How do you scale people strategy for a fully remote workforce, while future-proofing with AI?

In this episode, host Emily Fenech sits down with Cheryl Naumann, Chief Human Resources Officer at the University of Phoenix, to unpack how her team supports 3,000+ employees and faculty who serve working adult learners nationwide.

Cheryl shares how UOPX keeps engagement far above benchmarks in a digital-first culture, why “brave, honest, focused” values power connection, and how the university is rolling out an enterprise-wide AI upskilling initiative from learning paths and enterprise tools to grassroots “power users” who accelerate adoption. She closes with practical advice on building an enterprise mindset so HR can drive business outcomes, not just people processes.

Key Timestamps

[00:35] – Introduction: Cheryl’s remit and the mission of serving working adult learners
[01:00] – Inside the CHRO scope: TA, total rewards, HRBPs, comms, and aligning people strategy to university goals
[05:11] – Biggest challenge: sustaining connection and wellness in a fully remote culture
[08:06] – Culture in action: “Be brave” and the virtual coffee outreach playbook
[11:49] – AI upskilling at UOPX: leaders first, benchmarking usage, and safe enterprise tools
[14:33] – Power users as change catalysts: grassroots adoption beats policy alone
[17:13] – Real HR use cases: comms headlines, L&D visualizations, Glassdoor replies, compliance workflows, legal summaries
[20:41] – Final advice: lead with an enterprise mindset and listen for people-powered solutions

Takeaways

Design for digital connection: Encourage intentional outreach (e.g., “virtual coffees”) to build friendships and cross-functional visibility.
Measure and mind engagement: Pulse twice a year; celebrate high scores but don’t relax—remote wellness requires ongoing attention.
Upskill leaders first on AI: Build confidence with curated learning paths and sanctioned tools to model safe, effective use.
Leverage power users: Turn early adopters into guides who share use cases and shrink the intimidation curve.
Start small, compound wins: Automate summaries, visualizations, workflows, and comms to reclaim time for higher-value work.
Adopt an enterprise mindset: Know the business levers, listen widely, and align people solutions to strategic outcomes.

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Cheryl Naumann, Chief Human Resources Officer at University of Phoenix

HR Voices

Cheryl Naumann, Chief Human Resources Officer at University of Phoenix