Best of Here to Help: Lessons in Leadership with Indeed CEO Chris Hyams

“How are you doing today?”

Indeed CEO Chris Hyams begins each episode of his podcast and video series Here to Help greeting his guests this way. The series launched in 2020 to support employers navigating the challenges of managing a workforce during the pandemic but has since evolved to challenge the status quo of traditional work life. As the years have passed, guests’ responses to this question and their stories have become more candid and human, reflecting the dynamics of today’s workplace.

“I know Chris's hope is that we maintain that empathy and sense of personal connection that emerged during the pandemic years,” says Aidan McLaughlin, Director of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Brand at Indeed.

”At Indeed, our mission is to help people get jobs,” Hyams said in one episode. “What powers that mission is people. Here to Help is a look at how experience, strength and hope inspire people to want to help others.”

As Here to Help executive producer, McLaughlin ensures that the series includes a diverse range of perspectives, from veterans to filmmakers. He says, “The more we expose ourselves to different ways of thinking, the more likely we will be able to solve future challenges. That’s what makes us better leaders.”

Take the episode featuring renowned drag queen and self-proclaimed “accidental activist” Panti Bliss, whose experience growing up in the repressive society of 1980s Ireland influenced how she strives to help others joyfully embrace their identities today.

“Having fun in a world that despises you is a radical act. Dancing in a world that wishes you were dead is a radical act,” Bliss told Hyams. “And the most radical act of all was refusing to be invisible. One thing that drag queens aren't is invisible.”

McLaughlin describes each episode as an opportunity for growth, both in and out of the workplace. “I don't think I'm the same person I was when I began this project because of how many different stories and opinions I've been exposed to in helping craft an episode,” he says. “It helps me in my personal relationships, with my kids, and to be a better manager and direct report for people. That's kind of amazing.”

Whatever you and your workforce may be facing, whether it’s shifting work environments, a greater focus on work wellbeing or the boom of AI in hiring, Indeed is here to help. Here are 10 of the most captivating Here to Help guests during 2023 and their ideas for how to create better work for better lives.

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Juneteenth Special: Why is the problem with racism saying "the problem is racism"? with Dr. Ibram X Kendi, award-winning author, Andrew W. Mellon professor in the Humanities at Boston University and Director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research.

What’s the difference between diversity and inclusion? with Yahan Mensah, Indeed Associate UX Content Designer and Regional Co-Chair of Black Inclusion Group, the Indeed inclusion business resource group for members of the African diaspora and their allies.

Special: How do we keep the stories of the Holocaust alive through third-generation survivors and beyond? with Lauren Engelman, Indeed Global Client Partner.

If AI can replace some jobs, should we? with Missy Cummings, professor and Director of George Mason University's Autonomy and Robotics Center.

How does the media shape our view of the world? with Shuronda Robinson, CEO of Austin Woman Magazine and Founder, President and CEO of Adisa Communications.

Why is AI not an authority on fairness? with Hannah Fry, mathematician, author and award-winning science presenter.

Why does tech build inferior products? with Matt Stephenson, CEO and cofounder of Code2College, which prepares underrepresented and low-income high school students with the skills to pursue STEM careers.

Why does Juneteenth mark the start of freedom for everybody? with Ms. Opal Lee, the oldest living board member of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation.

How can women ensure they're being paid fairly? with Jen Ngozi, the founder of NetWerk, a platform on a mission to help 1 million women get promoted by 2030.

Why is having fun in a world that despises you a radical act? with Panti Bliss, Irish drag queen, “gender discombobulist” and activist.

Here to Help is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Audible, Pandora and Amazon Music. If this is your first time listening, be sure to check out this playlist for newcomers to the podcast.