The Modern People Leader: Forward-Thinking HR 223 - Shane Koller (Chief People Officer, Ancestry): Running your People Team like a Product Team
Apr 4, 2025
In this installment, Shane Koller, Chief People Officer at Ancestry, shares his innovative journey of running HR like a product team. He discusses the critical connection between employee experiences and organizational goals, emphasizing how storytelling enhances engagement. Shane highlights the importance of a shareholder mindset within HR and the need for CEO alignment to transform traditional practices. He also dives into metrics for measuring success and the lessons learned from 'fail fast' moments in the HR landscape.
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Bee Rescue
- Shane Koller discovered a mason bee population in his yard and built them a house.
- After a warm spell, he rescued around 80 bees from his garage floor and returned them to their home.
Ancestor Story
- Shane Koller discovered an ancestor who befriended a Native American chief during settlement times.
- This ancestor's friendship protected their family from a potentially hostile tribe.
Disconnected Programs
- Shane Koller realized Ancestry's HR programs, while well-executed individually, lacked interconnectedness.
- This disconnect hindered data flow and prevented holistic decision-making, prompting a shift towards a product team mindset.