Invest in Your Gen Z Talent and They’ll Invest Back

What if the Gen Z talent you keep losing was never the problem? It starts on day one, with how you set them up. Ashlynne Valdez, PHR, is a Gen Z HR practitioner and the founder of SoundHR, a boutique HR and recruiting firm. In this episode of Courage to Advance, Ashlynne joins Kim Bohr to take apart the two stories leaders tell themselves about Gen Z, that they are lazy and entitled or that they are digital natives who will figure it out alone, and to make the case that what looks like a generation problem is really a structure problem leaders own. ──── ABOUT THIS EPISODE ──── Ashlynne Valdez founded SoundHR to help companies build the structure, clarity, and development that turn new hires into people who stay. She is also the organizer of DisruptHR Las Vegas and the president and founder of the People & Profits Association, built on the premise that when you invest in your people, your profits follow. Learn more: https://www.soundhr.com ──── KEY TOPICS ──── ► Why the "lazy" and "tech native" stories about Gen Z both cost you talent ► What actually breaks trust on day one, and how to fix onboarding ► The questions every candidate should ask, and what the answers reveal ► Low-cost moves that build real loyalty ► How to use AI to build structure so leaders can spend more time being human ► Why HR is a revenue function, not a cost center, and what happens to the pipeline when entry-level roles disappear ──── CHAPTERS ──── 0:00 The two stories leaders tell about Gen Z 3:10 The moment that made her build SoundHR 4:28 Not your mama's HR, from tactical to strategic 6:32 Boundaries, not entitlement 8:56 Low-cost moves that build loyalty 11:57 Using AI to build structure so leaders can be human 20:43 Invest in your people and the profits follow 24:46 AI, entry-level roles, and the pipeline risk ──── RESOURCES ──── ► SoundHR: https://www.soundhr.com ► People & Profits Association: https://peopleandprofitsassoc.org ► Connect with Ashlynne on LinkedIn:   / ashlynne-valdez-phr-295706219   ► SparkEffect Trust in Turbulence research: https://info.sparkeffect.com/trust-st... ► SparkEffect Leadership Development and Executive Coaching: https://sparkeffect.com/ ──── ABOUT COURAGE TO ADVANCE ──── Courage to Advance explores how visionary leaders build the organizations they wish existed through trust, transparency, and the willingness to challenge what no longer works. Hosted by Kim Bohr, President and CEO of SparkEffect, the show brings senior HR and business leaders into honest conversation about leading people through real complexity. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss new episodes 🎧 Listen on every platform: https://sparkeffect.com/sparkeffect-p... ──── ABOUT SPARKEFFECT ──── SparkEffect helps leaders and organizations build the trust, capability, and resilience to come through disruption stronger. Our work spans executive coaching, leadership development, and organizational transformation. 🌐 https://sparkeffect.com #LeadershipDevelopment #GenZ #EmployeeRetention #CHRO #HRLeadership #TalentStrategy #FutureOfWork #OrganizationalTrust