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Belonging, Trust, and the Human Side of HR with Nae Hakala

Transform Your Workplace

Release Date: 01/13/2026

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Transform Your Workplace

In this eye-opening episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Sarah Allen Benton, licensed mental health counselor, treatment program owner, and author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic: Breaking the Cycle and Finding Hope. Together, they unravel one of the most misunderstood issues affecting modern professionals and workplaces today: high‑functioning alcoholism. Sarah shares her personal journey to sobriety, the psychology behind addiction, and the cultural and workplace systems that keep high achievers hidden in plain sight. She offers practical...

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In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws is joined by Nae Hakala, HR Business Partner at Xenium HR, for a thoughtful and practical conversation about leadership, empathy, and building workplaces that truly support people.

Nae shares her career journey, from managing creative teams early in her career to supporting organizations through complex and often difficult people challenges today. Together, Brandon and Nae explore what it really means to lead with humanity, why belonging and trust are essential business strategies, and how leaders can balance results with empathy in a rapidly changing workplace.

Listeners will hear real-world insights on recruiting with care, navigating hard conversations like reductions in force, the risks of over-automating HR with AI, and why everyday leadership behaviors matter more than big, performative initiatives. This episode is especially relevant for leaders, HR professionals, and nonprofit organizations navigating growth, change, and limited resources.

Key Timestamps

  • 00:00 – What Transform Your Workplace is all about and why this conversation matters

  • 02:00 – Nae’s early leadership experience managing creative teams and what it taught her

  • 04:00 – Why getting involved builds community at work and beyond

  • 05:30 – How retail and hospitality shaped Nae’s empathetic approach to HR

  • 07:00 – Seeing the human behind every HR request, especially in difficult moments

  • 08:30 – Handling reductions in force with dignity, respect, and compassion

  • 10:00 – Recruiting at scale without losing the human touch

  • 11:30 – Where AI helps HR and where it risks doing harm

  • 13:00 – Lessons from equity-focused work in public education

  • 16:00 – Why discomfort is part of growth for leaders and organizations

  • 18:00 – Turning belonging into a practical, everyday business strategy

  • 20:00 – Moving from talent acquisition into a broader HR business partner role

  • 22:00 – Studying leadership frameworks and applying them in real time

  • 23:30 – What today’s workforce is asking for that wasn’t as visible before

  • 25:00 – Consulting across different organizations, cultures, and constraints

  • 27:00 – Supporting nonprofits with limited resources and long-term thinking

  • 29:00 – Building strong HR foundations that reduce firefighting

  • 31:00 – Why supporting employees drives results and reduces turnover

  • 33:00 – Final thoughts on leadership, trust, and showing up for people

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR
Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon’s own words:
“The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought leaders.”

About Xenium HR

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience.
Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace:
Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/

Connect with Brandon Laws

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon
About Brandon: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws

Connect with Xenium HR

Website: https://xeniumhr.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR