HR is one of the most visible functions at work and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, Gina and Turiya are joined by Kim Zubrickas, Chief Human Resources Officer at Carl Buddig & Company, to explore how employees, leaders, and even other HR professionals perceive the function differently. We unpack why HR is often seen as enforcers or policy police, why leaders underutilize HR strategically, and where the profession sometimes holds itself back. Most importantly, we talk about how to close the gap and build more trust, clarity, and impact. Listen in for a candid conversation about the future of HR and the role we all play in shaping it.

The countdown to our 100th episode is officially on! Follow HR unConfidential for updates about our in-person celebration coming in August 2026.


Be sure to leave us a review and rating wherever you listen to your podcasts. Also, connect with us via our LinkedIn group or email at info@hrunconfidential.com.

Introverts make up a huge part of the workforce — yet most workplaces are still designed for extroverts. In this episode, we're joined by Jeri Bingham, founder of HushLoudly: Introverts Redefined, to unpack what introversion really is (and isn't), the extra labor introverts often carry at work, and how leaders and HR teams can create environments where both introverts and extroverts thrive. We also explore the intersection of introversion, identity, and equity — and why quiet power is anything but quiet.

Listen to Jeri's podcast - Hush Loudly

Follow Jeri on LinkedIn

Be sure to leave us a review and rating wherever you listen to your podcasts. Also, connect with us via our LinkedIn group or email at info@hrunconfidential.com.

In the last episode of 2025, Gina & Turiya reflect on 2025 and share what's on the horizon for HR unConfidential in 2026.

Spoiler alert: we'll hit the amazing milestone of our 100th episode in August 2026 and are planning an in-person celebration in the Chicago area.

Please let us know your episode ideas for 2026. We'd also love to know if you'd be excited to attend and hang out with us at a 100th episode celebration next year.

Check out Gina's business website: HR Imprints

Check out Turiya's recent article about our upcoming 100th episode.

Be sure to leave us a review and rating wherever you listen to your podcasts. Also, connect with us via our LinkedIn group or email at info@hrunconfidential.com.

In this very special episode of HR unConfidential, Gina and Turiya sit down in person at a studio in Chicago for an intimate conversation about their recent career trajectory. This informative, sometimes humorous and sometimes rather vulnerable chat offers an insight into what happens when seasoned HR professionals find themselves Open to Work for longer than expected, and how they have been best managing their time in the interim. You won't want to miss this special episode of our podcast. Thank you to all of our listeners.

Please share with us!
Facebook - @HRunConfidential
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12099710/
Email - info@hrunconfidential.com

Facts & figures inform but stories inspire. In this episode, we chat with Jill Pollack, Chief Story Wrangler and founder of StoryStudio Chicago Words for Work, about why storytelling might be HR's most powerful and untapped skill. If you've ever struggled to get others to really understand your message or wondered why your beautifully written HR strategy deck just didn't land, this one's for you.

StoryStudio Chicago Word for Work

Click here to check out the classes Jill referenced in the episode

Be sure to leave us a review and rating wherever you listen to your podcasts. Also, connect with us via our LinkedIn group or email at info@hrunconfidential.com.

In this follow-up to our Private Equity 101 episode, we're joined by Sarah Purlee, Head of HR at S&S Truck Parts, to explore what it's really like to lead HR inside a PE-backed company. We dig into how HR creates value in private equity, what makes the environment unique, and what HR pros should know if they're working in — or curious about — the PE space.

Be sure to leave us a review and rating wherever you listen to your podcasts. Also, connect with us via our LinkedIn group or email at info@hrunconfidential.com.

AI is moving fast and we can't afford to sit on the sidelines, especially in HR. In this episode, we're joined by Malvika Jethmalani, founder of Women Shaping AI, for a real talk on the ethical use of AI, how HR can be front & center of the integration of AI into the workplace, and what it means for jobs, skills, and the human side of work. We also discuss the urgency of ensuring women don't continue to be left behind in the AI revolution.

Atvis Group (Malvika's Human Capital Consulting firm)

Women Shaping AI

Book recommendation: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

Be sure to leave us a review and rating wherever you listen to your podcasts. Also, connect with us via our LinkedIn group or email at info@hrunconfidential.com.

HR can be a lonely job — but it doesn't have to be. In this episode, we're joined by Tim Schumm and Amy Dordek Dolinsky, co-founders of The People Collective (TPC), a growing community for senior HR professionals. We talk about the importance of connection in the HR world, what it takes to build and sustain a meaningful community, and how spaces like TPC are helping leaders learn, grow, and support one another. Whether you're looking to join a community or build one yourself, this episode is full of insights and inspiration.

Be sure to leave us a review and rating wherever you listen to your podcasts. Also, connect with us via our LinkedIn group or email at info@hrunconfidential.com.