In this episode, Limor Raz, VP of People Foundations and Experience at HiBob, and Joe Garafalo, General Manager of HiBob’s FP&A product line, dig into one of the biggest barriers to strategic growth: misalignment between HR and Finance. Drawing on their own career journeys, they share what happens when these teams move from working in parallel to planning together. From building shared language to aligning data early, they explore how workforce planning becomes a driver of smarter decisions and stronger business outcomes. They also look ahead to the role AI will play in reshaping how organizations approach headcount planning, cost visibility, and long-term people strategy.

Key takeaways:

00:00 Introduction

03:47 Why HR and Finance often speak different languages

06:34 How perceptions of “HR” and “Finance” create friction across organizations

09:51 Why HR and Finance should operate as customer service partners to the business

12:23 The challenge of aligning KPIs across people and financial systems

16:38 Why workforce planning needs the same rigor as revenue forecasting

19:44 How org design decisions impact both cost structure and employee experience

24:23 Why finance teams need deeper visibility into people lifecycle data

27:21 How early co-design prevents budget surprises and broken trust

33:42 The role of leadership buy-in in making HR–Finance collaboration work

42:21 How AI is forcing a rethink of headcount and financial planning

Resources mentioned:

Limor Raz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/limor-raz-1634b04/

Joe Garafalo

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-garafalo/

HiBob | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hibob/

HiBob | Website

https://hibobl.ink/main_page

Thank you for listening to the People Proud Podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a five-star review and subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode.

The People Proud Podcast is brought to you by HiBob.

#PeopleProud #CorporateCulture #HumanResourceManagement #EmployeeEngagement

Kyle Lagunas, founder and principal analyst at Kyle & Co, explores the real state of AI in HR, the pressures leaders face, and what it takes to build resilient, people-centric organizations in a rapidly shifting landscape. He shares insights on navigating hype cycles, strengthening HR credibility, and choosing AI tools with intention, rather than reacting to market buzz.

Key takeaways:

00:00 Introduction

02:45 AI in HR touches every function, increasing both opportunity and confusion

05:21 AI efforts work best when anchored in clear business problem statements

08:09 Previous tech waves show the value of literacy and practical best practices

10:09 Change resilience and transformation skills become core capabilities for HR teams

13:27 Vendor ethos and credibility matter when selecting AI partners and platforms

18:15 Pilots should measure how AI changes daily work, not just tool metrics

23:57 Cross-functional coalitions help AI initiatives move beyond stalled experiments

28:38 Mapping processes and experiences ensures AI improves HR journeys, not weakens them

Resources mentioned:

Kyle Lagunas

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelagunas/

Kyle & Co | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyle-co

Kyle & Co | Website

http://kyleandco.com

HiBob | Website

https://www.hibob.com/

Human-Centric AI Council

https://kyleandco.com/hcaic/

UNLEASH World

https://www.unleash.ai/unleashworld/

Thank you for listening to the People Proud podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a five-star review and subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode.

The People Proud podcast is brought to you by HiBob.

#PeopleProud #CorporateCulture #HumanResourceManagement

Cara Hunter, principal consultant at livingHR, Inc., joins us to discuss how companies make intentional decisions about when to grow talent from within and when to hire externally. Cara shares practical guidance on mapping skills, understanding future capability needs, and aligning people's decisions with long-term strategy.

She also discusses how organizations can rethink entry-level roles, use AI and globalization as amplifiers for human work, and build transparent, data-informed talent practices that strengthen culture, engagement, and retention.

Key takeaways:

00:00 Introduction

02:19 Balancing internal development with external hiring to support future needs

03:33 Strengthening culture and retention through clear career paths and mobility

07:25 Guiding internal candidates who are not yet ready for advancement

10:57 Applying compensation structures and pay transparency to career decisions

16:08 Reimagining entry-level work as AI and globalization reshape early roles

18:25 Elevating retention strategies as entry-level hiring volumes decrease

23:18 Leveraging people data to influence executive decision-making and talent strategy

27:18 Treating every open role as a strategic opportunity rather than a replacement exercise

Resources mentioned:

Cara Hunter

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carahunter1/

livingHR, Inc. | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/livinghr/

livingHR, Inc. | Website

https://livinghr.com/

HiBob | Website

https://www.hibob.com/hris-bb-uk/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=emea_uki_en_search_conv_bing_brand_gen_on_m_d_bofu_other_exact_phrase_&utm_campaignid=579836525&utm_adgroupid=1275435135537102&utm_adid=&utm_matchtype=e&utm_device=c&utm_term=hibob&utm_content=79714800339642&utm_obj=mql_Conversion&utm_funnel=branding&msclkid=f0932be1489618876c9b42f74b571478

Thank you for listening to the People Proud podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a five-star review and subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode.

The People Proud podcast is brought to you by HiBob.

#PeopleProud #CorporateCulture #HumanResourceManagement #EmployeeEngagement

In this episode, Kenneth Matos, director of market insights at HiBob, explores how organizations can stay ahead of shifting workplace trends, focusing on AI adoption, flexible work models, and employee wellbeing. Using fresh data and behavioral insights, Ken and Tali revisit 2025’s predictions to uncover what hit the mark, what didn’t, and what it all means for HR and business leaders planning the year ahead.

Key takeaways:

00:00 Introduction

03:07 Organizations jumped into AI without a clear strategy

07:35 Distinguishing between AI’s 2025 potential and its 2030 promise

15:39 Reframing AI’s role as a creative collaborator instead of a content creator

19:56 Flexibility remains a stronger retention driver than compensation

30:03 Digital communication norms continue to reshape workplace culture

34:56 Flexibility, control, and clear processes reduce stress across teams

37:01 AI tools simplify access to HR benefits and policy information

43:04 Slowing down to move faster

Resources mentioned:

Kenneth Matos

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkenmatos/

HiBob | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hibob/

HiBob | Website

https://hibobl.ink/main_page

RAND Corporation

https://www.rand.org/

HR Dive

https://www.hrdive.com/

McKinsey & Company

https://www.mckinsey.com/

Thank you for listening to the People Proud Podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a five-star review and subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode.

The People Proud Podcast is brought to you by HiBob.

#PeopleProud #CorporateCulture #HumanResourceManagement #EmployeeEngagement

In this inaugural episode of the People Proud Podcast, Ronni Zehavi, CEO and co-founder of HiBob, shares the company’s journey over the last decade and why its People Proud philosophy is key to business success. Amid global shifts—like generational change, the pandemic, and the rise of AI—Ronni explains why people remain every company’s number one asset and how HiBob is helping organizations thrive in the modern world of work.

Key takeaways:

00:00 Introduction

02:04 Shifts in the world of work and what leaders need to grasp

09:57 Customers view HiBob not only as HR software, but as a driver of cultural change

16:05 Insights into the future of organizations becoming smaller and more agile

19:47 Balancing technology with human connection and collaboration in modern work

27:25 HiBob’s approach to AI adoption through bottom-up engagement

33:22 The impact of innovation and AI on productivity and work models

38:08 Why unifying HR, Finance, and IT into one platform drives long-term success

40:25 Using AI as a creative partner enhances productivity but still requires critical thinking

Resources mentioned:

Ronni Zehavi

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnizehavi/

HiBob | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hibob/

HiBob | Website

https://hibobl.ink/main_page

Thank you for listening to the People Proud Podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a five-star review and subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode.

The People Proud Podcast is brought to you by HiBob.

#PeopleProud #CorporateCulture #HumanResourceManagement #EmployeeEngagement