Laura Maffucci
VP, Head of Human Resources
G-P
Episode 236
Embrace AI in Global HR: A Principled Approach Secures Your Future Relevance
Current chapter: Built by People podcast features insights from world's top HR leaders
Built By PeopleApril 10, 2025 · 6:05
Thesis
“A holistic, principled approach to global HR is crucial for consistency and employee care, while embracing AI as a strategic enabler, backed by education and security, is vital for HR's future relevance.”
Show notes
Global HR Strategies, AI Integration, and Embracing Change with Laura Maffucci on the Built by People Podcast
In this episode of the Built by People Podcast, sponsored by Previ, host welcomes Laura, an HR executive with a diverse background spanning various industries. Laura shares her career journey in HR, emphasizing the importance of holistic strategies in implementing global HR policies. She discusses key considerations for global consistency in HR, the necessity of understanding local regulations and norms, and the integral role of employee feedback. Furthermore, Laura addresses the challenges of AI integration in HR, overcoming fear and resistance, and leveraging AI to enhance strategic HR functions. Her parting advice focuses on embracing change and ensuring AI security within organizations.
00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast
00:16 Sponsorship Message from Previ
00:44 Guest Introduction: Laura's Career Journey
01:51 Key Considerations for Global HR Strategy
02:53 Developing a Global Employment Strategy
03:40 Integrating AI into HR Practices
04:28 Leveraging AI for Employee Engagement
05:27 Parting Advice and Conclusion
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What you'll take away
- 1Prioritize a holistic global HR strategy with guiding principles for parity and consistency, rather than immediately focusing on tactical elements like pay and benefits.
- 2Effectively develop global employment strategies by actively listening to local hires and conducting thorough research on country-specific norms and legal requirements.
- 3Overcome fear and resistance to AI in HR through education and training, emphasizing its role in enabling strategic, value-added work rather than job replacement.
- 4Leverage AI components in existing HR systems as an early adopter to streamline processes, enhance employee engagement, and empower HR to be more strategic.
- 5Ensure robust security protocols and educate employees on proper AI usage to prevent compromise of confidential company information.
What most organizations get wrong
- •AI isn't going to take your job, but it is going to impact people who aren't willing to embrace AI.
- •A common mistake in global HR is jumping straight to tactical pay and benefits; instead, focus on holistic global parity and consistency principles.
In Laura's words
“I think it's really easy for companies to jump right to the tactical. What am I going to pay them? What are the benefits going to be? And of course, those things are important and you have to do those. But I think a mistake you can make is jumping right there and not thinking holistically about how you're going to drive global parity, global consistency.”
Highlights a common misstep in global HR strategy by prioritizing tactical over holistic thinking.
“But I think what you want to do is think about who you want to be as an employer and how you want to take care of people and come up with— what we do is we have guiding principles around all of our benefits, all where we say, okay, what is the minimum level of care we want to have across the board in all countries?”
Provides a practical framework for establishing consistent employee care standards globally.
“AI isn't going to take your job, but it is going to impact people who aren't willing to embrace AI.”
Reframes the perceived threat of AI, shifting focus from job loss to the necessity of adaptability.
“So I think really just being an early adopter and when the tools are in front of you, dig into them, learn about them, and actually put them into practice and make use of them.”
Offers actionable advice for HR professionals to actively engage with new technology, particularly AI tools.
“Fear is what holds most companies back, wanting to just stand firm here and, well, the way it's always been, then I'm just going to be able to stay here. And that's not the case. That's not going to make you safe.”
Emphasizes the critical importance of embracing change for organizational safety and progress.
The problems this episode addresses
- •Companies struggle to achieve global parity and consistency in HR due to diverse regulations and a tendency to focus solely on tactical compensation and benefits.
- •HR leaders face challenges in developing global employment strategies that effectively accommodate varied cultural norms and legal requirements across countries.
- •Fear and resistance to change hinder effective AI integration, preventing HR professionals from leveraging tools that could enhance strategic capabilities.
- •Time-consuming, non-strategic tasks (e.g., research, initial drafting, resume scanning) detract from HR's ability to act as strategic business partners.
In this episode
Built by People podcast features insights from world's top HR leaders
Built by People
You're the new head of HR at GP, so congratulations on joining
Top HR Executives: Your Career Journey
HR professionals should develop a global employment strategy that accommodates diverse cultures
Developing a Global HR Strategy
What potential challenges might HR face when integrating AI into their practices
challenges in integrating AI into HR practices
Laura, what parting advice would you share with our community? Don't be afraid of change
A Week in the Life of Laura Crow
Topics covered
Organizations and entities mentioned
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