★ Learning Lab

The SMPHR Learning Lab.

Videos, articles, guides, and member-only tools — search the library and learn at your own pace.

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Article Article

Stop Promoting the Wrong People into Manager Roles

Research shows one in four managers would prefer not to manage people, urging smarter promotion criteria.

leadership · HBR
Article Article

9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2025 and Beyond

Gartner identifies three critical workforce challenges: future-readiness, evolving manager roles, and emerging talent risks.

general · HBR
Article Article

HR's 2026 Guide to Pay Equity

A practical framework for building proactive pay equity strategies amid growing transparency laws and regulatory pressure.

compensation · Payscale
Article Article

5 Ways to Make Mentorship Programs Successful in 2025

Research-backed strategies for designing mentorship programs that boost retention and development across all organizational levels.

mentorship · Great Place To Work
Video Video

How to Get Better at the Things You Care About

Eduardo Briceño explains why alternating learning and performance zones accelerates skill growth.

career · TED
Video Video

The Power of Vulnerability

Brené Brown explores how embracing vulnerability transforms courage and authentic leadership.

leadership · TED
Video Video

The Puzzle of Motivation

Dan Pink challenges traditional reward-based management with science-backed motivation principles.

general · TED
Video Video

How to Find the Work You Love

Scott Dinsmore shares how finding your unique strengths leads to fulfilling career paths.

mentorship · TEDx
Video Video

The Way We Think About Work Is Broken

Barry Schwartz argues that meaningful work requires purpose beyond financial incentives for all workers.

dei · TED
Article Article

2025 Compensation Trends: Pay Transparency, Slowing Raises, and More

Covers pay transparency laws, skills-based pay, and slowing raise budgets shaping 2025 compensation strategy.

compensation · SHRM
Article Article

Women in the Workplace 2024: The 10th-Anniversary Report

Decade-long data on women's representation across corporate pipelines, with actionable DEI best practices.

dei · McKinsey
Article Article

Women Show Stronger Employee Engagement Amid Higher Burnout

Gallup research reveals women lead in engagement and career motivation but face disproportionately higher burnout.

general · Gallup
Article Article

Build a More Inclusive Workplace

Five management practices that drive inclusion and performance without relying on formal DEI programs.

leadership · HBR
Article Article

HR Compliance Is Changing Quickly. Here's How to Prepare

Practical guide to 2025 regulatory shifts: AI legislation, pay transparency, remote-worker taxes, and non-competes.

compliance · HR Executive
Video Video

The Critical Role of Strategic Workforce Planning in the Age of AI

McKinsey senior partners reveal how HR leaders can build human-AI skill partnerships for workforce strategy.

general · McKinsey
Video Video

Pay Transparency: Legal Insights, Proven Strategies, and Compliance Updates

Expert panel covers pay transparency laws, compliance obligations, and practical HR implementation strategies.

compliance · SHRM
Article Article

4 Forces Shaping CHRO Priorities in 2026

Gartner identifies four imperatives for HR leaders: harnessing AI, reimagining work, mobilizing leaders, and strengthening culture.

leadership · SHRM
Article Article

Weave Mentorship into the Fabric of Your Organization

Organizations should adopt a mentoring-for-all approach where every employee is assigned both a mentor and a mentee.

mentorship · HBR
Article Article

2026 Top HR and Compensation Priorities and Predictions

HR leaders must treat compensation as a strategic tool built on pay transparency, data, and cross-functional collaboration.

compensation · Payscale
Video Video

How Salary Transparency Can Help You (and Your Workplace)

HBR explains how pay transparency closes wage gaps and benefits employees and organizations alike.

compensation · HBR
Video Video

Leveraging Mentorship for Career Growth: Avoid These 3 Common Mistakes

HBR identifies three critical mentorship mistakes that derail career growth and how to avoid them.

mentorship · HBR
Video Video

The Best Kept Secret to a Successful Career

Career coach Michael Lawrence reveals how cognitive reframing unlocks long-term professional success.

career · TEDx
Article Article

HR Monitor 2026: Top Trends in the People Function

Compensation now ranks as employees' top reason to stay, yet 57% received no salary increase in the past year.

compensation · McKinsey
Article Article

The Upside of Opening Up DEI Programs to Everyone

Research reveals surprising benefits when companies broaden DEI programs to include all employees, not just specific groups.

dei · HBR
Article Article

2026 HR Compliance Changes: What Leaders Can't Afford to Miss

New state mandates on AI, paid leave, retirement, and tax law are accelerating HR compliance complexity in 2026.

compliance · HR Executive
Article Article

The 7 HR Trends That Will Impact Businesses in 2026 — and Beyond

SHRM identifies seven forces reshaping HR leadership, including AI adoption, personalized coaching, and workforce restructuring.

leadership · SHRM
Video Video

How Great Leaders Inspire Action

Simon Sinek reveals why inspiring leaders start with 'why' before communicating how or what.

leadership · TED
Video Video

Building a Psychologically Safe Workplace

Harvard professor Amy Edmondson shows why psychological safety drives team learning and performance.

general · TEDx
Video Video

A New Explanation for the Wage Gap Between Men and Women

Researcher Maura Belliveau reveals how manager assumptions about women's values drive pay disparities.

compensation · TEDx
Article Article

Cultivating Resilience Through Inclusive Leadership

Inclusive leadership practices build team resilience by surfacing diverse voices and distributing skills across the organization.

leadership · SHRM
Article Article

Mentors and Sponsors Make the Difference

Employees with formal mentors or sponsors are more than twice as likely to see clear career development paths.

mentorship · Gallup
Article Article

One in Four U.S. Employees Lack Advancement Opportunities

A 2025 Gallup survey finds advancement gaps fall disproportionately on less-educated and smaller-company employees.

career · Gallup
Article Article

Compliance Complexity: How Employers Can Cope with an Increasingly Fractured State-Law Patchwork

Diverging state employment laws demand jurisdiction-specific compliance strategies as federal guidance simultaneously retreats.

compliance · HR Dive
Article Article

Why We Choose to Use "Equity & Inclusion" Over "DEI"

Culture Amp explains why shifting language from DEI to equity and inclusion better drives structural, outcomes-focused workplace change.

dei · Culture Amp
Video Video

Inside SHRM's CHRO Report: What's Next for 2025?

SHRM's CHRO and VP unpack top HR leader priorities, economic shifts, and AI's expanding workplace role.

leadership · SHRM
Video Video

How to Find the Person Who Can Help You Get Ahead at Work

Carla Harris shows why sponsorship—not just mentorship—is the real key to career advancement.

mentorship · TED
Video Video

13 Future HR Skills You Need to Start Building Today

AIHR identifies the 13 critical skills HR professionals must develop to stay future-ready.

career · AIHR
Video Video

Compensation & Benefits Trends for 2025: Gen AI in Total Rewards

HR leaders discuss how generative AI and flexibility are reshaping total rewards strategies.

compensation · AIHR
Video Video

Belonging, A Critical Piece of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Workday's Chief Diversity Officer explains why belonging is the cornerstone of any effective DEI strategy.

dei · TEDx
Article Article

International Pay Transparency and Pay Equity Trends: 2026

How multinational organizations should navigate rapidly evolving pay transparency laws and competitive pressures.

compensation · Korn Ferry
Article Article

Women in the Workplace 2025

Landmark annual study revealing employees with sponsors are promoted at nearly twice the rate.

mentorship · McKinsey & Company
Article Article

2026 Global Human Capital Trends: From Tensions to Tipping Points

How CHROs can leverage human-centered approaches alongside AI to navigate workforce transformation.

leadership · Deloitte Insights
Article Article

Fewer Americans See Diversity as a Business Priority

Support for workplace DEI has dropped to its lowest recorded level among American workers.

dei · Gallup
Article Article

The State of AI in HR 2026 Report

Research finding 46% of organizations plan AI adoption in HR while human judgment remains essential.

general · SHRM
Video Video

Stand Out in a Job Interview | The Harvard Business Review Guide

HBR contributing editor Amy Gallo shares strategic tips to prepare and succeed in job interviews.

career · Harvard Business Review
Video Video

The 21st Century Guide to Mentorship | Elizabeth Trinh | TEDxUofM

Elizabeth Trinh explores finding mentors in unexpected places and building modern support networks.

mentorship · TEDx
Video Video

Pay Transparency: The Basics For HR

AIHR breaks down pay transparency fundamentals and how HR can build fair, equitable compensation structures.

compensation · AIHR
Video Video

Thought leaders share what's ahead for DEI in 2024

McKinsey CPO Katy George and National Diversity Council CEO discuss inclusive workplace priorities.

dei · National Diversity Council
Video Video

How SHRM Is Reimagining HR in the AI Era

SHRM's Chief Transformation Officer discusses structured agility and HR's evolution in an AI-driven workplace.

general · HR Leaders
Article Article

Research: As Careers Get Longer, Midcareer Work Needs to Change

Explores how extended career spans require reimagined approaches to midcareer development and progression.

career · Harvard Business Review
Article Article

Why Strategic CHROs Don't Wait for an Invitation

Examines how CHROs can drive organizational strategy and business impact proactively.

leadership · HR Executive
Article Article

Individual HSA Contribution Limit to Rise 2.27% in 2027

Updates on 2027 HSA contribution limits and implications for employee benefits compliance.

compliance · HR Executive
Article Article

Accountability Is Leadership's Greatest Weakness

Research reveals accountability gaps as a critical leadership challenge affecting organizational performance.

general · Gallup
Article Article

HR in the Boardroom: How To Build Executive Presence

Guidance for HR leaders to develop executive presence and influence senior organizational decision-making.

mentorship · AIHR
Video Video

How to Claim Your Leadership Power

Michael Timms explores how to overcome counterproductive instincts and claim leadership power.

leadership · TED
Video Video

Preparing for a Career in Entrepreneurship at Stanford GSB

Stanford GSB faculty guide on career preparation and mentorship for entrepreneurship.

mentorship · Stanford GSB
Video Video

How to Get Into the Stanford GSB (2025-2026)

Insights into Stanford GSB admissions process and career path guidance.

career · Stanford GSB
Video Video

Can Employees Help HR Stay Compliant?

SHRM investigation into employee role in maintaining HR compliance standards.

compliance · SHRM
Video Video

Rethinking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Harvard Business Review explores moving beyond traditional DEI approaches.

dei · Harvard Business Review
Article Article

Mentorship Supports Employees and Organizations amid Uncertainty

Mentorship accelerates individual growth and builds organizational resilience during layoffs and economic disruption.

mentorship · SHRM
Article Article

What Comes After DEI

Lily Zheng proposes replacing DEI with a FAIR framework focused on measurable outcomes over programs.

dei · Harvard Business Review
Article Article

The Legal Landscape Around DEI Is Shifting. Your Messaging Should, Too.

Anti-DEI lawsuits and executive orders require HR to immediately rethink how they communicate diversity commitments.

compliance · Harvard Business Review
Article Article

Anemic Employee Engagement Points to Leadership Challenges

U.S. engagement stuck at 32% as leaders fail on transparency, culture, and performance feedback.

leadership · Gallup
Article Article

The Rise of the Superworker: Delivering On The Promise Of AI

AI is creating a new class of empowered employees — HR must redesign jobs and talent strategies now.

general · Josh Bersin
Article Article

The Future of Compensation Is Flexible, Fair and Fast

Living wages, same-day pay, and financial coaching are replacing outdated two-week pay cycle models.

compensation · HR Executive
Article Article

A Data-Driven Approach to Advancing Meritocracy

Well-intentioned meritocracy efforts can deepen inequity — data shows HR how to close the gap.

dei · MIT Sloan Management Review
Article Article

Research: How Men and Women Sponsor Junior Colleagues

New research reveals how sponsorship behavior differs by gender and what that means for equity.

career · Harvard Business Review
Video Video

Where DEI Falls Short — and How To Rethink It

Y-Vonne Hutchinson dismantles superficial DEI approaches and offers a sharper, more accountable framework.

dei · TED
Video Video

We Need Leaders Who Boldly Champion Inclusion

June Sarpong makes the case that bold inclusive leadership drives creativity, profit, and social progress.

leadership · TED
Video Video

How to be an Inclusive Leader In The 21st Century

Tayo Rockson shows how multicultural identity is a leadership superpower for the modern workplace.

leadership · TEDx
Video Video

The Power of Peer Mentoring in Shaping HR Leaders

Mary Kitson unpacks how peer mentoring programs accelerate HR leadership development at any career stage.

mentorship · SHRM
Video Video

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion isn't What You Think

Christie Lindor reframes DEI as a systemic business strategy, not a feel-good HR checkbox.

dei · TEDx
Video Video

The Future of Pay Equity Compliance: Tools & Tactics for HR Teams

Expert panel delivers a strategic playbook for navigating pay equity laws and closing compensation gaps.

compensation · SHRM
Video Video

AI Is Killing the Career Ladder. A Stanford Economist Explains What Comes Next

Stanford's Bharat Chandar reveals how AI is reshaping career trajectories and what professionals must do now.

career · Stanford Digital Economy Lab
Video Video

2024 Predictions for HR: Productivity, Growth, and AI

Josh Bersin presents 15 data-driven HR predictions covering AI, workforce productivity, and talent strategy.

general · The Josh Bersin Company
Video 14 min

Multicultural Leadership in HR

A candid conversation on leading inclusively in today's workplace.

leadership · SMPHR
Article 8 min read

2026 HR Trends to Watch

AI, skills-based hiring, and the shifts shaping HR this year.

general · SMPHR
Guide Guide

The Manager's Guide to Difficult Conversations

A practical framework for feedback, conflict, and accountability.

career · SMPHR
Article 10 min read

Building an Inclusive Hiring Process

Reduce bias from job post to offer with proven tactics.

dei · SHRM
Video 9 min

Mentorship 101: Getting Started

How to make the most of a mentoring relationship — both sides.

mentorship · SMPHR
Guide Guide

St. Louis HR Career Pathways

Certifications, programs, and routes to advance HR careers locally.

career · SMPHR
Article 7 min read

Navigating Employment Law Changes

Stay ahead of the regulatory shifts that affect your workplace.

compliance · SMPHR
Template Template
Members only

Offer Letter & Job Description Library

Ready-to-use, member-vetted templates — drop in and customize.

career · SMPHR
Template Template
Members only

Performance Review Template Pack

Structured review templates for every cycle.

leadership · SMPHR
Recording 58 min
Members only

CHRO Roundtable — Full Recording

The complete signature event, members-only.

leadership · SMPHR
Recording Series
Members only

Power Hour Series — Recordings

Every Power Hour session in one place.

career · SMPHR
Guide PDF report
Members only

2026 St. Louis HR Salary Guide

Local salary benchmarks and total-rewards data.

compensation · SMPHR
Guide Toolkit
Members only

Mentorship Program Toolkit

Mentor and mentee handbooks for the 2026 cohort.

mentorship · SMPHR
Template Template
Members only

HR Policy & Handbook Starter Kit

Policy templates to customize for your organization.

compliance · SMPHR