Hey there Impact Maker! What if the disruption your organization needs… is you? As I prepare to debut my new 2025 keynote — HR as Chief Disruption Officer: How HR Leaders Can Drive Transformation and Shape the Future of Work — at the SHRM Annual Conference later this month, I’ve been talking with many smart, capable leaders about the challenges and opportunities that they're facing in their organizations. They're people who care deeply about their teams, their work, and the future. And I’m...
5 months ago • 4 min read
Hey there Impact Maker! As the Chief Excitement Officer of DisruptHR, disruption is always top of mind for me. The world — and the world of work — is in a constant state of change. Sometimes that brings innovation, momentum, and fresh ideas. Other times, it just feels like one curveball after another. So what do we do when uncertainty becomes the norm and predicting what’s next feels impossible? I believe it’s time for leaders — especially those who work in HR — to double down on leading...
5 months ago • 4 min read
Hey there Impact Maker! AI is everywhere — in our inboxes, comment sections, and even the “personalized” messages that somehow think I’m dying to start a franchise or need to generate thousands of leads for my business. And while I can spot a bot-written blurb a mile away, I’ll admit it: I use AI too. 😮 In fact, I use it every day to help shape my thoughts, sharpen my writing, and bring more clarity to my voice. (BTW, I'll die on the hill that I've been using em dashes long before AI thought...
5 months ago • 4 min read
Hey there Impact Maker! If you’re new here, I’m so glad you’ve joined us. And if you’ve been part of this community for a while, thank you for coming back each week! When I restarted this newsletter last month, I did it with one goal in mind: to create something human in a world where so much of what we see online feels increasingly automated. I wanted to share a quick weekly resource you could actually use, something that might make you think, spark an idea, or just offer a fun moment at the...
6 months ago • 4 min read
Hey there Impact Maker! Last week, I hit the road for a quick trip up to Columbus, Ohio to attend DisruptHR Columbus 4.0 — my second DisruptHR event of the year. And while we host an event annually in my hometown of Cincinnati, I love visiting other cities when I’m invited to speak, emcee, or just feel the pull of a good road trip, or the desire to connect with like-minded people. Over the last 11+ years, I’ve given more than 20 DisruptHR Talks (never the same one twice!) and attended events...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Hey there Impact Maker! Can you believe we’re already a third of the way through 2025? 😮As we head into a new month, I’m deep in prep mode for the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego (June 29–July 2) — where I’ll be debuting my brand-new keynote in a mega session... HR as Chief Disruption Officer: How HR Leaders Can Drive Transformation and Shape the Future of Work. I’m especially excited about this one because it’s not only a new keynote — it’s the foundation for the book I’m finally writing...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Hey there, Impact Maker! If you’re new here — welcome! And if you’ve been here a while, you might be thinking: “Hey, is this a new email from Jennifer?” (It is. And I’m glad you’re still here. ❤️) I’m reintroducing the weekly Impact Makers newsletter with a simple goal: to bring you fresh insights, bold ideas, and practical strategies to help you become a more impactful people leader, grow your influence, and thrive in the ever-evolving world of work. Whether you're shaping the future of HR,...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Hey there Impact Maker! The skills needed for effective leadership are continuously evolving in today's dynamic work environment. Soft skills like communication, empathy, and collaboration are now more important than ever, especially with the rise of remote and hybrid work. However, technical proficiency remains equally critical. Impactful leaders in the future or work will need strong data analysis, decision-making, and technology skills to thrive in the data-driven world. But fear not,...
over 1 year ago • 3 min read
Hey there Impact Maker! Remember back in the day, when the most common form of networking was to shove your business card in people’s faces at Happy Hour events or to offer to buy them a cup of coffee, so you could “pick their brain”? (Ewww.) Of course, that was never an effective way to build relationships, but in today’s digital world, gone are the days of forced interactions and awkward coffee meetings. Today's networking landscape is all about building genuine relationships and offering...
over 1 year ago • 4 min read