Shari Simpson, EdD, is the host of HR Mixtape and a senior thought leadership leader at Paylocity. With over two decades of experience across training, talent, payroll, and employee relations, she brings curiosity, candor, and real-world perspective to every episode. Shari holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation, along with an MBA, MHRM, and SHRM-SCP certification. 

Mary Czarnecki is a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator who helps leaders and teams communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and impact through the power of storytelling. After more than two decades in marketing and strategy roles with Johnson & Johnson, WebMD, and Accenture, she now trains professionals across Fortune 500 brands and growing organizations to use story as a tool for influence, alignment, and change. Her programs through the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and her own firm focus on transforming how teams connect with customers, colleagues, and stakeholders, moving from information overload to meaningful communication that drives action. Attendees often tell her, "You changed how I show up in every conversation."