Is it the end of HR Famous? #HRFamous

On episode 98 of The HR Famous Podcast, long-time HR leaders (and friends) Tim Sackett, Jessica Lee, and Kris Dunn come together to discuss coffee rules of the office, KD’s new job, and changes to the podcast!

Listen below (click this link if you don’t see the player) and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (Apple Podcasts) and follow (Spotify)!

Coldplay, CHROs & Crisis Comms: A Masterclass with Dinah Alobeid HR Famous

In this episode of the HR Famous Podcast, Tim Sackett welcomes communications pro Dinah Alobeid for a brutally honest, wildly entertaining conversation about corporate comms, brand moments, and the power of good storytelling in HR tech. Dinah, now Head of Communications at Visier and formerly with Greenhouse, joins Tim for a laugh-filled yet thought-provoking discussion that touches on everything from corporate crisis responses to acoustic wedding songs to how HR leaders get held to a higher standard than CEOs. 🔥 Topics covered in this episode include: What real corporate communications looks like (and why most companies miss the mark) The now-legendary Coldplay/CHRO kiss drama—and the brilliant response from Astronomer (yes, the one with Gwyneth Paltrow) Why the CEO’s wife may have written the best PR letter in recent memory American Eagle’s “great genes” ad featuring Sydney Sweeney and why it caused a social media uproar Why it's nearly impossible for brands to "win" online anymore—and why maybe that's okay The importance of honest, unscripted customer stories in HR tech marketing Dinah also shares her career shift into HR tech and what drew her to Visier, a people analytics company powering smarter decisions with workforce data and AI. Tim pushes her to get real about what Visier actually does and how comms leaders can explain complex HR tech in simple, compelling terms. But this episode isn’t just about work—Tim and Dinah go personal, trading stories about: Wedding songs (Tim forgot his, kind of…) Songs for their kids Dinah’s upcoming podcast, Play This at My Funeral, which dives into grief, existentialism, and the music that defines us Why Gen Z and future HR leaders crave unscripted, real content over overproduced messaging If you’ve ever worked in HR, comms, or brand marketing—or just love when pop culture crashes into corporate drama—this episode is for you. 💡 Key Takeaway: Authenticity wins. Whether you're handling a PR crisis, launching an HR tech product, or dancing to Sam Smith at your wedding, what resonates is being real. In an age of backlash and viral moments, the best brands and leaders don’t hide behind polished messaging—they show up human. 🎧 Tune in now to hear Tim and Dinah break it all down with humor, heart, and the kind of insight you won't find in a whitepaper.
  1. Coldplay, CHROs & Crisis Comms: A Masterclass with Dinah Alobeid
  2. Big Tech Buys Little Tech: Will SAP Ruin SmartRecruiters?
  3. SHRM Annual Recap, AI Hype, Layoff Myths & the Top 100 Recruiting Tech List
  4. Coldplay, CEOs, and Cheating Scandals: The HR Meltdown That United the Internet
  5. How to Fight Candidate Fraud: AI, Hiring Security, and the Future of Recruiting with Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

1:30 – KD still isn’t playing Wordle. Quite late to the party still…

3:30 – Dawn Burke sent the crew her husband’s coffee routine. This made Tim wonder when free coffee at work became a thing. He wants free Diet Mountain Dew at work!

6:30 – Tim has some observations as a non-coffee drinker. He observes the dynamics of bad coffee makers vs. good coffee makers. 

8:50 – KD recently visited Tim’s home base in Lansing, MI. He thought it was a lot smaller than Tim makes it sound. 

11:20 – Big announcement! KD accepted a new job at Marriott, joining JLee! He’s staying in Alabama but visiting Bethesda, MD every couple of weeks. 

14:15 – KD says that he didn’t do the LinkedIn post that talks about leaving a company but without giving an update. JLee and Tim hate those posts. 

17:30 – In the very first episode of this podcast, KD got hate from JLee for saying Marriott wrong. It’s Marriott, like a chariot. 

22:45 – KD has noticed that some partners at Marriott have been eager to come to Birmingham instead of having him go into the DC area. He says he’s fine to travel to them instead of hosting others. 

29:00 – Next big announcement of the pod, KD is going to be leaving. JLee and Tim are going to continue on with the mission! He’s leaving but not gone forever.

One thought on “Is it the end of HR Famous? #HRFamous

  1. Congratulations on your new gig KD!!! Marriott (like Chariot) is a fabulous employer. My husband was with them 18 years before he got out of hospitality and move to IT. We loved everything about Marriott, but the benefit I miss the most is the Associate Rate!!! Good like and you will be missed on the podcast!

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