Gosh, that year went by FAST! Let’s recap 2025 — Season 8 of The Simplifiers Podcast. The greatest things I’ve learned.  What stood out the most. And where we’re headed next.

✨ What Season 8 Made Crystal Clear

1. Culture change lives or dies with leadership behavior.

One of the strongest through-lines this season came from our conversations with leaders who work closest to culture transformation.

In my conversation with Dr. Alise Cortez in Episode 396, she reminded us that culture doesn’t shift because of a new initiative — it shifts when executives make values visible through daily actions.

And Claude Silver echoed that in Episode 405, talking about leading from the heart — especially when pressure is high — and how optimism, bravery, and efficiency aren’t soft skills… they’re leadership fundamentals.

👉 If culture change is part of your role, go back and listen to Episodes 396 and 405.

2. Relationships — not org charts — drive real influence.

Another big insight this season:

Internal relationships matter more than most people think.

In Episode 395, Seth McColley broke down how internal networking builds trust faster than formal hierarchy ever could — and how strong cross-department relationships help ideas actually get sponsored and funded.

That theme of influence showed up again in Episode 403 with Shayna R. Davis, where we talked about leadership identity, executive presence, and why influence isn’t about title — it’s about clarity and consistency.

👉 If you’re trying to move ideas forward inside your organization, go back and listen to Episodes 395 and 403.

3. The most effective leaders are human — not heroic.

Season 8 made one thing very clear:
The future of leadership is grounded in emotional intelligence, good communication skills, and healthy boundaries.

In Episode 404, Joseph Cope talked about practicing empathy without burning out — balancing care with accountability.

In Episode 402, Kristin Bock walked us through body language, digital charisma, and how confident communication can absolutely be learned — even if you don’t consider yourself a “natural.”

And in Episode 400, Libby Magliolo reminded us that executive communication isn’t about more slides — it’s about clearer thinking.

Knowing your audience.
Leading with the answer first.
And telling a story that actually lands in the room.

We also explored how communication can build belonging in Episode 401 with Aaron Fung, where humor — when used intentionally — becomes a powerful connector, not a distraction.

👉 If you want to level up how you communicate, influence, and show up as a leader, go back and listen to Episodes 400, 401, 402, and 404.

4. Talent strategy must flex — because stability is no longer the goal.

One of the most forward-looking conversations this season came from Steve Cadigan in Episode 406.

He made it clear:
The goal is no longer stability — it’s adaptability.

That theme showed up earlier in Episode 397 with Shawn Storer, where we talked about developing high-potential talent, stretch assignments, and how to grow future leaders without burning them out.

👉 If you’re responsible for succession planning, development, or workforce strategy, go back and listen to Episodes 397 and 406.

🔮 Where We’re Headed in 2026

Here’s what I see coming next:

First:
More companies are connecting the dots between employee experience, customer experience, and business results — and investing accordingly.

Put simply… better employee experience = better customer experience = better business results.

Focus your time, resources, and strategy on employee experience first — and you’ll see the ripple effect across the board.

Second:
AI training at work will become standard — not optional.

Organizations will train their teams to use tools like ChatGPT and Copilot effectively, strategically, and safely across all departments.

(And yes — you can hire me to teach that in 60 minutes. Visit www.marybaird.co and click “Let’s Talk” to book a 25-minute discovery call to see if it’s a good fit for your organization.)

Third:
My forthcoming book is gaining real momentum and I can’t wait to share it with you!

It’s called The Simplifiers Guide to Better Employee Experience and it’s set to release Spring 2026. It’s a modern, practical playbook for HR professionals who want to fix what’s broken at work — without overcomplicating it.

Utilizing The Simplifiers Employee Experience Flywheel, it shows how simple shifts can dramatically improve the employee experience across your enterprise, creating a positive impact.

I can’t wait for you all to get your hands on it - my hope is that it makes a difference in Corporate America, as a whole.

And fourth:
I’ve secured two new keynote sessions at major events — including Addison Elevates: Advancing HR in the Age of AI, an invite-only event for senior HR executives — with another North Texas event announcement coming soon.

--------

Before I wrap up, I just want to say thank you.

• To our incredible guests — for sharing real, honest insights.
• To our clients — for trusting us with meaningful work.
• And to you, our listeners — for believing that work can be better.

Because the truth is…
Work is broken for a lot of people.

And here at The Simplifiers, we’re on a mission to fix it.
By simplifying the complex.
Equipping HR professionals.

And helping people fall back in love with their work again.

Don’t forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button (in your podcast player) to get more of this awesome goodness coming to you each and every week.

Thank you!

Show credits: Suzen Marie, our Podcast Editor and Jeffrey Lynn, our Video Editor. Aubri Williams, Chris Justice, George Mills, and #TeamMary, our advisory board. And I’m your host, Mary Baird. Big love to Dennis Coleman, Kristen Kurtis, plus Mark and the team at Goodboy, as well. Thank you so much for listening and telling your peeps about us.

As always friends, keep things simple.

‍