“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies Testing Everything: How HashiCorp Rewrote the People Playbook
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Jul 17, 2025 
In a riveting discussion, Christine Centa, Chief People Officer at HashiCorp, delves into innovative HR practices. She shares insights on compensation testing and equity, revealing how real-world trials impact salary structures. The conversation shifts to scaling remote culture, stressing the importance of intentional communication for team cohesion. Christine also tackles the challenges of AI adoption in HR, highlighting the need for transparency and the evolving skills required to leverage technology effectively. This is a masterclass in modern people operations!
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Natural Transition to CPO Role
- Christine Centa transitioned naturally from compensation specialist to Chief People Officer by broadening her HR experience beyond compensation.
- She combined data-driven analytics with people operations, mobility, and HR business partnering.
Compensation Testing for Market Reality
- Compensation cash levels have remained flat while equity grants declined significantly in venture-backed tech.
- Testing limiting increases to midpoint or below helped confirm sustainable compensation practices during uncertain markets.
Purposeful Equity and Policy Decisions
- Equity and HR policies must align with a company's maturity and long-term goals.
- Short-term fixes without foresight create downstream issues in talent management and equity.