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- Aug 6, 202543 min
Building Belonging in a Hybrid Healthcare Workforce
In this episode of the Cohesion Podcast, Miriam Connaughton speaks with Jim O’Gorman, Chief People Officer at Included Health, about designing belonging and connectedness in a distributed healthcare workforce. Jim shares how his team reinvested office savings into ERGs and in-person experiences, how they separate orientation from onboarding, and why psychological safety matters more than ever in a dispersed workforce. From playlists and Slack channels to leadership development and DEI strategy, this episode offers practical guidance on how to build a people-first culture—with intention. Episode Segments: 1. Getting to Know Jim 00:00: From Hulu to healthcare—Jim shares career highlights, personal stories, and a favorite show. 2. Rethinking Belonging 04:53: Why employees feel lonelier than ever—and how we’ve misunderstood engagement. 3. Leading a Remote Culture 08:09: How Included Health uses travel, ERGs, and curated moments to foster connection. 4. Generational Diversity in the Workplace 18:06: What really divides (and unites) different generations—and how to focus on what matters. 5. Onboarding with Purpose 21:31: Why onboarding and orientation should be separate—and how to create early connection. 6. Inclusion & Performance 28:04: Beyond checkboxes—how DEI connects to performance, safety, and true belonging. 7. Equipping Leaders 32:00: Why junior managers are under pressure—and how to support them in a remote world. 8. Tech That Connects 35:11: Using tools like Slack, playlists, and walk-on songs to scale human connection. “We need to stop running from connectedness. Remote work requires more—not less—humanity in how we lead.” – Jim O’Gorman 🔔 Subscribe to the Cohesion Podcast for more expert insights on employee experience, internal communications, and culture. 🌐 Learn more about Simpplr: www.simpplr.com 📎 Connect with Jim: LinkedIn #EmployeeExperience #BelongingAtWork #RemoteLeadership #HybridWorkforce #HealthcareCulture #InternalComms #PeopleStrategy #LeadershipEnablement
- Jul 22, 202542 min
Why Performance Management Needs a Rethink — and What Comes Next, with Edie Goldberg
In this insightful episode of the Cohesion Podcast, Miriam Connaughton (Chief People Officer at Simpplr) sits down with Edie Goldberg, Ph.D., founder of E. L. Goldberg & Associates and renowned future of work thought leader. With over 30 years of experience in HR strategy, talent management, and organizational effectiveness, Edie has helped countless organizations evolve how they attract, engage, and retain talent. Edie shares why traditional performance management systems fail both employees and organizations — and offers a vision for what she calls performance enablement. Drawing on research, her own practice, and her forthcoming book, she explains why ratings don’t tell the full story, how intrinsic motivation drives better outcomes, and why it’s time to shift from managing people to enabling their best performance. From reframing feedback and recognition to embracing AI-enabled coaching and real-time insights, Edie’s perspective is both bold and practical — ideal for HR leaders, managers, and anyone ready to leave outdated practices behind. If you’re tired of the annual eye-roll that comes with performance reviews, this conversation will inspire you to reimagine what’s possible. Topics Covered: Why traditional performance management systems fail to engage or improve performanceThe unintended consequences of ratings and rankingsHow to shift focus from backward-looking reviews to forward-looking enablementWhy development, recognition, and alignment to purpose matter more than everThe role of managers in fostering culture and performance — and how to equip themHow AI, analytics, and real-time feedback are transforming the fieldEdie’s greatest hope — and fear — for the future of performance management Connect with Edie Goldberg: LinkedIn | elgoldberg.com Subscribe to get the latest conversations on employee experience, change leadership, and internal communications.
- Jul 10, 202545 min
Is the Employee Engagement Era Over? With Gianna Driver
In this thought-provoking episode of the Cohesion Podcast, Miriam Connaughton (Chief People Officer at Simpplr) sits down with Gianna Driver, Chief People Officer at Lattice. A serial CPO with deep experience in the tech sector, Gianna brings a fresh perspective to one of HR’s most persistent questions: how should we really be measuring employee experience and performance? With engagement scores stagnating for decades and workforces becoming more distributed and diverse, Gianna challenges conventional wisdom on employee engagement—and explores what might come next. Drawing on data, lived experience, and her people-first philosophy, she shares what she believes leaders should be measuring, and why metrics alone can fail to capture belonging, mental health, and true organizational health. From rethinking engagement surveys to navigating the risks and opportunities of AI in the workplace, this episode is packed with strategic insights and human nuance. If you’re reimagining how to support and measure your people in a hybrid, high-change world, this conversation is for you. Topics Covered: Why employee engagement scores have flatlined for 20 yearsWhat HR teams might measure instead of—or in addition to—engagementHow hybrid and remote work reshape connection and cultureThe generational shifts redefining what employees value mostInsights from the disengaged: what outliers can tell usBalancing AI, analytics, and human empathy in employee experienceMoving from individual-level fixes to systemic, structural solutions Connect with Gianna Driver: LinkedIn Subscribe to get the latest conversations on employee experience, change leadership, and internal communications.
- Jun 24, 202534 min
Bridging Art and Strategy: Redefining internal comms in a growing company, with Sarah Kaplan
In this inspiring episode of the Cohesion Podcast, Carolyn Clark (VP of Employee Experience Strategy & Transformation at Simpplr) sits down with Sarah Kaplan, Director of Internal Communications at Smarsh. With a unique background in opera performance and a keen instinct for people-first storytelling, Sarah has led major internal transformation at Smarsh—starting from scratch just before a company acquisition and CEO transition. Sarah shares how she evolved the internal comms function from a team of one to a strategic partner to executive leadership. From ruthless prioritization to launching a global employee event across time zones, Sarah’s story is full of practical insights and human depth. If you’re building a comms team, navigating rapid organizational change, or just curious how opera can shape a corporate career—this one’s for you. Topics Covered: Building an internal comms function from zeroBecoming a strategic partner to leadershipBalancing trust with clarity during acquisitions and CEO changeLeading hybrid transitions and global engagement eventsHow performance arts skills translate to leadership and empathy Connect with Sarah Kaplan: LinkedIn Subscribe to get the latest conversations on employee experience, change leadership, and internal communications.
- May 7, 202546 min
Endurance, Empathy & Executive Presence: Leading through Change, with Kelly Clarke
In this episode, we sit down with Kelly Clarke, a seasoned internal communications leader with experience at Cisco, Meta, and Gong, to explore how endurance and empathy power executive presence in times of transformation. With a foundation in PR and a heart for human-centered leadership, Kelly shares how she’s guided companies through crises, culture shifts, and massive change—always with transparency and trust at the core. Simpplr’s Carolyn Clark, VP of Employee Experience Strategy & Transformation, joins the conversation to uncover how internal comms can drive clarity, connection, and courage at every level of an organization. In This Episode, We Cover: 1. Leadership Lessons from Endurance Kelly draws parallels between her long-distance running journey and her leadership style—revealing how consistency, mental toughness, and recovery fuel her ability to lead through complexity. 2. Building Comms Functions in Times of Change From high-growth startups to global tech firms, Kelly shares how she’s built and scaled internal communications during reorgs, rebrands, and remote work pivots—always keeping the employee experience front and center. 3. Coaching Leaders to Show Up Authentically Great comms start with great leadership. Kelly discusses how she partners with executives to cultivate transparency, vulnerability, and intentional messaging—making leaders more relatable and impactful. 4. Life Lessons from Girls on the Run As a coach for Girls on the Run, Kelly reflects on what mentoring young girls taught her about confidence, community, and purpose—and how those same lessons show up in the workplace.
- Apr 1, 202546 min
Balancing Art and Science: Crafting Powerful Leadership Communication with Lisa Colella, Managing Director at CRA Admired Leadership
This episode features an interview with Lisa Colella, Managing Director of Strategic Communications & Leadership Advisory at CRA Admired Leadership. With more than 18 years of professional experience, Lisa has worked with clients across agency, consultancy, and in-house settings. Her portfolio spans multiple industries, including fast-moving consumer goods, financial services, healthcare, and more. Previously, she was the Founder and CEO of a boutique consultancy and Global Head of Talent Communications and Marketing at Philips. In this episode, Simpplr’s Vice President of Corporate Communications and Employee Experience Strategy, Carolyn Clark, and Lisa discuss balancing formal and informal communication for effective leadership, the challenges and benefits of integrating AI tools into leadership practices, and how behavioral science and creativity can improve communication strategies. ------------------- “ The people that excel at creating meaning, not just transmitting information, they understand that communication isn't about just town halls and emails. But, really how they show up every day and that there is science to say if they show up in a way that is credible, they're highly competent. That they're likable in one way, shape, or form, generally likable and they are consistent. That they have a frequently and predictable drumbeat of presence that people can create what we call parasocial relationships. Which is, everyone feels like they have a relationship with the CEO, even though they might see them in a town hall once a year.” – Lisa Colella ------------------- Episode Timestamps: *: Getting to know Lisa *: Lisa’s career journey *: Balancing informal and formal communication *: How psychology influences communication *: How CRA is navigating the AI space *: Blending science and creativity for better communication strategies ------------------- Links: Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Learn more about CRA Admired Leadership Subscribe to Admired Leadership Field Notes Newsletter Try Alex Subscribe to Confluence Newsletter Connect with Carolyn on LinkedIn Cohesion Podcast About Simpplr
- Mar 4, 202547 min
EX through a Marketing Lens: Elevating Brand Stories & Employee Experiences with Matt Rivera & Gary Sevounts
This episode features an interview with Matt Rivera, Chief Marketing Officer at Day & Zimmermann and Gary Sevounts, Chief Marketing Officer at Simpplr. Matt has worked for Day & Zimmermann for 34 years, from payroll administrator to the first person in the marketing department. He leads a diverse team of marketers and communications professionals who contribute to a cohesive, professional and high-performing marketing organization. Gary is a veteran CMO with a track record of building high-growth demand and revenue engines, effective marketing teams, differentiated brands, and establishing categories. Previously, he was CMO at Malwarebytes, Socure, and Equifax’s Identity and Fraud Division. In this episode, Miriam, Matt, and Gary explore the connection between customer experience and employee experience, the importance of authenticity and transparency in storytelling, and leveraging AI to enhance communication and measurement. ------------------- “ With the automation that we have today for the employee experience, you can do that and then transfer it right over into the external marketing. You're tweaking the message. But it's the same types of messaging. It's the same campaigns. We're looking at the same analytics. All of those things really start connecting a lot. I think, in a lot of cases, the employee experience and what you're doing there, if you're doing it right, it's authentic, can really drive some of the marketing stuff too.” – Matt Rivera “ Brand starts internally. It starts with a mission and starts with the employees believing in why. Why did we start the company? Why are we doing what we're doing all day long? Why are we passionate about it? In the companies that I worked with and I dealt with, when there is that connection and it's genuine, employees become ambassadors. In the companies where that connection doesn't exist, people don't believe it and it’s just words, then it can take a negative turn really quickly.” – Gary Sevounts ------------------- Episode Timestamps: *: Matt and Gary’s career journeys *: Getting to know Matt and Gary *: Exploring the connection between CX and EX *: The art of great storytelling *: Marketing strategies for Internal Communications *: Leveraging technology for employee engagement ------------------- Links: Connect with Matt on LinkedIn Learn more about Day & Zimmermann Connect with Gary on LinkedIn Connect with Miriam on LinkedIn Cohesion Podcast About Simpplr
- Feb 18, 202547 min
Once Upon a Career: Navigating Work & Leadership Through Fables with Pat Wadors, Chief Human Resources Officer at Intuitive
This episode features an interview with Pat Wadors, Chief Human Resources Officer at Intuitive, where she leads a global organization responsible for all aspects of the company’s employee experience. Prior to joining Intuitive, Pat was the Chief People Officer at UKG and Procore Technologies. She also held multiple leadership roles at ServiceNow, LinkedIn, and Yahoo! In this episode, Miriam sits down with Pat to discuss her book Unlock Your Leadership Story, the evolution of DEI in the workplace, and the importance of storytelling for fostering connection among employees. ------------------- “ Words may change, but the intent of creating a high-performing, healthy company that can do their thing, be it a service, a product development, innovate, requires diversity of thought. You look at the past and say, ‘If I hire from this school or from this industry, chances of failure of that candidate are reduced.’ But are you hiring the best? Maybe not. You're de-risking, you're not optimizing. If you slow your neurological roll, if you look at exactly what you need in the future, not just for today, you can create a healthier company.” – Pat Wadors ------------------- Episode Timestamps: *: Getting to know Pat *: Pat discusses her book Unlock Your Leadership Story *: Pat breaks down personal scorecards *: The evolution of DEI in the workplace *: The importance of storytelling in creating connection *: A lesson Pat learned in her career ------------------- Links: Connect with Pat on LinkedIn Email Pat Visit Pat’s website Order Pat’s Book Unlock Your Leadership Story Connect with Miriam on LinkedIn Cohesion Podcast About Simpplr
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About Cohesion
Cohesion is a thought leadership venture in the internal comms, HR, and IT space, providing structured, high-value, quick-hitting strategies and tactics for internal comms professionals. Each episode features an interview with a top practitioner in the space and highlights specific insights to be implemented to improve your company’s employee experience
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