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HR Under Pressure: What Small Teams Can Teach Us About the Future
About this episode
Transcript
About this episode
In this episode, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Michael Salamey, an HR leader with deep experience in tech, employee engagement, and workforce analytics, to talk about the realities of running lean HR teams in today’s AI-driven world. Drawing on his experience leading small HR teams across industries, Michael shares why smaller often means sharper—and how embracing limitations can build better HR leaders.
Topics Discussed:
The hidden strengths of small, scrappy HR teams
How collapsing roles creates broader, deeper skill sets
Why most tech evaluations get silently deprioritized
The paradox of AI adoption in under-resourced orgs
Tactical ways small teams can still experiment with automation
A candid take on today’s messy job market and hiring tools
How to avoid overengineering your HR function
Where AI can help (and where it still falls short)
If you’ve ever been the one-person HR department—or worked like one—this episode will feel like a conversation you didn’t know you needed.
Additional Resources:
About this episode
Transcript
About this episode
In this episode, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Michael Salamey, an HR leader with deep experience in tech, employee engagement, and workforce analytics, to talk about the realities of running lean HR teams in today’s AI-driven world. Drawing on his experience leading small HR teams across industries, Michael shares why smaller often means sharper—and how embracing limitations can build better HR leaders.
Topics Discussed:
The hidden strengths of small, scrappy HR teams
How collapsing roles creates broader, deeper skill sets
Why most tech evaluations get silently deprioritized
The paradox of AI adoption in under-resourced orgs
Tactical ways small teams can still experiment with automation
A candid take on today’s messy job market and hiring tools
How to avoid overengineering your HR function
Where AI can help (and where it still falls short)
If you’ve ever been the one-person HR department—or worked like one—this episode will feel like a conversation you didn’t know you needed.
Additional Resources:
About this episode
Transcript
About this episode
In this episode, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Michael Salamey, an HR leader with deep experience in tech, employee engagement, and workforce analytics, to talk about the realities of running lean HR teams in today’s AI-driven world. Drawing on his experience leading small HR teams across industries, Michael shares why smaller often means sharper—and how embracing limitations can build better HR leaders.
Topics Discussed:
The hidden strengths of small, scrappy HR teams
How collapsing roles creates broader, deeper skill sets
Why most tech evaluations get silently deprioritized
The paradox of AI adoption in under-resourced orgs
Tactical ways small teams can still experiment with automation
A candid take on today’s messy job market and hiring tools
How to avoid overengineering your HR function
Where AI can help (and where it still falls short)
If you’ve ever been the one-person HR department—or worked like one—this episode will feel like a conversation you didn’t know you needed.
Additional Resources:

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About the guest
About the guest

Michael Salamey
Michael Salamey is the Chief People Officer at ID Plans, a PropTech SaaS company in the commercial real estate space. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of HR, technology, and innovation, Michael has helped organizations—from fast-scaling startups to distributed multinational teams—navigate complex challenges in talent strategy, compliance, and people operations. Known for his hands-on approach in small and midsize teams, he brings a deep understanding of workforce analytics, employee engagement, and operational leadership. Michael has also led strategic HR transformations as an independent HRBP consultant, guiding companies through critical change initiatives, executive hiring, and AI adoption in HR processes.
Michael Salamey is the Chief People Officer at ID Plans, a PropTech SaaS company in the commercial real estate space. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of HR, technology, and innovation, Michael has helped organizations—from fast-scaling startups to distributed multinational teams—navigate complex challenges in talent strategy, compliance, and people operations. Known for his hands-on approach in small and midsize teams, he brings a deep understanding of workforce analytics, employee engagement, and operational leadership. Michael has also led strategic HR transformations as an independent HRBP consultant, guiding companies through critical change initiatives, executive hiring, and AI adoption in HR processes.
Michael Salamey is the Chief People Officer at ID Plans, a PropTech SaaS company in the commercial real estate space. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of HR, technology, and innovation, Michael has helped organizations—from fast-scaling startups to distributed multinational teams—navigate complex challenges in talent strategy, compliance, and people operations. Known for his hands-on approach in small and midsize teams, he brings a deep understanding of workforce analytics, employee engagement, and operational leadership. Michael has also led strategic HR transformations as an independent HRBP consultant, guiding companies through critical change initiatives, executive hiring, and AI adoption in HR processes.


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The leading podcast for the future of HR
The leading podcast for the future of HR
The future of HR is being shaped by real operators doing the work.
If you’ve led change, navigated challenges, or learned valuable lessons in people operations, we’d love to hear your perspective.
Apply below to be considered as a guest on the show.
The future of HR is being shaped by real operators doing the work.
If you’ve led change, navigated challenges, or learned valuable lessons in people operations, we’d love to hear your perspective.
Apply below to be considered as a guest on the show.
The future of HR is being shaped by real operators doing the work.
If you’ve led change, navigated challenges, or learned valuable lessons in people operations, we’d love to hear your perspective.
Apply below to be considered as a guest on the show.