HR & Payroll 2.0

The State of SMB HR & Payroll with Special Guest Matt Vaadi

On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Matt Vaadi, longtime payroll industry exec, CEO of GuHRoo, and host of The Payrollin’ Podcast, to take the pulse on the small businesses buyer and talk about the realities of the marketplace for SMB HR and payroll solutions.  From tech-first vs service-first buyers to the rise of niche payroll providers, Matt offers an insider’s view of how small and mid-sized businesses are buying, switching, and scaling HR and payroll today. The conversation explores why overcrowding in the HCM and payroll market is reshaping go-to-market strategies, why centers of influence like CPAs, brokers, and consultants are more powerful than ever, and how private equity and consolidation are quietly redefining PEO and ASO models. The group also digs into the future of embedded payroll, AI-driven automation, and why many SMB buyers are demanding API-driven, workflow-centric platforms instead of traditional systems. Matt shares how specialization is driving higher growth and valuations, and what HR tech and payroll vendors must do to stay competitive in a market where trust, simplicity, and integration now matter more than brand. Connect with Matt: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi/  https://www.guhroo.co/   https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/  Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

Workforce Management Is Having Its Moment with Special Guest Jim Jensen

On this episode, Pete and Julie are joined by veteran HR Tech exec and Founder and CEO of Traxxion, Jim Jensen, for a wide-ranging conversation on why workforce management has become one of the most strategic and misunderstood pillars of modern HR.  Drawing on Jim’s decades of HR Tech experience, the group explores the past, present, and future of HCM and WFM (Workforce Management) technology in an AI-enabled workplace. The conversation explores how time data, compliance, and scheduling have become foundational to payroll accuracy, employee experience, and operational resilience.  The group dives into the real role of AI in HR and why it should assist, not replace, human judgment, the resurgence of best-of-breed strategies, and why workforce management is now where culture, trust, and engagement are most visibly won or lost. Connect with Jim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimjensen3/ https://www.traxxion.ai/  Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

The Mind of the SMB HR Tech Buyer with Special Guest Margaret Godwin

On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome longtime HR transformation consultant, HR tech expert, Margaret Godwin, to take the pulse on the SMB HR tech buyer, and explore what’s actually happening inside HR teams in small and mid-market organizations. From AI hype versus operational readiness to why service models, not features, are driving vendor churn.  The group discusses why SMBs churn through HCM systems, where HR tech buying decisions break down, and why service, change management, and implementation strategy matter more than features or “best AI.”  Margaret shares frontline insights on AI readiness, managed services, PEO tradeoffs, enterprise platforms moving down market, and the growing gap between what technology promises and what organizations can realistically absorb. Connect with Margaret: ‘HR Tech Minute’ Substack: https://hrtechminute.substack.com/profile/posts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtgodwin/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

The Rise of Payroll as a Liquidity Strategy with Special Guest Andy Valentine

On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome fintech and cross-border payments expert Andy Valentine to talk about the often-unseen realities of cross-border money movement in global payroll operations.  From FX volatility and treasury bottlenecks to compliance risk, bank fragmentation, and payroll “last mile” failures, this conversation goes deep into why payroll and payments have become a strategic growth conversation and not just an operational one. Together, they explore how embedded finance, fintech partnerships, and improved data transparency are reshaping payroll operations, reducing liquidity strain, and enabling “just-in-time” funding models that let businesses retain cash longer without increasing risk.   Andy shares real-world insights on embedded payments, just-in-time funding, digital currencies, global compliance controls, and how fintech is reshaping liquidity, optionality, and workforce expansion for companies of all sizes. Plus, what to watch for in 2026, including the rise of stablecoins, local payment networks, and deeper integration between payroll, treasury, and HCM systems. Connect with Andy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyvalentine1/  Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0  WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20  Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/

HR & Payroll Tech Marketplace News & Updates (Winter 2026, February)

On this episode, Pete and Julie share their POV’s and insights on recent global payroll and EOR marketplace updates and activity making headlines to kick off 2026!   Pete and Julie share their thoughts on recent events, including Dayforce SKO, Strada Global SKO, Papaya Global’s 2030 Workforce Summit, and ADP ReThink in Prague.  Additionally, they discuss several product updates and acquisitions and what it means for buyers and providers of global EOR and global payroll.  Vendors mentioned in the episode include ADP, Boundless, Dayforce, Deel, EOS, G-P, Hitekers Omnipresent, Papaya Global, Payoneer, Remote, SKAUD, and Strada Global.  Links mentioned on the show: Pete’s Post from the AI workshop in Prague: https://tinyurl.com/ypzupj62 Pete’s Post on Global EORs acting like teenagers: https://tinyurl.com/5n6xb2sz  Pete’s Payroll Influences Blog on ADP ReThink:  https://www.payrollinfluences.com/post/adp-rethink-event-recap-adp-turns-75  Pete’s series on the future of EOR: https://www.globalization-partners.com/blog/evolution-global-eor-as-strategic-growth-engine/  Papaya Global’s 2030 Workforce Summit: https://papayaglobal.com/go/event/2030-workforce-summit-recap/ Connect with the show: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0  X: @PeteTiliakos  X: @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/hrpayroll2o.bsky.social  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0    WRKDefined Podcast Network: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/hr-payroll-20 Thank you to our marquee sponsors for powering the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast forward!  G-P ‘Globalization Partners’: https://www.globalization-partners.com/ OneSource Virtual: https://hubs.ly/Q03YFNR90 Zoho: https://www.zoho.com/press.html Thank you to our ‘wizard behind the curtain’ and show producer Ryan Kielma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kielma/