HR & Payroll 2.0

In this special episode, Pete and Julie are joined by Joe Ranzau, Partner at Grant Thornton, live from the annual World at Work Total Rewards event in San Antonio, TX. Joe brings a CFO-facing lens to the discussion, unpacking why finance, HR, risk, and tax all see payroll differently and why the reporting line may matter less than the governance model around it. The conversation explores payroll’s evolving strategic value, the persistent disconnect between HR and payroll, and why payroll professionals must become stronger storytellers, translators, and change agents. Together they explore where payroll really belongs, why it remains one of the most misunderstood functions in the enterprise, and how AI is forcing leaders to rethink process, risk, and governance. The episode also dives into AI’s growing role in HR and payroll, from productivity gains and hard-to-measure ROI to procurement restrictions, shadow AI, data safety, and adoption resistance across the workforce. Plus a practical look at what it takes to modernize payroll: clearer ownership, stronger governance, better cross-functional alignment, and a willingness to treat payroll as far more than a back-office process. Connect with Joe: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-ranzau/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Amy Wang, a shared services and HR operations expert and leader, to explore the intersection of HR, payroll, technology, and enterprise service delivery. With more than two decades of experience spanning IT, HR operations, and shared services across industries, Amy shares how her unconventional path from IT into HR shaped her approach to building scalable, data-driven service organizations. Amy shares the diplomacy, governance, and storytelling required to operationalize shared services successfully, and why leaders must continually demonstrate value, communicate wins, and build credibility across the enterprise. The discussion also highlights the critical role of payroll and HR data as foundational infrastructure for modern organizations and why strong governance and standardized processes are essential for scalable service delivery. From the importance of data readiness and operational discipline to the possibility of new C-suite structures emerging around people, technology, and risk, Amy offers a forward-looking perspective on how HR and shared services are becoming strategic engines for the future of work. Connect with Amy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywang168/ SSON blogs by Amy: https://www.ssonetwork.com/events-hr-shared-services-week/blog Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

In this episode of HR & Payroll 2.0, Pete and Julie welcome Kelly Westfall, a payroll leader known for bringing equal parts precision and heart to one of the most mission-critical (and most misunderstood) functions in the enterprise. Kelly shares how she found her way from HR and onboarding into payroll leadership and why the complexity, accountability, and responsibility of getting pay right drive her passion and career forward. The conversation gets real about life in payroll: the constant exceptions, the operational risk, the employee trust equation, and the quiet heroics required to keep pay accurate, compliant, and reliable at scale. Kelly shares what’s driving burnout and talent scarcity across payroll teams, why many organizations still under-resource the function while over-relying on it. Kelly reminds us that payroll is a trust function, and payroll leaders will advance through calm influence, fostering community connection, and communicating at the executive level! Connect with Kelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-westfall-cpp-845245b6/ https://gacpayroll.org/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

On this special episode, Pete welcomes John Kostoulas, VP of Market Positioning & Strategy at Dayforce and former Gartner Vice President and distinguished HCM tech analyst, for a candid conversation on the future of HR technology, AI adoption, and what it really takes to modernize in the era of agentic AI. John shares his journey from an engineering graduate in Greece to an HCM vendor executive and what the "analyst in him" still sees that most miss. He brings research-backed insights on the AI governance gap, and why trust, not features, is the real barrier to adoption at scale. He also delivers a sharp, no-nonsense framework of AI transformation do's and don'ts for executives who are paralyzed or unsure where to start, including why chasing feature lists over outcomes is the fastest road to regret. The conversation explores the growing "vibe coding your HCM" phenomenon, debating whether SMBs and enterprises can realistically AI-generate their way to payroll and HR solutions. Plus, they talk about the critical difference between a truly unified HCM platform and a fragmented "unified" illusion, and why that distinction is make-or-break for enterprise agility. Connect with John: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkostoulas/ John’s Post on unified consolidation and AI features: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7439258950371344385/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

On this special episode of HR & Payroll 2.0, Pete catches up with Amberly Dressler, a brand marketing executive known for helping shape one of the most memorable community-led brand stories in HR tech and now leading corporate and partner marketing at Conga. Amberly shares on the brand mechanics that matter right now: when a rebrand is truly earned versus vanity, how to create a single truth that unites multiple buyer personas, and why consistency beats novelty even when you’re personally tired of the message. In a crowded market where buyers are overwhelmed, she argues credibility is built the old-fashioned way: community, repetition, and showing up in the real world, not just on a slide. Drawing from the ‘People Heroes’ movement at isolved and the roadshow-first approach that met practitioners where they are, Amberly shares what modern GTM must deliver beyond the software: confidence, change support, and a narrative champions can carry into internal business cases. They also unpack why relationship-building is the only sustainable growth strategy in HR and payroll, and what it means to show up authentically in public forums like Reddit as AEO, GEO, and SEO collide with AI-driven answer engines. Connect with Amberly: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlydressler/ Conga: https://conga.com/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

On this episode, Pete welcomes Asia-Pacific HR and compliance expert Lynette Liew of Links International to the show for a pulse check on one of the most complex and fast-moving regions in the world of work. They explore the rapid evolution of employment compliance across Australia, China, India, and Southeast Asia, the growing shift from global to regional HR and payroll providers, and why enterprise buyers are doubling down on local expertise to manage regulatory risk. The conversation also dives into how AI is reshaping payroll operations, workforce planning, and compliance oversight. Lynette brings frontline insight into statutory volatility, fragmented labor frameworks, digital payments innovation, payroll talent shortages, and why localization, cultural fluency, and deep regulatory knowledge are emerging as true competitive advantages in 2026. Connect with Lynette: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynetteliew/ https://linksinternational.com/research/apac-labour-law-updates/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

In this special episode, Pete is joined by Raju Vegesna, Chief Evangelist at Zoho, live from the annual Zoho Day analyst 2026 event and update in Austin, Texas! Together they explore Zoho’s 30-year journey from shipping software on floppy disks to delivering integrated SaaS platforms and now AI-driven solutions, and how the company’s distinct culture and values have underpinned that evolution. The conversation explores the future of SaaS and AI. Raju challenges the narrative that “SaaS is dead,” arguing instead that commoditization of software and AI is a net positive: as costs drop, access and productivity rise across society. They discuss the shift from productivity gains to intelligence gains as the new ROI in software, and how connected data and platforms are foundational for meaningful AI insights. They talk about the gap between AI hype and reality, why many AI projects are not yet delivering ROI, and how we’re still in the “plumbing” and protocol phase of this wave and the emerging importance of data and intelligence sovereignty, including why some countries and large enterprises may push back toward on‑premise or sovereign AI. Plus Raju offers guidance for business leaders who feel stuck or behind on AI: it’s still early, the ground is shifting rapidly, and the current explosion of innovation will be followed by consolidation, creating a window of opportunity for fast movers. Connect with Raju: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajuvegesna1/ X: https://x.com/rajuv Website: www.zoho.com Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: https://x.com/HRPayroll2_0 X: https://x.com/PeteTiliakos X: https://x.com/JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Matt Vaadi, longtime payroll industry exec, CEO of GuHRoo, and host of The Payrollin’ Podcast, to take the pulse on the small businesses buyer and talk about the realities of the marketplace for SMB HR and payroll solutions. From tech-first vs service-first buyers to the rise of niche payroll providers, Matt offers an insider’s view of how small and mid-sized businesses are buying, switching, and scaling HR and payroll today. The conversation explores why overcrowding in the HCM and payroll market is reshaping go-to-market strategies, why centers of influence like CPAs, brokers, and consultants are more powerful than ever, and how private equity and consolidation are quietly redefining PEO and ASO models. The group also digs into the future of embedded payroll, AI-driven automation, and why many SMB buyers are demanding API-driven, workflow-centric platforms instead of traditional systems. Matt shares how specialization is driving higher growth and valuations, and what HR tech and payroll vendors must do to stay competitive in a market where trust, simplicity, and integration now matter more than brand. Connect with Matt: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi/ https://www.guhroo.co/ https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome longtime HR transformation consultant, HR tech expert, Margaret Godwin, to take the pulse on the SMB HR tech buyer, and explore what’s actually happening inside HR teams in small and mid-market organizations. From AI hype versus operational readiness to why service models, not features, are driving vendor churn. The group discusses why SMBs churn through HCM systems, where HR tech buying decisions break down, and why service, change management, and implementation strategy matter more than features or “best AI.” Margaret shares frontline insights on AI readiness, managed services, PEO tradeoffs, enterprise platforms moving down market, and the growing gap between what technology promises and what organizations can realistically absorb. Connect with Margaret: ‘HR Tech Minute’ Substack: https://hrtechminute.substack.com/profile/posts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtgodwin/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

On this episode, Pete and Julie share their POV’s and insights on recent global payroll and EOR marketplace updates and activity making headlines to kick off 2026! Pete and Julie share their thoughts on recent events, including Dayforce SKO, Strada Global SKO, Papaya Global’s 2030 Workforce Summit, and ADP ReThink in Prague. Additionally, they discuss several product updates and acquisitions and what it means for buyers and providers of global EOR and global payroll. Vendors mentioned in the episode include ADP, Boundless, Dayforce, Deel, EOS, G-P, Hitekers Omnipresent, Papaya Global, Payoneer, Remote, SKAUD, and Strada Global. Links mentioned on the show: Pete’s Post from the AI workshop in Prague: https://tinyurl.com/ypzupj62 Pete’s Post on Global EORs acting like teenagers: https://tinyurl.com/5n6xb2sz Pete’s Payroll Influences Blog on ADP ReThink: https://www.payrollinfluences.com/post/adp-rethink-event-recap-adp-turns-75 Pete’s series on the future of EOR: https://www.globalization-partners.com/blog/evolution-global-eor-as-strategic-growth-engine/ Papaya Global’s 2030 Workforce Summit: https://papayaglobal.com/go/event/2030-workforce-summit-recap/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

On this special episode, join Pete as he catches up with Nicole Sahin, Founder and CEO of G-P, who shares an insider’s POV on the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Together, they unpack what Davos is and what attending entails, and the value in the density of global CEOs, heads of state, founders, and policymakers converging annually on the small alpine village. Nicole shares what that proximity reveals about the direction of business, talent, and technology, and how geopolitical tension and macroeconomic uncertainty are shaping executive conversations. They discuss why business leaders worldwide are seeking stability, cooperation, and frictionless cross-border operations. They explore the evolving reality of global hiring and talent mobility, and how countries like India and the UAE are accelerating digitization to attract innovation and entrepreneurship, and what that means for governance, compliance, and cross-border employment in the years ahead. Plus, Nicole shares her lens on AI’s evolution from disruption narrative to enterprise reality, and why enterprise organizations are moving decisively to embed AI into HR, legal, and compliance functions. Including insights from G-P’s AI exploration and productization with G-P Gia. Connect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolesahin/ https://www.globalization-partners.com/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

On this episode of HR & Payroll 2.0, Pete and Julie step into the evolving world of public relations, brand storytelling, and answer-engine optimization with Kate “Katie” Achille, co-host of Up Next at Work and partner at Devon PR. Together, they explore how PR (public relations) has shifted from traditional media and press releases to a strategic growth engine that now shapes search visibility, AI-powered discovery (AEO), and generative engine optimization (GEO) across the HR technology marketplace. Katie breaks down why messaging matters more than ever, how companies can differentiate in an overcrowded HR tech, recruiting, and payroll ecosystem, and why the firms winning mindshare aren’t the loudest - they’re the ones who clearly articulate what they do, who they serve, and how they solve real problems. She shares practical insights on leveraging analysts, navigating buzzwords, aligning brand and product narratives, and building credibility in a market where AI is rewriting the rules of communication. Connect with Katie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieachille/ Up Next @ Work Podcast: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/up-next-work Katie’s Substack, ‘The How’: https://thehowof.substack.com/ DevonPR: https://www.devonpr.com/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html

On this episode of HR & Payroll 2.0, Pete and Julie, welcome ‘The Payroll OG’ himself, Todd Acevedo of SAP SuccessFactors, and ‘The Payroll ATLien’ Imran Sajid of EPI-USE to the show to talk all things payroll! A couple of industry rock stars, together with Payroll BADIes crew, on a mission to put the swag in payroll (with the gold chains and track suits to prove it) and change how organizations think about payroll, its strategic value, and the professionals who power it! From the origins of the Payroll BADIes podcast and movement to the evolving role of payroll as a data-driven powerhouse in enterprise decision-making, Todd and Imran unpack the cultural, operational, and technological forces redefining the modern payroll landscape. Together, they explore why payroll is no longer a back-office function, but a mission-critical intelligence engine driving compliance, analytics, M&A readiness, and AI-powered service delivery across today’s global enterprises. Connect with Todd, Imran, and the Payroll BADies: Todd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddasevedo/ Imran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imran-sajid/ Website: https://payrollbadies.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PayrollBADIes Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 X: @PeteTiliakos X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward! G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/