From Workforce Management to Workforce Transformation with Special Guest Tom Sterling

On this episode of HR & Payroll 2.0, Pete and Julie welcome Tom Sterling, VP of Enterprise People Solutions Operations at Cox Automotive, for a wide-ranging conversation on workforce transformation, AI, and the future of HR operations.

Tom shares lessons learned from leading a multi-year workforce management and scheduling transformation impacting nearly 18,000 frontline employees, unpacking the realities of governance, stakeholder alignment, data strategy, and why successful change initiatives depend as much on culture and partnerships as they do technology.

The discussion turns to artificial intelligence (AI) and Tom’s belief that the greatest opportunities lie not in AI alone, but in the combination of artificial intelligence and human intelligence. Together, the trio explores why HR must move from the sidelines to the center of enterprise AI strategy, how organizations should rethink operating models, and why speed without control can create as many problems as it solves.

Connect with Tom:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomlsterling/

SSON blogs by Tom: https://www.ssonetwork.com/intelligent-automation/articles/ai-hi-equation-shared-services

*The annual Payroll Profession Confidence Index (PPCI) survey is open now through September 30, 2026. Payroll professionals and stakeholders interested in participating in the research can complete the survey at: https://www.payrollinfluences.com/ppci-2026.

Connect with the show:

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0

X: @HRPayroll2_0

X: @PeteTiliakos

X: @JulieFer_HR

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