SHRM CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. Welcomes UNH Faculty to SHRM Headquarters for Fireside Chat on Resetting Workplace Culture
The University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies (CPS) is proud to share highlights from a special fireside chat hosted at SHRM headquarters, where Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., president and CEO of SHRM, personally welcomed CPS faculty member Sunil Ramlall for an in-depth conversation on the future of workplace culture.
SHRM — the trusted authority on all things work — represents nearly 340,000 members across 180 countries and impacts the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families. As a leading global voice on workplace research, policy, and practice, SHRM continues to champion better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together.
The conversation between Taylor and Ramlall centered on themes from SHRM’s research and thought leadership as well as Taylor’s book, "RESET: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval," offering HR leaders, students, and educators practical insights into designing high-performing, human-centered organizations.
“We were honored to be welcomed into SHRM headquarters for this conversation,” says Ramlall. “The opportunity to learn directly from Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.’s leadership perspective is invaluable for our students and our broader HR community.”
The fireside chat explored the essential components of culture that must be thoughtfully constructed, including leadership alignment and clarity of values.
Drawing on SHRM research, Taylor highlighted how the gap between stated values and lived experience can make or break trust within organizations. Taylor also shared actionable strategies HR leaders can leverage to strengthen culture, emphasizing its measurable impact on employee well-being and organizational outcomes.
The event underscores the strong partnership between SHRM and CPS, whose academic programs — including the B.S. in Human Resource Management and M.S. in Leadership: Human Resource and Organization Development — are SHRM-aligned and designed to prepare adult learners for in demand HR careers.
“We are deeply grateful to SHRM and to Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. for extending this invitation,” UNH CPS Business Program Director Christian Lagarde said. “This collaboration helps us elevate the learning experience for our students and reinforces our commitment to developing HR leaders who are ready to shape meaningful, inclusive, and high-performing workplaces.”
The recording of the fireside chat is now available for UNH students, faculty, staff, employer partners, and the HR community to view and learn from.