Highlights from The Inclusive AF Podcast: Live from HR Tech—Innovating for Small Businesses & Driving Impact

Hello Inclusive AF Podcast Community!

We’re excited to share a fresh episode, recorded LIVE at HR Tech, with hosts Katee Van Horn and Robin Schooling sitting down with Caitlin Carragee and Mark Zimmerman from CoAdvantage. If you missed the conversation, here’s a quick roundup of what you need to know!

Supporting the SMBs that Power Our Communities

Our guests highlighted how CoAdvantage serves small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with bundled HR solutions—everything from payroll and healthcare to 401k services. Their mission? To make running a business simpler for owners who’d rather focus on their restaurant, law firm, or architectural studio than wrangling HR details.

Human Expertise Meets Technology

Both Caitlin Carragee and Mark Zimmerman emphasized that while technology is invaluable, the human touch remains irreplaceable. Their tech streamlines processes, but real HR professionals are always in the mix to support clients through whatever challenges arise. “AI should be additive, not replacing HR,” Mark Zimmerman noted—reminding us that people still matter most.

PitchFest & the Power of Innovation

CoAdvantage was proud to sponsor PitchFest at HR Tech, where startup finalists demoed cutting-edge solutions. Our guests loved seeing entrants tackle bias in hiring, performance management, and language assessment with inventive uses of AI. One standout? Tools that “sanitize” candidate data to reduce bias and put skills front and center, making hiring more inclusive for all.

Democratizing Tech for Small Businesses

There was an exciting thread throughout the conversation around how AI and new HR tech solutions are finally targeting SMBs. Robin Schooling celebrated this shift, noting that smaller companies—so often overlooked by enterprise tech—are now front and center for innovation. This democratization makes it easier for diverse businesses to attract and retain talent, even without a dedicated HR team.

Employee Experience—Greater Than Cost Savings

CoAdvantage recently launched a fully-featured mobile app for employees, putting payroll info, benefits, and more right at their fingertips. The team measures success not just by savings, but by enhancing employee experience for every client.

A Self-Aware, Reliable Tech Solution

When asked to describe their product’s “personality,” Mark Zimmerman and Caitlin Carragee used words like honest, flexible, reliable, and self-aware—always listening to feedback and adapting. Their commitment to building their own tech from the ground up gives them control and the ability to respond to clients quickly and personally.

Final Thoughts

As HR continues to evolve, our guests remind us that true people strategy can’t be replaced by free tools or pure automation. Data is important, but real impact requires investing in HR as a business driver—and protector—of organizational success.

Thanks for tuning in! Want more insights or to hear the full conversation? Check out this episode of The Inclusive AF Podcast wherever you get your shows.

Stay inclusive, The Inclusive AF Podcast Team