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

Dive into the intriguing world of talent calibration sessions, where clarity and transparency are key! Discover how HR can balance facilitation and objective evaluation to ensure fair assessments. The discussion reveals calibration's critical role in unifying team evaluations and enhancing decision-making. Uncover the analogy between fitness and organizational health, emphasizing the importance of clear expectations. Listen in for insights on using tools like the nine-box grid to foster employee development and engagement!

Kelli and Nolan are joined by Roxanne Petraeus, CEO of Ethena, to talk about her journey from the US army to founding an HR tech company. She shares her views on leadership, the distinction between training and learning, and building a culture of intellectual meritocracy in a remote-first environment. The conversation explores how compliance training evolved from her military experiences, covers the role of Chief People Officers, and reveals how military discipline shaped her approach to building high-performance tech cultures without superficial perks.*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: hrheretics@turpentine.coFor coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccessSupport HR Heretics Sponsor: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, Hellofresh, and Quora say Metaview has changed the game—see the magic for yourself: https://www.metaview.ai/hereticsKEEP UP WITH ROXANNE, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINRoxanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanne-bras-petraeus-2292b8109/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/—RECOMMENDATIONS:Ethena: https://www.goethena.com/‘We’re not recording’ podcast with Roxanne Petraeus:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTcvuUiuTe9nFXLMIPy4gjHv67-bFl8Do—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(01:36) How Roxanne ended up in the Army (03:29) Career path from Army to McKinsey to founder (04:29) The insight behind Ethena's founding (07:11) Problems with traditional LMS approaches (10:04) Debate on employee vs company-driven learning (14:00) Making training relevant to day-to-day work (15:43) Sponsor: Metaview(17:38) The best L&D: great managers and top performers (20:47) Learning from people vs structured courses (22:40) Hiring a CPO at an HR tech company (24:45) Building a culture of intellectual meritocracy (27:27) Founders set company culture, not HR (28:44) The expanding role of modern CPOs (33:08) Functional leaders' accountability vs HR (35:19) CPO as strategic partner and executive coach (37:55) Maintaining high talent density and expectations (41:33) Leading a female-led company with high standards (43:16) Thanksgiving with David Petraeus(43:54) 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

Colleen McCreary, Chief People Officer at Confluent, dives into her first 90 days in a CPO role at a remote-first public company. She discusses the importance of transparent leadership and building community in remote settings. Colleen shares her approach to eliminating unnecessary processes and fostering a culture of collaboration. With insights on navigating organizational change, she highlights the importance of listening to employees and achieving quick wins to build trust in a new leadership role.

Nolan and Kelli unveil powerful strategies for navigating the tech job market. They advocate for proactive networking over blanket applications, emphasizing the importance of relationships in uncovering hidden opportunities. The duo stresses crafting a compelling value proposition to showcase your impact. They also explore how to enhance your presence in your current role and the necessity of upskilling amid rising AI integration. With insights on leveraging LinkedIn effectively, listeners are encouraged to make job searching an engaging, ongoing process.

Nolan and Kelli talk about Jamie Dimon's leaked critique of remote work while examining the collision between post-pandemic workplace expectations and corporate realities. They explore leadership's critical role in employee engagement, the shifting talent marketplace, and how organizational culture ultimately determines whether flexibility becomes an asset or liability in modern workplaces.*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: hrheretics@turpentine.coFor coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccessSupport HR Heretics Sponsor: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, Hellofresh, and Quora say Metaview has changed the game—see the magic for yourself: https://www.metaview.ai/hereticsKEEP UP WITH NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINNolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/—REFERENCE:Nolan’s post on LinkedIn regarding Jamie Dimon: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nolan-church_ceos-are-done-with-remote-work-this-is-activity-7296192450493120514-xCMH/TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(00:50) Thoughts on the leaked JP Morgan CEO video on remote work(02:08) On remote work flexibility(02:25) Red Pill Moment?(03:35) Was JP Morgan recording was intentional?(05:34) Talent expectations and companies returning to the office(06:51) Sponsor: Metaview(08:45) Human adaptation to remote work(09:58) The importance of leadership in work engagement(11:07) Missionary versus mercenary motivation(12:45) Thoughts on leadership and market conditions(12:51) 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

Siadhal Magos, CEO of Metaview, dives into the fascinating world of agentic AI, discussing its current role and potential in HR. He examines the gap between AI hype and reality, sharing insights on traditional workflows and recruitment challenges. The conversation highlights the importance of effective prompts in optimizing AI interactions, showcasing tools like Whisperflow. Siadhal emphasizes the evolving relationship between AI and users, advocating for a collaborative approach to improve workplace productivity and decision-making.

The discussion revolves around the ethics of providing feedback to job candidates, especially those who invested time in the process. Challenges like recruiter bandwidth and potential liability concerns are examined. The speakers emphasize the importance of treating candidates respectfully and encouraging transparent communication. They also explore how AI tools can enhance recruitment efficiency and decision-making. Lastly, the value of maintaining professional connections through gratitude and networking is highlighted.

Iain Roberts, Global Head of Employee Experience at Airbnb, is known for his innovative design-thinking approach to HR. He discusses the role of HR as a strategic service function, emphasizing the need for continual refinement of employee programs. Iain shares insights on implementing flexible work policies post-COVID, the balance between micromanagement and collaboration, and the transformative impact of AI on recruitment. He also clarifies misconceptions about CEO Brian Chesky's ‘Founder Mode’ and its relationship with organizational innovation.

In this engaging conversation, Anna Binder, Head of People at Asana and board member at CultureAmp, discusses her extensive HR journey. She shares insights on effective board dynamics and the importance of building relationships with fellow members. Anna emphasizes the long-term commitment required for DEI initiatives and the transformative power of authentic leadership. She also touches on the emotional challenges faced by women in high-pressure roles while advocating for thoughtful approaches in talent management and embracing AI for recruitment.

Retention of top performers hinges on more than just salary; authentic appreciation and recognition play crucial roles. Strategies that eliminate compensation anxiety lead to stronger relationships with these key employees. Transparency in pay and thoughtful, personalized treatment can enhance loyalty and morale. The discussion also touches on how AI tools like MetaView can streamline recruitment processes, fostering more genuine interactions between candidates and employers.