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The Talent Economy Podcast

Investing in Your People

Season 2, Ep. 9
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Over the past year and a half, there have been seismic shifts in the workplace as we know it. Through these massive changes, many aspects of corporate culture have been reevaluated. In this episode, we speak with Donna Morris, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of Walmart Inc., about how people are the company’s most important asset and the ways she’s working toward building a better, more inclusive organization. 

Morris has more than 20 years of leadership experience in delivering innovative people solutions, developing and managing agile teams, and helping to build a high-performance culture that promotes diversity and inclusion. As a member of Walmart’s executive committee, she is responsible for attracting, retaining, and developing talent for one of the world’s largest private employers. 

Morris joined Walmart after 18 years at Adobe, where she served as CHRO and Executive Vice President of Employee Experience. She has also led a number of worker-friendly initiatives, including expanding family leave policies and simplifying standard HR processes. Morris holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Carleton University and serves on the board of directors at Marvell Technology Inc. 

Morris shares insights about her dedication to building transparency and accountability around Walmart’s hiring process, as well as what it takes to create a more diverse, representative workforce. She also discusses how Walmart is educating employees in tech, what it’s like to join a multibillion-dollar company during a pandemic, and how the company is creating future-ready associates. 

Some Questions Asked:

  • What was it like to transfer from Adobe to Walmart just as the COVID-19 pandemic began?
  • What was the reason behind releasing the new Me@Walmart associate app? And why did you give smartphones to 740,000 employees?
  • What kind of hybrid work arrangements do you expect to be the most common at Walmart?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

  • The value behind offering a monetary incentive for employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. 
  • The ways Walmart is aiming to upskill their workforce. 
  • About Walmart’s new 24-hour hiring process and what the company has gleaned from its implementation.

Links:


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