HR Storytelling Is Changing. Audrey Tells Us What Comes Next | SHRM'26 | WRKdefined Podcast Network: Conversations Pushing The Boundaries of Work

HR has no shortage of stories. The problem is making people care about them. Audrey Surette says the best HR storytelling starts by stripping away the jargon and finding the human story people can actually relate to.

AI, storytelling, HR tech, communications, AI agents, workforce trends. As AI moves from experimentation toward real adoption, the next wave of HR stories may be less about what the technology can do and more about proving what it actually changed.

In this episode… Audrey explains how HR companies can tell stories that actually land, why smaller businesses are often overlooked in the AI conversation, and what HR leaders may be talking about a year from now. The conversation also gets into AI co-workers, PR, content creation, and why sometimes the best way to finish a press release is simply to stop editing it.

Key Takeaways :

Good HR storytelling starts with relatability. Audrey looks for stories she can connect with and strips away the industry language so the message can actually land with people at different career stages.
Smaller businesses are getting overlooked in AI. Audrey points out that companies with 50 to 100 employees can benefit from advanced AI technology but are often left out of conversations focused on enterprise organizations.
Small businesses matter to the workforce. Audrey regularly follows the Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report and says smaller businesses have consistently been where many jobs are being added.
The AI conversation is moving from hype to proof. Today people are talking about managing AI agents. Audrey expects the conversation to shift toward evidence of what those agents actually accomplished and the lessons organizations learned.
AI could become a real co-worker. Audrey's company is already experimenting with AI copilots across different PR functions. She expects the bigger conversation to become the practical experience of working alongside AI, including the challenges that come with it.
Sometimes the biggest writing problem is overthinking. Audrey says she can write a press release in about 30 minutes, while the conversation contrasts that with a 15-minute approach. The takeaway is simple: set a timer, get the first version done, and don't let endless edits turn a short task into a two-day project.