A CPO's First 90 Days
“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies
Ground-Level Listening: 100 One-on-Ones Tactic
Nolan and Kelli endorse heavy frontline listening, citing Colleen McCreary's 100 one-on-ones in 90 days and sharing findings broadly.
On today’s Dear Heretics segment, Kelli and Nolan deliver candid, practical advice for Chief People Officers navigating their critical first 90 days, featuring real-world insights on building stakeholder trust, executing quick wins, and establishing strategic organizational influence.
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KEEP UP WITH NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN
Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/
Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/
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LINKS:
For coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(01:13) Three Core Goals for New CPOs
(01:41) Common Fail States to Avoid
(02:03) Over-Communicating with Your CEO
(02:23) Building Executive Relationships Beyond One-on-Ones
(02:58) Getting to the Ground Floor: The Modern Executive Approach
(03:19) The Colleen McCreary Method: 100 One-on-Ones in 90 Days
(04:26) Quick Wins and Board Relationship Strategy
(04:44) Four-Pillar Framework in Action
(05:34) Pre-Start Transparency: Setting Expectations Early
(06:40) The Four Pillars: Listen, Execute, Strategize, Build
(08:18) The Brutal Reality: 3X Speed for Three Months
(09:15) Sprint vs Marathon: Managing Energy and Family Expectations
(09:58) Reframing “S**t Shows” as Solvable Problems
(11:22) The Critical Importance of In-Person Time
(12:13) Sponsors: Ethena | Planful
(15:22) Building on Company Strengths vs Starting from Scratch
(16:31) Team Building Strategy: Know Before You Walk In
(17:47) Making “Unnatural” Efforts for Face-Time
(18:33) Build Your Scaffolding or Die: The Team Priority
(20:14) Ditch HR Speak: Talking Business, Not Corporate Vernacular
(21:47) CEO Shadowing: What It Really Means
(23:00) Real Partnership: Daily Communication and Quick Feedback Loops
(23:59) Sponsor: Metaview
(25:18) The Bait-and-Switch Problem in Executive Hiring
(27:10) Market Reality: Nine-Month Average Tenure Crisis
(29:21) Board Relationships and Air Cover Strategy
(30:10) Building Your Narrative: Board Meeting Preparation
(31:41) Documentation Strategy: Journaling and Whiteboarding
(32:09) Wrap
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com
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