In this episode of Talkin' Talent, host Sam McCarthy interviews Elizabeth Mashakas, an experienced HR leader, to explore strategies for supporting new hires during the critical "affirm phase," or the transition from job offer to their first day. Elizabeth shares how her team achieved a remarkable 97% offer acceptance rate, emphasizing the importance of trust, transparency and meaningful engagement during the hiring process.

With the beginning of the year marking a peak time for new employees starting roles, this discussion offers actionable insights for HR professionals and leaders looking to set their teams up for success, regardless of company size. Listen for advice on bringing these insights to leadership and impacting your organization's onboarding.

This episode covers:

• The impact of employee attrition and engagement on organizational success
• Strategies for improving the "affirm phase" and onboarding when you have limited resources
• The importance of asking the right questions in interviews
• How cultural differences within organizations shape talent acquisition and HR strategies

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In this episode of Talkin' Talent, host Sam McCarthy interviews Cynthia Daniel, the Diversity and Culture Leader at Cherry Bekaert. They discuss the evolution of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace, particularly since Cynthia joined the Firm in 2021.

Cynthia shares her journey into HR, highlighting the importance of creating inclusive spaces through initiatives like Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and "Green Table Talks." They discuss common misconceptions surrounding DE&I, the integration of DE&I within HR functions and how organizations can navigate changing laws and societal attitudes toward diversity.

This episode covers:

• The broad scope of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Strategies for initiating DE&I programs in smaller organizations
• The importance of creating spaces for fostering inclusivity and open dialogue within an organization
• Navigating DE&I discussion and proposals with leadership
• Common misconceptions about DE&I

In episode seventeen of Talkin’ Talent, Susan Pittman, Managing Director and Leader of Human Capital Advisory at Cherry Bekaert, joins Sam McCarthy to discuss all things human resources (HR). Together, they discuss her fascinating career journey, which includes working as the only female in personnel management at the United States Steel Corporation, and how it led to her managing the Human Capital Advisory practice at Cherry Bekaert.

With over 35 years of experience in human capital strategy and organizational development, Susan shares her insights on creating people-centered strategies that align with business goals. She also discusses her passion for fostering organizational cultures that unite and engage employees while building strong talent pipelines.

Tune in to hear her valuable perspectives and learn more about Cherry Bekaert’s Human Capital Advisory practice. This episode covers:

• Susan’s unique career path
• Key functions of human capital advisory
• How human capital advisory differs from staffing and recruiting
• The differences between transactional and strategic HR
• Career tips on influencing organizational change

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