Jennifer McClure, founder of Disrupt HR, explains why curiosity, not authority, is what earns leaders influence.
Topics Covered:
• How Jennifer went from corporate HR to founding a global movement
• Why a “seat at the table” isn’t the same as having influence
• The difference between giving advice and real coaching
• What it means to lead as a “strategic” HR leader
After nearly two decades in corporate HR, Jennifer McClure kept running into the same wall: being in the room wasn’t the same as being heard. What she learned instead changed how she leads and eventually launched a global movement.
Jennifer believes HR is the most important job in any company, not because of rank, but because it’s the one role that touches every employee. That conviction led her to found Disrupt HR in 2013, now 170+ communities strong in 28 countries.
Her biggest shift came from blunt feedback: people didn’t want her in meetings because she only pointed out what couldn’t be done. Her fix was simple; ask “tell me more” before reacting, even when she disagreed. That one habit turned her from a roadblock into someone people actively wanted in the room.
Takeaways:
• Curiosity beats advice
• A seat at the table means nothing without influence
• Every business goal, from revenue to quality, is really a people problem
“Curiosity is an amazing thing to have in your toolkit — to build relationships, grow your influence, build trust, and get to the best solution. Always lead with curiosity.”
— Jennifer McClure
Connect with Jennifer McClure:
Website: https://jennifermcclure.net/
DisruptHR: https://disrupthr.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure/
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