’s not done writing. Stay tuned. Grab your coffee, your sense of humor, and maybe a stress ball - this one’s for anyone who’s ever been “voluntold” to fix the unfixable

Labor Relatedly: The First 100 Days—What Just Happened?Jon Hyman and Michael VanDervort are back with another episode of Labor Relatedly, and this time, they’re tackling the whirlwind of labor and employment changes in the first 100 days of the Trump administration. DEI? Shifting priorities. EEOC? New leadership, new direction. NLRB? Buckle up. Jon and Michael break down what’s happening, what’s coming next, and what it all means for employers trying to keep up. No fluff, no sugarcoating - just straight talk on the evolving world of labor policy.

Phil Wilson joins Robin for a conversation on leadership, culture, and what it really takes to create high-performing teams. We’re talking about The Leader Shift Playbook, the hard lessons he learned running LRI Consulting, and why the right mindset shifts can make or break a workplace. Connect with Phil on LinkedIn or check out The Leader Shift Playbook at yourleadershift.com.

In this episode of Drive Thru HR, hosts Robin Schooling and Michael VanDervort welcome Mark Fogel, who describes himself as the last HR Jedi. We explore the challenges and opportunities for late career professionals in HR and discuss the importance of continuous learning, networking, and adapting to the changing workplace landscape. Mark shares insights on how to navigate ageism, the gig economy, and the need for agility in organizations as he encourages listeners to define their value proposition and leverage their networks to find new opportunities. Mark is a Director and national practice consultant for Clifton Larson Allen’s Talent Management consulting practice and a former CHRO for Leviton, Marcum, and Success Academy Charter Schools. He is a Senior Adjunct Professor of distinction at Adelphi University’s Business School leading HR classes for MBA and Undergrad students in Staffing, Selection, Compensation and Global disciplines. You can catch Mark leading a session at SHRM Talent (Nashville, March 24 – 26, 2025) or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Today, February 1st, marks the anniversary of our very first show with an air date of February 1, 2010 and we take a few moments to mark the occasion. Michael and Robin also discuss the first 12 days of the Trump Administration (part deaux) including the assault on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as the massive changes afoot at the NLRB and the EEOC - and we're not even in week 2 yet!  So what's in store for HR over the next several months....and the next 4 years? They also chat about the need to move from DTHR's original home/platform (after 1,165 episodes and close to 1 million downloads on that platform alone) and look ahead to season 16 here at the Drive Thru! 

On February 1, 2025, Drive Thru HR will be celebrating the anniversary of our very first show - aptly titled "Everything HR."  (It's also quite likely that not a single soul would have predicted we would still be here 15 years later) After 1,665 episodes and well over a million listens/downloads (across all platforms), we have migrated from Blog Talk Radio to our new home base.