The Modern People Leader: Forward-Thinking HR

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David Hanrahan, Chief People Officer at Flare, and Jessica Zwaan, Author of Built for People & COO at Talentful, tackle outdated performance management practices that hinder employee growth.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!

Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work®, shares insights on the powerful role of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in corporate success. He highlights how great leaders impact employee experiences and why Gen Z prioritizes leadership over brand loyalty in job selection. Bush provides examples of companies excelling in DEIB initiatives and discusses the future of work, including AI's influence in fostering workplace inclusivity. Tune in for compelling takes on leadership and building a thriving organizational culture.

Polly Barnes, an Operating Partner at EQT Ventures focused on talent, shares her insights on high-performing founders. She discusses EQT's 20 indicators that define success, emphasizing resilience balanced with self-reflection. The conversation highlights the evolving profile of tech founders amid AI advancements and explores the critical role of psychological support in their journeys. Polly also addresses the challenges DEI initiatives face in startups and provides valuable advice for modern HR leaders in VC-backed environments.

Melanie Rosenwasser, Chief People Officer at Dropbox, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We discussed Dropbox’s virtual-first model, how they measure its success, and the three types of in-person gatherings they organize. ----  Go get your tickets for MPL Live using our 50% off discount code, MPL-LIVE-50. Don't miss out—get your ⁠ticket⁠ now!  ----  This episode was brought to you by Great Place To Work®. Learn more at http://greatplacetowork.com/mpl. ----  (0:41) Good news stories (6:00) Melanie's career journey (9:18) What Dropbox does and why it's a great place to work (12:04) The importance of flexibility in Dropbox's virtual-first model (13:11) Key elements for success in a virtual first environment (19:39) The role of data and research in shaping Dropbox's work model (23:05) Insights from Dropbox's research on remote work (24:00) Building trust and culture in a remote-first environment (27:01) Challenges and learnings from remote work at Dropbox (30:30) The importance of in-person gatherings for remote teams (37:52) Offsite modalities and their impact on team collaboration (41:02) Experimenting with AI and its impact on the future of work (46:15) Predictions for the future of work (52:01) Rapid fire questions (55:11) One word or phrase close ----  📬 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