“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies
HR Heretics
After a decade+ of “blitz-scaling” companies, HR, talent, and People leaders now face an uncertain economy that has already seen big booms and busts. What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact?
Hosts Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich have been through it all, the highs and the lows – IPOs, layoffs, executive turnover, board meetings, culture changes, and more. With a lineup of industry vets and experts, Nolan and Kelli break down the nitty-gritty details, trade offs, and dynamics of constructing high performing companies. Through unfiltered conversations that can only happen between seasoned practitioners – Kelli and Nolan dive deep into the kind of leadership-level strategy that often happens behind closed doors.
This show is for those who are ready to ditch conventional wisdom and figure out from first principles what works for their culture, business model, and industry, with the goal of building a resilient and enduring company. You’ll come away with real guidance for seeing around corners, building enduring companies, and carving out an impactful career – plus a newly-honed bullshit detector.
Topics frequently touched on in this season include: building high performing cultures, compensation negotiation, performance reviews, company design, equity, M&As, recruiting the best talent, and how to manage your own psychology as a people leader. hrheretics.substack.com
Hosts Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich have been through it all, the highs and the lows – IPOs, layoffs, executive turnover, board meetings, culture changes, and more. With a lineup of industry vets and experts, Nolan and Kelli break down the nitty-gritty details, trade offs, and dynamics of constructing high performing companies. Through unfiltered conversations that can only happen between seasoned practitioners – Kelli and Nolan dive deep into the kind of leadership-level strategy that often happens behind closed doors.
This show is for those who are ready to ditch conventional wisdom and figure out from first principles what works for their culture, business model, and industry, with the goal of building a resilient and enduring company. You’ll come away with real guidance for seeing around corners, building enduring companies, and carving out an impactful career – plus a newly-honed bullshit detector.
Topics frequently touched on in this season include: building high performing cultures, compensation negotiation, performance reviews, company design, equity, M&As, recruiting the best talent, and how to manage your own psychology as a people leader. hrheretics.substack.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
16 snips
May 31, 2024 • 50min
The Future of Tech Operators with Casey Woo, Founder of Operators Guild
Casey Woo, Founder of Operators Guild and ex-WeWork CFO, discusses his experience at WeWork, rapid business scaling, the impact of AI on operations, and the rise of business operators. They also talk about the future of CRM, digital employee engagement, job uncertainty in the tech age, and transitioning to venture capital.
May 29, 2024 • 17min
The Big Stay
In this episode of HR Heretics, Nolan and Kelli discuss an article from Business Insider about the ongoing white-collar recession, particularly affecting those earning over $100,000 a year. They discuss significant changes in the tech job market, including the influence of AI, global competition, and the shift from managerial roles to more individual contributor positions. The episode concludes with insights into personal fulfillment versus financial stability in career choices.Vanguard data reveals a hiring freeze for six-figure earners, impacting tech and finance. Is this the start of a white-collar recession?HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.Discover Workvivo, Zoom’s employee experience platform, designed to delight your hybrid workforce. With dynamic and intuitive features people actually like using, Workvivo fosters a sense of belonging and boosts retention and productivity. Join Ryanair, Dollar General, and Virgin — head to https://bit.ly/hrhereticsworkvivo to book a demo (tell them Kelli and Nolan sent you).Attio is the next generation of CRM. It’s powerful, flexible, and easily configures to the unique way your startup runs, whatever your go-to-market motion. The next era deserves a better CRM. Join ElevenLabs, Replicate, Modal, and more at https://bit.ly/AttioHRHereticsKEEP UP WITH NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINNolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction to the White Collar Recession00:30 The Dichotomy of Employment Data00:48 Challenges for High Earners01:56 The Big Stay and Trapped in Place Economy02:34 Industry-Specific Impacts05:21 Global Competition and AI's Role06:23 The Future of Tech Employment08:34 Personal Reflections and Career Changes08:43 Sponsor: Workvivo | Attio11:12: First-World Work Problems13:02: Self-Reflection and Assessment15:34: On Gratitude on Salaries and Roles16:11 Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com
13 snips
May 23, 2024 • 44min
A Deep Dive Into Coaching as a Career with Nathan Tanner, author of The Unconquerable Leader
Nathan Tanner, ex-HR leader at DoorDash, Neighbor, and LinkedIn, delves into coaching as a career, discussing setting up the business, client acquisition, and coaching economics. He explores the line between HR leader, coach, and therapist empathy, and the traits of a great coach. The episode covers client perspectives, coaching lifecycle, revenue balance, and building strategies.
May 21, 2024 • 11min
What's the Deal at OpenAI?
Nolan Church discusses OpenAI's exec departures, controversies over NDAs and equity, and Scarlett Johansson's voice use. Lessons for HR leaders and founders on ethics in AI tech.
May 16, 2024 • 52min
$3B Remote CEO on Killing the Return to Office
Job van der Voort, CEO of Remote and former VP at GitLab, discusses the challenges of running an international remote company, emphasizing autonomy over surveillance, global hiring complexities, geography-based compensation, and the impact on contracts. The conversation also explores the benefits of remote work culture, transitioning to remote work, and the potential for varied lifestyles with remote work.
May 14, 2024 • 15min
Career Decisions Round 2 with Janelle Lopez
Janelle Lopez shares insights on choosing a second-in-command role at Coursera over a Chief People Officer position elsewhere, discussing networking strategies, evaluating opportunities, and lessons learned from her job search. The podcast delves into the power of honest conversations during interviews, strategic networking for career advancement, and reflections on the job market and personal values for career growth.
May 9, 2024 • 48min
Balancing Humanity and Numbers: A Michelle Weaver, CFO at Twitch
Michelle Weaver, CFO at Twitch, discusses human-first leadership, building strong relationships, selecting the right company to work for, understanding business numbers, staying grounded in high-stress environments, and navigating career growth. The podcast delves into her experiences at companies like Twitch, EA, and Gap, emphasizing the importance of empathy and authenticity in business leadership.
May 7, 2024 • 12min
Do Non-Competes Harm Tech & AI Progress?
Discussing the recent FTC ban on non-compete agreements nationwide, the implications for employers and employees, balancing trade secrets and employee freedom, and the future of tech and AI post-ban. Embracing side hustles, innovation, and the need for looser restrictions in the tech industry to enhance wages and talent dynamics.
May 3, 2024 • 50min
Getting to the Bottom of Skill Shortages, Burnout & Engagement: Kristy McCann Flynn, SkillCycle CEO
Seasoned HR professional Kristy McCann Flynn discusses the changing role of HR, importance of aligning HR initiatives with business outcomes, why HR software purchasing power might be changing, and why HR practitioners need to address the skills gap in a new way.
May 2, 2024 • 14min
Politics in the Workplace is Just Distracting
Discussions on Google firing protestors and workplace disruptions, exploring the line between protest and disruption, Google's response to the controversy, alternative ways to voice dissent, and the future of workplace politics
