Episode 4: Beyond Compensation: Making Recognition the Smartest 2026 Budget Decision
Streamed on 4th December, 2025
A Few key takeaways
- Recognition beats raises: mmediate recognition drives engagement faster than pay cycles.
- Hidden costs are real: Disengagement drains productivity, even when roles stay filled.
- Personalization matters: Specific, frequent recognition works better than generic rewards.
- Recognition is foundational: It belongs in core budgets, not discretionary spend.
- AI will amplify recognition:Automation will make recognition faster, easier, and more impactful.
About the Session
In this episode of Flip the R’s, John Land, Chief Advocacy Officer at Vantage Circle, is joined by Shari Simpson, CEO and Founder of Air Swagger, and Dave DeWalt, Chief Administrative Officer at Hyundai Capital Canada, to explore why recognition is emerging as one of the smartest investments for 2026. The conversation focuses on how organizations can move beyond compensation to drive engagement, productivity, and retention through timely, personalized recognition. Together, they discuss the hidden costs of disengagement, why recognition must be treated as a foundational business practice rather than discretionary spend, and how AI is set to make recognition faster, more scalable, and more data-driven. The session reframes recognition from a nice-to-have program into a strategic lever for building culture, performance, and long-term workforce resilience.Session Guests
John Land
Chief Advocacy Officer – Vantage Circle
John Land is the Chief Advocacy Officer at Vantage Circle, where he champions employee engagement and recognition through modern, data-driven strategies. A former Partner at Mercer, CHRO, and U.S. Navy officer, he brings deep expertise in HR transformation, recognition design, and workforce strategy to organizations worldwide.
Shari Simpson
CEO and Founder
Shari Simpson is the CEO and Founder of Air Swagger and the host of the HR Mixtape podcast. An HR strategist, keynote speaker, and thought leader, she is widely recognized for her work in employee experience, recognition, and culture.
Shari brings a people-first perspective on how organizations can drive engagement, belonging, and performance in today’s evolving workplace.
Dave Daywalt
Chief Administrative Officer
Dave Daywalt is the Chief Administrative Officer at Hyundai Capital Canada, with extensive experience across HR, outsourcing, and consulting. Having previously served as Vice President of HR at Hyundai Capital America.
Dave brings a practical, business-focused perspective on total rewards, engagement, and workforce performance. He is widely respected for his strategic approach to aligning people practices with organizational outcomes.
