The Modern People Leader: Forward-Thinking HR

Frank Congui, EVP at Randstad Enterprise, joined us on The Modern People Leader.  We talked about the magic of intentional gatherings, leading with generosity, and why we should be doing less chest-pumping in the HR space. ----  Use code MPL-LIVE-50 to get 50% off your ticket for MPL Live Miami on December 10th. ⁠Buy Tickets Here⁠. ----  (0:13) Announcement: MPL Live Miami event on December 10th (7:04) Frank’s journey from Goldman Sachs to Randstad (9:58) Building executive communities: The beginning of the CHRO dinners (12:08) Evolution of executive dinners and blending roles (19:00) Intentional traditions in leadership gatherings (24:31) Vulnerability and creating moments of connection (28:00) The power of service and being generous in leadership (38:30) The state of HR: Burnout, DEI challenges, and AI adoption (42:11) Balancing optimism and skepticism in the HR industry (47:13) Civil conversations in divisive times: Creating supportive policies (54:03) Magic wand HR fix: Pay equity for all (56:08) The future of work: AI and human partnership (59:27) Rapid fire questions: ----  📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps 💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn

Jenna Eichberg, Chief People Officer at AlertMedia, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about the state of HR, why CHROs are rethinking their roles, and AlertMedia’s leadership programs. ----  Use code MPL-LIVE-50 to get 50% off your ticket for MPL Live Miami on December 10th. ⁠Buy Tickets Here⁠. ----  (0:13) Announcement: MPL Live Miami event on December 10th (5:01) Jenna’s story (10:06) Navigating industries and career growth (17:07) Transition to AlertMedia – finding a dream job (29:03) The state of HR today and managing change (32:09) The “Manager Dilemma” and leadership development (37:55) The launch of the Emerging Leaders Program (45:14) Executive and people team offsites: Key insights (47:52) HR burnout and the light at the end of the tunnel (54:47) A positive outlook for the future of HR (59:28) Rapid fire questions ----  📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps 💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn

Tracy Avin, Founder of TroopHR, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about how TroopHR was born, the importance of community in HR, the challenges HR professionals face in today’s business climate, and the need for support networks. ----  Use code MPL-LIVE-50 to get 50% off your ticket for MPL Live Miami on December 10th. Buy Tickets Here. ----  Timestamps: (6:57) Tracy’s journey to founding TroopHR (10:57) What a day in Tracy’s life looks like (12:59) The meaning of community for HR leaders (16:33) How the needs of the HR community have evolved (18:36) Challenges and conflicts faced by HR professionals (25:47) Handling difficult conversations in a professional setting (28:44) Why boundaries are crucial in discussions (30:06) Politicization of HR topics in the workplace (36:00) Doing more with less: The pressures of shrinking HR teams (42:06) HR burnout and its impact (44:56) The influence of economic situations on HR strategy (47:37) The importance of community in challenging times (51:23) Open sourcing HR ideas: A positive shift post-COVID (52:49) Rapid fire questions ----  📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps 💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn

Ray Martinelli, Chief People Officer at Contentful, has an impressive background in finance and HR at giants like Apple. He shares insights on aligning HR strategies with CEO visions and the science behind compensation. Ray discusses the evolving role of HR post-pandemic, highlighting the importance of adapting to change and fostering employee engagement. He emphasizes the need for transparent performance discussions and how to navigate workplace politics, all while building a people-first strategy at Contentful.

Sandra Schwarzer, Board & Talent Insights leader at Index Ventures, joined us on The Modern People Leader.  We talked about Index Ventures’ experience helping founders “scale through chaos”, how much time founders spend on HR-related tasks, their 14-point framework for running executive searches, and how investors evaluate founders’ view on talent. ----  Timestamps: (3:54) Sandra's career story: From East Germany to Index Ventures (10:42) Defining 'Scaling through Chaos' and key takeaways (13:56) Founders spending 50% of their time on HR-related tasks (17:44) Challenges in hiring engineering talent and how Index Ventures supports founders (20:07) Structuring time for hiring and talent-related tasks (27:05) AI adoption in the people function: Early challenges and insights (38:48) The 14-point executive search framework for successful hires (44:06) How to balance speed and cultural fit when hiring (50:26) Common mistakes in executive hiring and learning from them (54:11) The importance of organizational design and a CEO's view of the people function (56:53) Index Ventures' tool for optimizing team planning and scaling ----  📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps 💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn

David Hanrahan, Chief People Officer at Flare, and Jessica Zwaan, Author of Built for People & COO at Talentful, tackle outdated performance management practices that hinder employee growth. They discuss the shift from individual assessments to team-focused evaluations, emphasizing transparency and real-time feedback. The duo explores how AI can reshape performance reviews and addresses the complexities of linking performance to compensation. Their insights shed light on the evolving HR landscape, urging companies to adopt more collaborative and dynamic approaches.

Katie Burke, CPO & Board Member at Paycor, and Gianna Driver, Chief People Officer at Lattice, joined us for our inaugural MPL Live in Austin, Texas. We talked about the current state of HR, generational differences in the workforce, and how AI is impacting organizations.  ----  This episode was brought to you by CandorIQ. Get your free 30 minute comp consultation.  ----  2:58: Good news stories from Gianna and Katie 5:05: Celebrating episode 200 6:46: State of HR and workplace changes in 2024 8:14: Katie and Gianna's insights on doing more with less and AI adoption 9:28: Greater focus on how HR supports the business 10:42: The impact of AI on HR functions 14:25: How Lattice integrates AI into their HR processes 17:19: Challenges of managing AI adoption and workforce expectations 22:12: Strategies for managing cross-generational workforce 31:02: Balancing DEI efforts with workforce realities 35:22: Handling politics in the workplace during election years 49:00: Audience Q&A on navigating difficult topics in HR 54:46: Closing thoughts and one-word reflections ----  📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps 💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn

Vanessa Monsequeira, VP of People at Gorilla, sheds light on her journey through hyper-growth and the importance of mindset in leadership. She discusses the challenges of scaling operations in tech while balancing quick and mindful decision-making. Her insights on the necessity of unlearning and relearning for effective leadership transitions are eye-opening. Vanessa also shares the value of creating a 30-60-90 day plan and aligning OKRs with business goals, offering practical advice for navigating today’s competitive job market.

Jeff Schmitz, Chief People Officer at Zebra Technologies, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about Jeff’s transition from marketing to HR, why Zebra is reinventing their purpose statement and values, and their cultural training programs. ----  Go get your tickets for MPL Live using our 50% off discount code, MPL-LIVE-50. Don't miss out—⁠⁠get your ⁠⁠ticket⁠⁠ now⁠⁠!  ----  (0:39) Good news stories (5:12) Jeff’s career journey (6:15) Jeff’s background from engineering to CMO and CPO (9:48) Biggest surprises transitioning from marketing to HR (12:16) Explanation of Zebra Technologies’ core business (14:41) Why Jeff loves working at Zebra (16:28) Launching Zebra’s new purpose statement and values (22:48) How Zebra involves employees in cultural transformation (24:31) Impact of culture on smaller acquisitions (27:01) Cultural integration from Zebra’s acquisition of Motorola (34:33) Cultural training programs at Zebra (38:13) Advice for HR leaders about getting buy-in for cultural transformations (42:15) Rapid-fire questions ----  📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps 💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn 😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn

Nicole Hughey, former SVP of DEI at SiriusXM, shares her journey in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She discusses the evolving language of DEIB and the recent SHRM debate surrounding equity. Nicole emphasizes the crucial role of heart in driving meaningful change and the common misconception that DEI initiatives are fading away. She highlights the importance of courage and accountability in these efforts and reflects on what’s next in her career. A must-listen for anyone interested in impactful leadership!