S11 E1: HR’s Ins and Outs (and What We’re Officially Done Tolerating) with Jessica Winder

Hebba Youssef
Hebba Youssef
January 12, 2026

Welcome to a new season of your favorite podcast!!!

It’s the new year, which means the internet is yelling about new goals, new strategies, and new tools, while HR is still over here duct-taping broken systems and being told (once again) to do more with less. 

So this season, I picked a very simple theme: NEW. 

New ideas. New rules. New levels of honesty about what’s actually working and what needs to be dragged out back and retired. 

We’re kicking things off with an Ins and Outs episode, which is basically the stuff HR has been whispering about in group chats. 

And because this topic deserved real honesty, I brought back my favorite fellow shit-talker, Jessica Winder!

Quantum Workplace helps leaders build thriving teams that fuel business success. We give leaders at every level a clear path forward—by unlocking critical talent insights across engagement, performance, and development. With clarity and confidence, people leaders can act decisively, scale leadership quality, and strengthen connection and performance. 

Trusted by thousands of people-focused companies, Quantum Workplace makes it easier to keep teams aligned, empowered, growing, and valued on the path to business success. Visit quantumworkplace.com to learn more.

0:05:44 – Something New Jessica Wants to Learn This Year

0:12:23 – Ins and Outs, Inspired by TikTok

0:21:23 – Clarity Around Learning Skills vs Vibes-based Expectations

0:28:48 – Stop Assuming Everybody Wants to be Managers

0:35:27 – AI as a Co-pilot vs a Human Replacement

0:40:25 – Hiring Fewer, Better Defined Roles vs Overhiring 

0:40:25 – Stop Pretending Pay is Not a Cultural Issue

0:56:45 – Why HR Needs a POV, Not Neutrality

And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.

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And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!

 

Follow Jessica:

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

 

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef

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Hebba Youssef
Hebba Youssef