“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies Building Elite Teams at Coinbase with L.J. Brock
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Oct 2, 2025 In a revealing discussion, LJ Brock, the Chief People Officer at Coinbase, shares insights on radical HR practices. He discusses Coinbase's mission-first policy that led to banning political discussions at work, fostering unexpected growth. Also highlighted are talent density standards and the company's refusal to negotiate salaries, designed to attract elite talent. LJ elaborates on innovative hiring methods like work trials and one-year stock grants as strategies to enhance equity and align with market realities.
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Mission-First Reset
- Brian Armstrong banned political discussions to refocus Coinbase on its mission after the George Floyd moment.
- LJ Brock says many employees welcomed the change and the company flourished afterward.
Give People A Clean Exit Option
- Offer an opt-out and generous severance when you reset employment expectations.
- Use a clear reset so people can self-select in or out of the new culture.
Founder-Led Rapid Iteration
- Coinbase uses a problem–proposed-solution doc to iterate founder ideas quickly.
- Brian Armstrong seeds ideas and the HR team refines them in shared docs.