Villanova University Graduate Programs in Human Resource Development

05/29/2026

On this episode of , Bethany places the onus for preventing burnout on the organization, not the individual:

"I think organizations create situations that we ask our employees to be a part of. So therefore, it's our responsibility to put in place systems and structures that help prevent burnout, because if you put it on the individual, then in every situation we can say, 'Yup, well, they didn't do enough.' Nope. 'We didn't do enough,' as a leadership team, as an organizational structure."

We typically frame burnout as something employees need to manage by setting better boundaries, or taking more time off.

However, organizations create the conditions people work in, and they play a direct role in deciding whether those things can happen. When burnout shows up, don't ask why your employees didn’t handle it better. Ask what you and your team may have built that made this outcome likely.

Asking people to do more for themselves won't prevent burnout; asking organizations to do more for their people will.

Listen on Spotify: https://buff.ly/eN6HdPa

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/N7ndGPB

05/28/2026

HR Affirmations 👐 tell us yours!

05/28/2026

On this episode of , Kyle Ali shares a moment most leaders probably regret:

"One of the absolute most frustrating things to watch is someone that is killing it at their role, and ultimately they decide that they're going to leave the company...and then suddenly leadership steps in with all these things that they could do to retain them. Do those things now."

Instead of treating retention as an emergency response, build it into your culture:
- recognize contributions before burnout sets in
- ask high performers what they need to succeed
- create space for growth before your best people look elsewhere

Leaders lose high achievers even when they have solutions because those solutions come too late. What are you willing to offer, and why wait?

Listen on Spotify: https://buff.ly/eN6HdPa

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/N7ndGPB

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

On this episode of , Bethany, Heather and Kyle unpack why Americans might get extra burned out.

"I think here, in the United States, we've owned a culture where burnout is actually like a point of pride. And that is problematic...saying I'm burned out is saying I worked so much harder than everybody else."

If work sits at the center of everything, burnout is inevitable, and shifting that reality starts with shifting our perspective.

To make real change, we need to begin at the individual level. How we talk about work and define success matters!

Listen on Spotify: https://buff.ly/eN6HdPa

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/N7ndGPB

05/26/2026

Burnout isn’t a stress problem; it’s a design problem.

In this episode of , Bethany J. Adams, MA, SHRM-SCP, Kyle Ali, and Heather Cluley Bar-Or, PhD unpack what burnout actually is, why high performers are often the ones struggling most (and saying the least), and what leaders can do right now to build more sustainable work

If you’re leading people, designing work, or trying to retain your best talent, this conversation offers practical insights you can use immediately.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/3h8ejmZ

Listen on Spotify: https://buff.ly/eN6HdPa

05/21/2026

Commencement yesterday was hot, so we're glad you joined us at Connelly tent to raise a glass of something cold to the future! Congratulations to our graduates, and welcome to the alumni community :) Enjoy our selects and stay tuned for the full album 💙
https://buff.ly/leNWvqD

05/20/2026

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES! Today was such a magical celebration despite the heat. Thank you for coming to recognize your achievements alongside your classmates, and for bringing your loved ones to witness your triumph! We have a lot of great pictures from today which we plan to share soon. Visit the link in our bio to follow us on LinkedIn or join the alumni group. We’re excited to stay in touch so keep us updated on your happenings and tag us so we can give you a shout out 😎 thank you for sharing this journey with us. You make our work meaningful!!!

05/18/2026

05/16/2026

student Kate will graduate with her in May! We caught up with Kate to find out how her experience led to personal as well as professional growth.

"Working full time, handling classes with an intense workload, venting, and asking advice; being able to talk to peers outside of work who truly get it has mattered. I don’t think I could have made it through the program without that peer support. I had to move from a mindset of 'have I done enough to deserve rest today' to 'have I done enough for myself to show up the way I want to today?'

Stay tuned for more on Kate and her fellow grads as we continue the countdown to Commencement!