The Connector: Edition 126
Sep 10th, 2025 | The Connector
We’re thrilled to mark The O’Connor Group’s 18th anniversary, a milestone built on dedication, innovation, and partnership. Our team came together last week to honor this legacy with a spirited anniversary celebration, showcasing our favorite TOC gear and proudly rallying behind our home teams.
Here’s to 18 years of excellence, and to many more ahead!
1. LinkedIn Levels Up: Company Pages & Recruiter Verification Get a Boost
LinkedIn is cracking down on fake recruiters and company impersonators. The platform is expanding its company page verification and now requires workplace verification when members add or update leadership or recruiter roles.
Originally launched in August last year for a limited number of pages, company page verification is now rolling out more broadly, helping users trust the profiles and companies they connect with. Read the full article here!
2. Agentic AI: Transforming HR or Just Hype?
Agentic AI is generating buzz in HR, with a May 2025 Gartner survey showing that 82% of HR leaders plan to implement AI assistants or AI agents within the next year. By 2030, Gartner predicts that half of HR activities could be automated or handled by AI agents, reshaping workflows, roles, and decision-making.
Unlike traditional AI assistants that respond to prompts, AI agents act autonomously or semi-autonomously, making decisions, adapting to changes, and taking action on behalf of users. Capabilities vary from low-agency systems (simple tasks under supervision) to high-agency systems (complex, adaptive tasks with organizational authority).
Amid the excitement, vendors are rebranding standard chatbots as “agentic AI,” creating confusion about the technology’s maturity. HR leaders need to separate genuine agentic AI capabilities from marketing hype while preparing for a future where AI agents play an increasingly strategic role. Read the full article here!
3. TOC's P3 Executive Summit
The O'Connor Group’s People, Power & Performance (P3) Executive Summit is coming up on October 23rd at Union League Liberty Hill!
This one-day event is built for CEOs, founders, and business leaders ready to dive into the top trends shaping the future of work and leadership.
Featured sessions include:
💠 AI-Powered Leadership: Your Winning Hand for Efficiency & Innovation with Ethan King
💠 Fireside Chat with Javier Garcia from World Central Kitchen
💠Legal Updates from Duane Morris LLP
💠EOS Worldwide with Eric Keiles
💠 The Future of Work is Now: What CEOs Must Do to Lead the Workforce of Tomorrow with Chris Dyer
💠 Fireside Chat with Claire Moravec- Crisis Leadership and Response: Who Will You and Your Organization Be in the Storm?
💠 Q4 Economic Outlook with Michael Feuz of ITR Economics
Join us for a day of insight, strategy, and connection. You won’t want to miss it! Register here!
4. 5 HR & Recruiting Priorities Every CEO Should Know
As Q4 approaches, CEOs face the challenge of closing out the year while planning for next year’s growth. HR and recruiting strategies are central to success, especially in a tight talent market with shifting workforce expectations.
Here are five priorities to focus on:
- Evaluate Workforce Needs – Ensure your team has the right skills and leadership capacity to meet business goals.
- Forecast Your Talent Pipeline – Build candidate pipelines for high-demand or hard-to-fill roles; partner with recruiters or RaaS providers to reduce hiring friction.
- Strengthen Employee Engagement & Retention – Check in on morale, recognition programs, and culture initiatives to keep top performers motivated.
- Leverage Data-Driven Recruiting – Use past hiring metrics to refine strategies, improve outcomes, and save time.
- Review HR Compliance & Policies – Keep HR policies, DEI initiatives, and labor compliance up-to-date to protect your business and attract talent.
Q4 is the perfect time to align your workforce with business objectives and set the stage for next year’s success. Read the full article here!
5. HR After Dark Episode 23: Leading with Transparency: Building a People-First Culture at Scale
In this episode of HR After Dark, Marcia O'Connor and Meghan Popoleo are joined by David Beety, Executive Vice President at PeopleShare, to discuss candidly leading a team of over 50 people across multiple states while maintaining a focus on transparency, culture, and trust.
David shares how his “diamond-shaped support model” flips traditional hierarchies, and how the company’s hybrid work philosophy, start the week together, end the week together, fosters team unity without sacrificing flexibility. From facing the “brutal facts” to avoiding top-performer burnout, this episode is packed with real-world leadership insights and hard-earned wisdom on building a workforce that’s both high-performing and human. Watch the full episode here!
6. Let's Get Outside
Fall Getaways: Why Tennessee Should Be on Your Radar
Back-to-school season is here, but that doesn’t mean your vacation plans need to end. With crisp fall weather and plenty of long weekends ahead, it’s the perfect time to explore.
Travel experts are pointing to Tennessee as the must-visit destination this season. As Chloe Buss, Regional Director of Field Operations at AvantStay, shared with Travel + Leisure. Read the full article here!
7. Wellness Wednesday Tip
The Sleep Switch That Builds Muscle, Burns Fat, and Boosts Brainpower
A new study from UC Berkeley sheds light on how deep sleep triggers growth hormone release, a key driver of muscle growth, fat burning, and overall brain health. While bodybuilders know that restful sleep strengthens muscle and bone, and teens rely on it for proper growth, the precise link between sleep and hormone levels has long been a mystery.
The research, published in Cell, uncovers the brain circuits that regulate growth hormone during the early, deep non-REM sleep phase and reveals a novel feedback mechanism that keeps hormone levels balanced.
Getting quality sleep isn’t just restorative; it’s essential for your body and brain to perform at their best. Learn more here!
September is Suicide Prevention Month: A Reminder That You Are Not Alone
This September, we take a moment to recognize Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind ourselves and others that help and hope are always available. Mental health challenges can feel isolating, but reaching out to someone, a friend, family member, or professional, can make all the difference.
At The O’Connor Group, we want to encourage open conversations about mental health and wellness. Checking in on colleagues, loved ones, and even ourselves can foster connection, support, and understanding. Small acts of kindness and listening without judgment can truly save lives.