“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies

A CPO's First 90 Days

26 snips
Sep 25, 2025
Kelli and Nolan offer invaluable advice for Chief People Officers starting their journey. They discuss three core goals: building trust, achieving quick wins, and establishing a strong brand. The importance of deep executive relationships and ground-level listening is highlighted, along with strategic planning before day one. Tips on communicating effectively, managing expectations, and prioritizing people team hires are essential takeaways. They emphasize the importance of framing HR objectives in business language for better alignment.
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ADVICE

Over-Communicate With Your CEO

  • Over-communicate with your CEO via a weekly snippet email listing meetings, actions, and learnings.
  • Humans assume the worst without information, so frequent updates build trust quickly.
ADVICE

Do A High-Volume Listening Tour

  • Run many short, candid one-on-ones and mix in lunches or dinners to build executive rapport.
  • Do a high-volume listening tour (e.g., 100 one-on-ones in 90 days) and share redacted learnings broadly.
ANECDOTE

Pre-Start All-Hands To Set Expectations

  • Kelli jumped on an all-hands before her official start and presented one slide about who she is and how she'll spend time.
  • She scheduled meetings proactively and told people she'd book time if they didn't, to normalize outreach.
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