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The AI Anxiety Antidote: How HR Can Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity
About this episode
Transcript
About this episode
In this episode, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Sue Newman, Senior Director of HR at ATW, to explore how HR leaders can transform AI anxiety into an organizational opportunity while supporting a multigenerational workforce through technological change.
When Sue’s employees started expressing concerns about AI potentially taking their jobs, she didn’t just address their fears; she turned it into a catalyst for practical AI adoption.
Topics Discussed:
Moving beyond “clickbait” AI layoff headlines toward practical understanding and action
Real-world case study: Using AI to help a late adopter retain employment while closing skill gaps
The “candles to electricity” analogy: Why AI adoption is inevitable and how to embrace it
Scaling learning & development as a “team of one” using AI for custom content creation
Why HR professionals need their own AI point of view before engaging with vendors
The future of HR: Moving from administrative burden back to relationship-building
How to safely introduce AI across different generations and comfort levels
Essential advice for new HR professionals: Understand your organization’s core business first
If you’re an HR leader wondering how to address AI anxiety in your organization while leveraging technology to enhance rather than replace human capabilities, this episode provides both empathy and practical strategies for transformation
Additional resources:
Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
Future Proof HR Community
Sue Newman on LinkedIn
About this episode
Transcript
About this episode
In this episode, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Sue Newman, Senior Director of HR at ATW, to explore how HR leaders can transform AI anxiety into an organizational opportunity while supporting a multigenerational workforce through technological change.
When Sue’s employees started expressing concerns about AI potentially taking their jobs, she didn’t just address their fears; she turned it into a catalyst for practical AI adoption.
Topics Discussed:
Moving beyond “clickbait” AI layoff headlines toward practical understanding and action
Real-world case study: Using AI to help a late adopter retain employment while closing skill gaps
The “candles to electricity” analogy: Why AI adoption is inevitable and how to embrace it
Scaling learning & development as a “team of one” using AI for custom content creation
Why HR professionals need their own AI point of view before engaging with vendors
The future of HR: Moving from administrative burden back to relationship-building
How to safely introduce AI across different generations and comfort levels
Essential advice for new HR professionals: Understand your organization’s core business first
If you’re an HR leader wondering how to address AI anxiety in your organization while leveraging technology to enhance rather than replace human capabilities, this episode provides both empathy and practical strategies for transformation
Additional resources:
Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
Future Proof HR Community
Sue Newman on LinkedIn
About this episode
Transcript
About this episode
In this episode, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Sue Newman, Senior Director of HR at ATW, to explore how HR leaders can transform AI anxiety into an organizational opportunity while supporting a multigenerational workforce through technological change.
When Sue’s employees started expressing concerns about AI potentially taking their jobs, she didn’t just address their fears; she turned it into a catalyst for practical AI adoption.
Topics Discussed:
Moving beyond “clickbait” AI layoff headlines toward practical understanding and action
Real-world case study: Using AI to help a late adopter retain employment while closing skill gaps
The “candles to electricity” analogy: Why AI adoption is inevitable and how to embrace it
Scaling learning & development as a “team of one” using AI for custom content creation
Why HR professionals need their own AI point of view before engaging with vendors
The future of HR: Moving from administrative burden back to relationship-building
How to safely introduce AI across different generations and comfort levels
Essential advice for new HR professionals: Understand your organization’s core business first
If you’re an HR leader wondering how to address AI anxiety in your organization while leveraging technology to enhance rather than replace human capabilities, this episode provides both empathy and practical strategies for transformation
Additional resources:
Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
Future Proof HR Community
Sue Newman on LinkedIn
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About the guest
About the guest
Sue Newman
Sue Newman is the Senior Director of Human Resources at ATW, where she leverages 25 years of HR experience to drive transformation and optimize workforce operations for over 3,000 employees. She specializes in implementing and refining HR systems to improve service delivery, streamline processes, and enhance goal tracking across diverse employee populations.
Sue has led major technology initiatives including SAP SuccessFactors integration, Paycom and Cornerstone optimizations, and enterprise-wide employee value proposition improvements. Known for her data-driven approach to decision-making, she recently utilized SurveyMonkey to identify high-leverage focus areas for improving employee Net Promoter Scores and is passionate about helping organizations leverage AI and technology to enhance human capabilities. Sue's expertise spans recruitment, onboarding, learning & development, and HR technology implementation across both private and public sector organizations.
Sue Newman is the Senior Director of Human Resources at ATW, where she leverages 25 years of HR experience to drive transformation and optimize workforce operations for over 3,000 employees. She specializes in implementing and refining HR systems to improve service delivery, streamline processes, and enhance goal tracking across diverse employee populations.
Sue has led major technology initiatives including SAP SuccessFactors integration, Paycom and Cornerstone optimizations, and enterprise-wide employee value proposition improvements. Known for her data-driven approach to decision-making, she recently utilized SurveyMonkey to identify high-leverage focus areas for improving employee Net Promoter Scores and is passionate about helping organizations leverage AI and technology to enhance human capabilities. Sue's expertise spans recruitment, onboarding, learning & development, and HR technology implementation across both private and public sector organizations.
Sue Newman is the Senior Director of Human Resources at ATW, where she leverages 25 years of HR experience to drive transformation and optimize workforce operations for over 3,000 employees. She specializes in implementing and refining HR systems to improve service delivery, streamline processes, and enhance goal tracking across diverse employee populations.
Sue has led major technology initiatives including SAP SuccessFactors integration, Paycom and Cornerstone optimizations, and enterprise-wide employee value proposition improvements. Known for her data-driven approach to decision-making, she recently utilized SurveyMonkey to identify high-leverage focus areas for improving employee Net Promoter Scores and is passionate about helping organizations leverage AI and technology to enhance human capabilities. Sue's expertise spans recruitment, onboarding, learning & development, and HR technology implementation across both private and public sector organizations.
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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.
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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.