Kim Pollok's journey from a December 31 call-center shutdown to the CEO office at SWBC Payroll & HR is a story of resilience and strategic thinking. In Episode 79 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, titled "Kim Pollok | From Layoff to CEO," hosted by Bryan Eisenberg and published June 23, 2026, Pollok shares insights on modern HR challenges, including hybrid work, multigenerational teams, and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in payroll and HR systems.
Pollok, who advanced her career without a college degree, emphasizes the importance of saying 'yes' to opportunities, even when they involve unfamiliar territory. She recounts the SWBC PEO acquisition, where no one on the team initially understood what a PEO was, and how embracing that challenge led to growth. She also stresses the value of seeking mentors, citing SWBC Mortgage CEO Susan Stewart and FI division CEO Mark Hine as key influences.
A critical lesson Pollok shares is the 'dead birds' analogy from Stewart: "Stop letting people give you dead birds. Don't allow people to just give you their problem and then you are taking on everybody's problem without some solutions, because you're collecting everyone's dead birds and you can't do anything with it." This philosophy now guides her leadership, alongside encouraging her team to use their voice at the table.
Pollok addresses the complexities of managing a multigenerational workforce—baby boomers, Gen X, and Gen Z—under one roof without abandoning fairness. She advocates for clear communication and consistent policies that respect different perspectives while maintaining equity.
On AI, Pollok discusses implementing a secure, private AI system for research and workflows, ensuring client and financial data remain protected. This move reflects SWBC Payroll & HR's commitment to leveraging technology without compromising security. The company, privately held by Charlie Amato and Gary Dudley, serves clients ranging from five to 7,000 employees across 42 states, with typical clients between 40 and 300 employees in industries from hospitals to pig farms.
Pollok's own career began when her previous employer, a call center with over 2,000 workers, offered staff the choice to relocate to El Paso or face layoff. SWBC, which ran the closing job fair, offered her an entry-level benefits coordinator role at $10,000 less than her HR-manager salary—a position she accepted that afternoon. Her rise from that point to CEO underscores the importance of adaptability and continuous learning.
The episode also highlights SWBC's sponsorship of the Round Rock Chamber's Women Who Mean Business event featuring Olympian Cat Osterman, reflecting the company's commitment to community and professional development. Pollok's candid advice for leaders: develop talent, retain clients, and ensure compliance in an ever-changing environment. Her story serves as a practical guide for navigating the complexities of modern HR leadership.
