Episode 205: Why CHROs are rethinking their roles: Jenna Eichberg (Chief People Officer at AlertMedia)
Watch our recent episode with Jenna Eichberg , Chief People Officer at AlertMedia.
We talked about the state of HR, why CHROs are rethinking their roles, and AlertMedia’s leadership programs.
If you don't have time to check it out, read the highlights below. ??
?? Why CHROs are rethinking their roles
Jenna on why CHROs are rethinking everything:
? The CHRO's Role Has Been Flipped Upside Down
In the thick of the pandemic, HR leaders became the glue holding organizations together.
They rethought everything—from safety protocols to benefits and keeping people connected in a disconnected world. They were putting on everyone else’s life jackets while barely holding onto their own.
? Then Came the Post-COVID Talent Battle
Right after surviving that storm, HR leaders walked into a new fire: the talent wars. Hiring exploded, compensation models got messy, and keeping new talent became the next big challenge. And just when they thought they had it handled—mass layoffs hit. The result? Exhausted CHROs left holding the bag, once again.
? But Here’s Where It Gets Interesting
With all that chaos, many CHROs are hitting pause and taking control of their careers. More are moving into fractional or interim roles, working on their own terms, and it’s creating a new path in the HR world. According to Jenna, it’s an exciting shift—CHROs can pick their projects, and companies are benefiting from fresh perspectives.
? Not Every CHRO Is Right for Every Company
Jenna also shared that there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all CHRO anymore. Each company needs a different kind of HR leader depending on their growth stage and strategy. The CHRO you need today might not be the one you need five years from now—and that’s okay.
?? What makes AlertMedia's leadership programs work?
What makes AlertMedia’s leadership programs work? It’s simple—they actually ask their leaders what they need.
Here's what she had to share on the mix of tools and approaches they use to meet their team's needs.
?? Leading at Alert
This is their homegrown, 2.5-day leadership development workshop, co-facilitated by leaders across the business.
What makes it different? It’s built from the ground up based on input from their executive and senior leadership teams, targeting the most critical skill gaps.
It’s practical, real-world, and features diverse voices to make sure leaders walk away with valuable, applicable insights.
?? Emerging Leaders Program
AlertMedia is working on their Emerging Leaders Program, designed for high-potential individual contributors who aspire to be future managers.
This program blends in-person sessions with expert-led workshops on topics like emotional intelligence and influential communication, giving participants the skills they need to succeed before they even step into a management role.
But the learning doesn’t end after the workshops. For 90 days, participants join virtual follow-ups to revisit important topics and continue practicing what they’ve learned. The focus is on making sure the skills they develop are reinforced over time.
领英推荐
?? Live Podcast & HR Meetup in Miami
Join us for a live podcast and HR meetup in Miami on December 10!
Speaker Lineup:
Event Highlights:
?? 2 hours of live podcasting on “The Manager Dilemma” with top HR leaders
?? 2 hours of structured networking to maximize connections
Use code MPL-LIVE-50 for 50% off tickets—grab yours before they sell out!
?? Grab Your Ticket ??
?? Aligning People Team Roles with the Big Picture & 2025 Goals
Jenna dug into how her team is setting the stage for 2025.
1?? First, her people team did a full look back at 2024: what did they accomplish, what did they learn, and what surprised them along the way?
2?? Then, they shifted to 2025. Instead of the typical "cascading goals," Jenna's team took a different approach.
They started with the business strategy—what does AlertMedia need from HR to crush their goals next year?
From there, they built their people strategy to enable those goals.
Everyone on the team now knows exactly how their role connects to the bigger picture.
?? Jenna's definition of a Modern People Leader
“A modern people leader deeply cares, stays curious, and continuously builds expertise in what their business needs most. They’re adaptable, forward-looking, and always preparing for the unknown just as much as the known.”
??The career advice Jenna would give to her 22-year-old self
"I’d tell her to be present. I’ve always focused on what’s next, but right now, I’m more present than I’ve ever been, and I wish I’d done that sooner. I was excited about what I was doing and what it could lead to, but I wonder—if I’d embraced the moment more, what else might I have gained?"
See you next week!
P.S. In Miami? Grab your ticket for MPL Live Miami on Dec 10th! Use code MPL-Live-50 for 50% off.
People and Organizational Excellence
2 周I felt this, imagine being new in HR ????♀?at a new org and city! “In the thick of the pandemic, HR leaders became the glue holding organizations together. They rethought everything—from safety protocols to benefits and keeping people connected in a disconnected world. They were putting on everyone else’s life jackets while barely holding onto their own.” ??