Pat Wadors
CHRO
Intuitive
Episode 122
Embrace Constraints: The Product Management Mindset Revolutionizing HR with AI
Current chapter: Built by People podcast features insights from world's top HR leaders
Built By PeopleJuly 1, 2025 · 7:49
Thesis
“Pat Wadors advocates for embracing constraints as catalysts for creativity and adopting an agile, product-management mindset in HR to foster employee engagement and successfully navigate technological disruption like AI.”
Show notes
Creativity Under Constraints: Insights from Pat on Agile HR PracticesIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, the host welcomes Pat, an HR executive, to discuss his career journey and innovative HR strategies. Pat shares how his struggles in school led to a career in HR, influenced by family members in the field. He emphasizes the importance of constraints in fostering creativity and provides a metaphor of a crow solving a problem through ingenuity. Pat illustrates how resource limitations led to the development of AI solutions to better support employees. He also compares HR processes to product management, advocating for iterative development. Additionally, Pat discusses embracing AI and technological change to create opportunities and elevate workplace joy. He concludes with advice on viewing HR as a craft, emphasizing continual learning and the importance of asking questions.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:14 Sponsor Message: Previ Network00:38 Guest Introduction: Pat's Career Journey01:31 The Theory of Constraints and Agility03:04 Innovative AI Solutions in HR04:22 Transforming HR with Product Management Principles05:56 Embracing Technological Disruption07:15 Parting Advice and Conclusion
What you'll take away
- 1Creativity is fueled by constraints; limited resources force innovative solutions.
- 2Adopt a product management approach in HR, using iterative development and customer feedback to roll out systems and initiatives.
- 3Leverage AI and bots for self-service tasks, freeing human HR professionals to provide high-touch "care" for complex employee needs.
- 4Frame technological disruptions like AI as opportunities to elevate work and create new roles, rather than focusing on job elimination.
- 5Prioritize asking questions (five before making a statement) and actively listening to echo back and support business needs.
What most organizations get wrong
- •Embracing budget cuts and resource limitations as creative opportunities rather than hindrances.
- •Rejecting the fear of AI-driven job elimination, instead framing it as a source of new opportunities and elevated work.
- •Prioritizing "progress over perfection" in HR system rollouts, advocating for iterative, agile development rather than a single flawless launch.
In Pat's words
“Knowing how to hire, develop, retain, engage creates amazing companies.”
Highlights the foundational importance of strategic talent management.
“Creativity loves constraints. So if you have a never-ending budget, you're not gonna think outside the box.”
This is her core philosophy on innovation.
“What can AI do for all of us? Don't fear it. Like, don't have this bias against job elimination. It's going to create more opportunity and elevate the joy of what you get to do versus what you stop doing.”
Her perspective on AI dispels common anxieties.
“Progress is perfection. You're not going to get a perfectly rolled out system. Never happens. So if you look at it from an iterative agile development methodology...”
Emphasizes agile principles in HR implementation.
“Questions are our best tool. Ask 5 questions before you even begin to make a statement. And then learn how to echo back what you hear from the business and support that need.”
Practical advice for effective leadership communication.
The problems this episode addresses
- •Difficulty in providing comprehensive employee care and support with limited HR resources.
- •Ineffective HR system implementations due to a lack of iterative development and business buy-in.
- •Employee anxiety and resistance towards technological disruptions like AI in the workplace.
In this episode
Built by People podcast features insights from world's top HR leaders
Built by People
And as a starting question, I always love to ask about your career journey
How Did You Get Your Start in HR?
Pat Waters: Creativity loves constraints. So if you have a never-ending budget, you're not creative
In the Age of Constrains
A time when resource limitations led to innovative AI solutions in your HR practice
In the Elevator With HR: Creativity
Pat has transformed HR thinking to be more like product management using iterative development
Employee HR: More Product-Like
With AI and technological disruption, how have you helped your team embrace changes
Employee Experience: AI and the Workplace
Topics covered
Organizations and entities mentioned
Full transcript
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