Ep 260 - MPL Live NYC Debrief on AI + HR

1. Everyone’s talking about AI — but few have structured space to make sense of it

Angela summed it up perfectly: “There's so much coming at us... It’s hard not to feel behind, overwhelmed, excited — but not structured in your thinking.”

MPL Live created space for something rare: structured, real-time reflection with peers. That combination of passive learning (listening to experts) and active exchange (sharing your org’s current AI state) helped participants turn chaos into clarity.

“You need a mirror to reflect back what you’re learning and say: does this even make sense?”

✦ Compliance is more than a box to check

Great HR leaders know compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about reinforcing culture, building trust, and creating workplaces where people actually want to stay.

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Done right — like with Ethena — compliance becomes a way to reinforce your values and build a stronger workplace.

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2. Where HR fits in the AI conversation is still up for grabs

Ownership of AI inside companies is muddy. Angela put it bluntly: the people who most clearly see the opportunity often have the least resourcing to act. Meanwhile, technical leaders are thinking about AI in terms of products, not people.

“The people with the most energy are the least equipped. And the people with the resources are focused elsewhere.”

HR has to bridge that gap — by getting curious, initiating cross-functional conversations, and stepping into the driver's seat even without a full roadmap.

3. AI isn’t just technical — the biggest blockers are human

While AI adoption includes real technical hurdles, the more complex issues are cultural, ethical, and behavioral. Hernan emphasized that most of the blockers HR faces are well within their existing skill sets.

“Some of the biggest AI adoption challenges are change management and ethics — not engineering.”

HR teams need to lead on governance, usage norms, and strategic alignment. This isn’t someone else’s problem to solve.

🧩 Benefits without the bottlenecks

HR leaders are being asked to do more than ever - but too often you’re stuck juggling spreadsheets, slow brokers, and guesswork at renewal. It’s exhausting, wasting both time and money.

Nava flips that script.

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✅ Give employees 24/7 benefits support and stop being their help desk.

✅ Get expert-backed guidance every step of the way so you never go it alone

With Nava HQ, benefits become a strategic advantage - helping you control costs, lead with confidence, and get your time back.

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4. AI as a coach? Maybe — but don’t skip the judgment filter

One of the most provocative moments came when the Yellow Pod debated whether AI can be a good manager coach. Some said yes — at least as a first line of support. Others worried about values misalignment and employees mistaking AI suggestions for policy.

Jean-Luc admitted he came in assuming “this is no big deal,” but left with a more nuanced view:

“I realized I was taking it as a floor — assuming everyone would filter. But that’s not always true.”

The takeaway? People are already using AI as a sounding board. HR’s job is to guide that use responsibly — through education, safeguards, and shared frameworks.

5. If people are using AI anyway, give them the tools to do it right

The group agreed on this: banning AI or pretending it’s not happening is a dead end.

“People are going to be using AI no matter what — because it makes life easier. So assume that, and enable them to use it right.”

That might mean sharing effective prompts, curating toolkits, or running lightweight learning sessions. But doing nothing isn’t an option.

🧱 The best people leaders don't follow playbooks. They build their own.

The best people leaders don’t follow playbooks.

They build their own and run their org their way.

They’re system builders. Innovators. Change agents.

The kind of people who use ChartHop - a flexible platform that brings all your people (and business) data into one place.

With ChartHop, you can build key processes—headcount planning, compensation, performance, engagement—your way.

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6. The best AI unlocks start with one good conversation

What made the Yellow Pod so powerful wasn’t just the topic — it was the format. A quiet room, a clear prompt, and a group willing to share. That’s it.

It reminded us that progress in AI adoption often starts with a mindset shift — sparked by dialogue, not demos.

“We trusted each other as practitioners. That made it a safe space where we could honestly share.” - Hernan Chiosso

Thanks for reading. See you next time!

P.S. If you like MPL, help us grow the show by giving us a 5 star rating on Apple or Spotify. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐