Episode Details

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Takeaways

- The biggest misconception is that most people are excited about transformation.
- A small percentage of the workforce drives the majority of results.
- The top 20% of employees contribute to 80% of outcomes.
- The top 1% can drive a quarter of the results.
- Most employees are tied to their current work methods.
- Transformation may not feel significant to the majority.
- Business leaders often assume support without engagement.
- Engaging employees is crucial for successful transformation.
- There is often an under-investment in change management.
- Leaders must facilitate change rather than just declare it.

00:00 – Welcome & Jeff’s Backstory in HR Transformation
Adam kicks off the POZcast and introduces Jeff Williams, president and CFO at Aptia, walking through his career leading massive HR and business transformation efforts at Paychex, ADP, Alight, Aon and more.

01:13 – Growing Up With a Self-Made Father
Jeff shares his family story: born Canadian, raised American, youngest of eight, and the journey of his dad going from drafting apprentice to CEO at the same company over 33 years—and the lessons embedded in that.

02:35 – Early Lessons: Hard Work, Humor & Loss
Jeff reflects on what he learned from his father before losing him at 19: the value of hard work, eating fast at a crowded table, and keeping humor and lightness at the center of life and leadership.

03:45 – From Telecom to the People Business (ADP Entry Point)
Jeff explains how he moved from technology and telecom into human capital, taking on the role leading ADP’s Canadian operations and discovering the power of the HR and benefits space.

04:38 – Hiring at a High Bar: Talent, Drive & Instincts
Adam asks how Jeff hired to ADP’s level. Jeff lays out his hiring philosophy: ambition beyond natural gifts, complementary skills, people better than him in key areas—and why he trusts his instincts on fit.

06:25 – Real Leadership: Hiring People Better Than You
They dig into succession, “making yourself dispensable,” and the idea that if you can’t take a vacation without everything falling apart, that’s a failure of leadership, not a badge of honor.

07:30 – Pre-Email Days & The Human Side of Work
Jeff remembers the 286/386 era and talks about how, before digital tools, people invested more in each other in person—inside and outside of work—and how that shaped deeper relationships.

08:43 – Remote Work, COVID, and an Isolated Workforce
They go deep on the pandemic: the rapid shift home, the early productivity spike, inflation pressures, relocation, and the rise of isolation and mental health issues as remote work took hold.

11:10 – Young Workers, Office Longing & Loyalty Shifts
Adam shares what he’s seeing with candidates who actually want to be in-office to learn through osmosis. Je