This episode is a feed drop from our CPO-focused show, HR Heretics. Patty McCord joins co-hosts Kelly Dragovich and Nolan Church to talk about her decade+ tenure at Netflix, and how she created one of the most iconic and defining cultures in tech. If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta: https://www.vanta.com/1000

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj

---

SPONSORS:

Are you building a business? If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta. Achieving compliance can actually unlock major growth for your company and build customer loyalty. Vanta automates up to 90% of Compliance work, getting you audit-ready in weeks instead of months and saving 85% of associated costs. 1 to 1000 listeners get $1000 off at: https://www.vanta.com/1000

Metaview is the AI assistant for interviewing. Metaview completely removes the need for recruiters and hiring managers to take notes during interviews—because their AI is designed to take world-class interview notes for you. Team builders at companies like Brex, Robinhood, Quora, and Replit say Metaview has changed the game—see the magic for yourself for free on your first 5 interviews: https://www.metaview.ai/1000

Pesto Tech is a hiring marketplace that makes finding great remote developers fast and easy. They use large language models to evaluate developers along dozens of parameters, including code quality, performance, and security. If you need to start hiring developers fast, all you have to do is answer 5 simple questions on their website: https://pesto.tech

---

RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

🎙️ This Won't Last

Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: TURPENTINE VC

Investor Erik Torenberg interviews partners at the top VCs in the world to learn their approach to the art and science of building a successful venture firm.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1701006772

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Yb8ErLRnyoAqn4Y6NegTx

---

X / TWITTER:

@pattymccord1 (Patty)

@NolanChurch (Nolan)

@eriktorenberg (Erik Torenberg)

@TurpentineMedia

---

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Episode Preview

(01:10) The true story behind Netflix’s culture deck

(05:08) Why releasing the culture deck changed Netflix’s hiring immediately

(07:14) What to do when employees are averse to change

(10:57) Delivering effective feedback

(14:52) Why execs need to get used to short tenures

(17:07) Sponsor: Vanta

(19:59) Retention and the truth we need to tell employees about career pathing

(21:32) How Reed Hastings hired Patty McCord

(26:15) How HR officers can get a seat at the table

(29:30) The P&L is the most important HR metric

(30:04) Sponsor: Metaview + Pesto

(32:02) Balancing business and relationship

(34:44) What Patty would tell her younger self

(37:59) What do HR people do?

(38:08) Fixing equal pay and compensation strategy

(44:37) Why an HR officer is a business leader, not a business partner

(47:50) What do founders expect from HR people?

(50:07) Compartmentalization and terminations

(53:59) Patty's take on HR pros taking the therapist zone

(56:55) Why having arguments at work should be normalized

(01:01:20) Does Patty miss being in the arena?

This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Contagious Orgasm – The Flow of Sound Without Parameter