Live from isolved’s booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup grabs three HR leaders just before bingo hour—and asks them what heroism in the workplace really looks like.
Trica Walters (CHRO, Tulsa), Dr. Kelly Drummond (HR Director, City of Knoxville), and Laquita Jaouani (HR Specialist, Easily Blessed Media) each bring a unique lens. They talk about the power of connection, the gift of calm under pressure, and the magic that happens when humor breaks down walls. Their stories go beyond policy—they touch on sobriety, foster care, and hard-fought personal growth.
It’s a fast-paced, heartfelt chat about the real work behind HR—the quiet moments that build trust, and the bold ones that change lives.
Timestamps
00:00 — Recorded live from the isolved booth just before a prize giveaway
00:32 — Meet Trica, Laquita, and Dr. Kelly—HR leaders from Tulsa to Knoxville
01:00 — What does “people hero” mean? Each guest shares a distinct view
01:45 — Trica explains how kindness can lead to deep transformation
02:08 — HR superpowers revealed—from humor to K-pop to crisis calm
03:01 — Laquita’s BTS collection sparks real-world connections at work
03:10 — Dr. Kelly explains how staying calm anchors her team during chaos
04:12 — William’s pitbull metaphor for emotional leadership in HR
04:30 — What’s your transcendent moment? The guests reflect
04:45 — Laquita shares how a former foster youth changed her life
05:23 — Dr. Kelly recalls helping someone find peace, purpose, and passion
05:43 — Trica’s story of a terminated employee who returned in recovery
06:24 — Why second chances shape culture more than policy ever can
06:56 — Trica rebrands herself as a “kindness dealer”—mic drop moment before bingo
This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.
The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.
Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/
Connect with Us:
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/
Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/
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