Magic in the Room #165: Your Unique Contribution: Making HR More Human with Guest Kari Gras

September 11, 2023

What does it take for HR functions to be more focused on supporting people than being the principal's office? In this episode of Magic in the Room, Hannah and Luke sit down with Kari Gras to talk about how she has learned to make HR more human. This is not an easy task. It starts with trust, especially with the rise of remote work, a willingness to have hard conversations, and most importantly a commitment to treating people well.   

 

Kari began her career in Human Resources working with Denise Tuohy in 2005, while employed by the Yellowstone Club. She started working in the HR and Payroll Department, which was a fast-paced and evolving department. With seasonal employees keeping the constant flow of paperwork a necessity, she was challenged to find better ways to refine and streamline procedures. Kari began consulting with small businesses in August 2013, following her entrepreneurial dream and making it a reality! 

Listen now on your favorite platform!

 

ind Kari on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/togethrconsulting or on her website togethrconsulting.com 


Credits: 

  • This episode of Magic in the Room was recorded in Big Sky, Montana
  • Music by Evan Grim. Find his music on Apple Music

Magic in the Room #195: Activity vs. Impact

By Sarah Whitfield • December 3, 2025
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Luke, Hannah, and Chris unpack the difference between being busy and being truly impactful, exploring why organizations often get stuck in high-activity, low-impact cycles. They identify five common contributors: compliance-heavy environments, resistance to change, disconnected decision-makers, fear-driven “CYA” cultures, and firefighting systems that reward heroics over long-term strategy. From there, they highlight what creates real impact: clarity of purpose, agency, curiosity, intentionality, and the discipline to question assumptions and align action with a meaningful “why.” The conversation encourages leaders to build awareness of their strengths, design systems that support healthy impact, maintain congruence between their public and private influence, and cultivate the kind of presence that can genuinely move a room. 

Magic in the Room #194: NNAHRA Interview

November 4, 2025
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Chris interviews board members from the National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) discussing the power of purpose-driven leadership within tribal organizations. Recorded at the NNAHRA annual conference, they explore themes like courage, vulnerability, accountability, community service, and fostering environments where all employees feel valued and able to contribute. They share how NNAHRA builds a supportive professional network for tribal HR leaders, encourages alignment between individual roles and tribal purpose, and creates space for courageous conversations across governance and enterprise structures. They also discuss future initiatives, including new certifications and the 2026 conference at the Hilton Village in Hawaii. The overarching message: lead with purpose, support one another, and build cultures rooted in respect, courage, and shared responsibility.
Show More