Episode 381: Benefits and Centers of Excellence With Lisa Woods From Walmart

Welcome to the Workology Podcast, a podcast for the disruptive workplace leader. Join host Jessica Miller-Merrell, founder of Workology.com as she sits down and gets to the bottom of trends, tools, and case studies for the business leader, HR, and recruiting professional who is tired of the status quo. Now here’s Jessica with this episode of Workology. Episode 381: Benefits and Centers of Excellence With Lisa Woods From Walmart Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:00:27.67] Welcome to the Workology Podcast powered by Ace The HR Exam  and Upskill HR. These are two of the courses that we, here at Workology, offer for certification prep and recertification for HR leaders. This podcast is part of a Workology Podcast series that is focused on the roles and responsibilities of the Chief Human Resources Officer or CHRO. The CHRO is sometimes called the SVP of HR or the Chief People Officer, and it is an executive or C-level role that deals with managing human resources as well as with organizational development and implementing policies of change to improve the overall efficiency of the company. Sometimes those policies of change include benefits and wellness. The CHRO podcast series on Workology is sponsored by the HR Benchmark Survey. Share your insights at HRBenchmarkSurvey.com. Before I introduce today’s guests, I want to hear from you. Please text the word “PODCAST” to 512-548-3005 to ask questions, leave comments, and make suggestions for future guests. This is my community text number and I want to hear from you. That’s “PODCAST” to 512-548-3005. Today’s guest is Lisa Woods. She is the Vice President of Physical & Emotional Wellbeing at Walmart. She is a benefits professional with broad-based knowledge and has been recognized nationally as an innovator and thought leader in the healthcare space. She has a strong commitment to ensuring that more than 1.6 million Walmart associates have access to benefits. Imagine 1.6 million employees. Lisa has played a key role in developing a portfolio of innovative programs focused on things like payment reform, reducing waste in the system, and ensuring appropriate care. In addition, she has been focused on physical and emotional well-being programs, we’re going to hear all about these, for all Walmart associates. Lisa was named Fortune magazine World’s Greatest Leaders (#10) in 2019 and in 2020 awarded as one of the Top 25 Health Care Innovators. Lisa, welcome to the Workology Podcast. Lisa Woods: [00:02:39.55] Welcome. Thank you. Appreciate and glad to be here. Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:02:42.79] Yeah, I’m so excited to have you on the podcast. Let’s talk a little bit about your background and what led you to this role. How did you get started in human resources and benefits? Lisa Woods: [00:02:54.49] Yeah, so such a great question. Probably not completely interesting. I started at Walmart about 33 years ago and I have spent my whole career within benefits. I’ve worked really in all areas, almost all areas within benefits. So I understand all the aspects within benefits. About two years ago, in most recently, the company asked me to lead physical and emotional well-being, which has been just a privilege. We have an opportunity to serve about 1.6 million associates in the company related to their physical and emotional well-being. And so that’s really where I spend all my time today and now. Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:03:43.22] I don’t know many HR people who have stayed started in benefits and then stayed throughout benefits.