My guest in HRchat episode 525 is Dawn Klinghoffer, Vice President of the HR Business Insights team at Microsoft. Her responsibilities include advanced people analytics & research for Microsoft’s business units globally including ownership of the employee listening systems, as well as analytics and reporting support for HR programs, including Global Diversity & Inclusion, Global HR Services, Talent Management, and Learning & Development.
The team’s work has been published in HBR, NY Times, Forbes and other news journals. Dawn has been at Microsoft for over 20 years and has held positions in HR and Finance.
Questions For Dawn Include:
- How is better use of people analytics changing HR at Microsoft and improving the employee experience? How has Microsoft been using data to navigate hybrid work and employee wellbeing?
- You’ve said that “Thriving” is the new North Star for companies. Can you explain a bit about why Microsoft has stopped measuring employee engagement and instead is measuring employees thriving?
- What does “thriving” mean at Microsoft? And how do you measure that?
- How do employee listening systems and data help leaders understand the struggles and current mindsets of employees? Has the role of people analytics changed over the last couple of years at Microsoft?
- Switching gears here a bit. Can you talk about the importance of employee trust in creating and sustaining a data-driven culture and people analytics function?
- Are there any workplace trends you’ve been noticing? With a look to the future, especially as it relates to flexible and hybrid work, what kind of metrics or analysis are you thinking about and excited to explore?