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

Arthur Matuszewski, a seasoned leader from Bridgewater, Better.com, and Carrara, dives into the nuances of hiring in this engaging discussion. He highlights the importance of intellectual honesty and how traditional hiring criteria often miss exceptional talent. Matuszewski shares insights on mitigating false negatives and adapting recruitment strategies to unique organizational contexts. He emphasizes the need to evaluate employees based on their actual contributions, steering away from conventional measures like titles, and fostering a culture of exploration and transparency.

Lucy Adams, founder of Disruptive HR, shakes up conventional HR thinking with her bold insights. She critiques outdated policies, championing judgment-based systems that empower employees. The conversation dives into the evolving role of HR business partners, emphasizing trust over compliance. Adams discusses innovative strategies for creating high-performing cultures and the importance of adapting to complex workplace dynamics. Tune in for her take on fostering inclusion and the future of HR in a rapidly changing environment.

The hosts open up about deeply personal experiences caring for ill loved ones, highlighting the challenges of balancing work and trauma. They emphasize the importance of empathy and support systems in the workplace. Listeners gain insights into innovative health benefits and the need for advocacy during personal crises. Additionally, the conversation touches on transforming hiring processes using advanced technology, showcasing how thoughtful solutions can enhance both employee well-being and organizational effectiveness.

In a thrilling tale of corporate espionage, Deel is accused of sending a spy to Rippling to steal secrets, which leads to an elaborate 'honeypot' trap. The hosts delve into how such incidents reflect the shift from private rivalry to public drama via social media. They explore the tangled web of modern workplace ethics and the importance of transparency in an era where unprofessional acts can be quickly exposed. This captivating discourse highlights the evolving complexities of corporate interactions and the role of technology in today's HR landscape.

David Hanrahan, the new CHRO at SolarWinds and experienced leader in organizational change, shares his insights on navigating leadership roles. He reflects on the recent Transform 2025 conference, advocating for deeper discussions in HR. The conversation reveals the challenges of fostering genuine dialogue amid cancel culture. David emphasizes the need for trust and collaboration in leadership development, especially with shifting budget constraints, underlining the importance of aligning HR strategies with business objectives.

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