Innovation Starts with HR with Kate O'Neill
HR Superstars · 2026-02-10 · 41 min
Episode notes
Technology decisions can shift dramatically when HR steps in with a human-centered perspective. In this episode, Kate O'Neill, CEO of KO Insights and author of What Matters Next, explains how HR can influence innovation before decisions are locked in. She shares why employee experience, ethics, and organizational performance belong at the center of technology conversations, not after rollout plans are set. You'll hear practical ways HR can gather partial answers, synthesize insight, and guide leaders through uncertainty while staying grounded in values, privacy, and workplace communication. If you want HR leadership that builds credibility and influence, this conversation offers clear frameworks you can apply today. Join us as we discuss: (00:00) Meet HR Superstar: Kate O'Neill (04:22) Digital transformation vs. innovation (09:54) How HR can influence without being the decision maker (14:15) Common mistakes when rolling out change and new tools (22:38) Finding the right pace in technology decisions (28:54) Carrying culture forward into the AI age Resources: For the entire interview,
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