Navigating Leadership Transitions with Susan on Built by People PodcastIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, Susan shares her journey from IBM marketing and sales to HR and talent acquisition in the technology sector. Susan discusses the challenges and strategies involved in upgrading leadership team capabilities during significant revenue growth. She emphasizes the importance of fact-based approaches, building trust, and flexibility in team dynamics. Susan also shares insights on the delicate conversations about leadership changes and the positive impacts of making the right leadership decisions. The conversation highlights the ongoing process of forming robust and cohesive teams to drive business success.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:14 Sponsor Message: Previ Network00:38 Guest Introduction: Susan's Career Journey01:36 Leadership Team Upgrades for Growth04:07 Navigating Delicate Leadership Conversations06:27 Handling Leadership Transitions08:09 Current Role and Team Dynamics12:35 Parting Advice for Building Strong Teams13:59 Conclusion and Thank You

Innovative HR Solutions and Career Journey with PatrickIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, the host welcomes Patrick, a seasoned HR leader who shares his unexpected career journey into human resources. Patrick discusses the challenges faced with traditional employee benefit offerings and his decision to implement Previ, a private pricing network, to provide unique and cost-effective benefits to employees. He highlights the simplicity and effectiveness of Previ's platform in enhancing employee satisfaction and reducing monthly costs. Patrick also offers valuable advice about overcoming career anxieties and emphasizes the importance of eventually figuring things out.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:14 Sponsor Message: Previ's Employee Benefits00:41 Guest Introduction: Patrick's Career Journey00:56 Accidental Entry into HR02:07 Innovative Employee Benefits with Previ03:00 Evaluating and Implementing Previ04:25 Initial Results and Impact of Previ05:19 Parting Advice from Patrick05:51 Conclusion and Farewell

Enhancing Employee Engagement and AI Integration with Russ from Stibo SystemsIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, the host welcomes Russ, a seasoned HR executive, to discuss his career journey from teaching to HR leadership at Stibo Systems. Russ shares insights on leveraging the PECON survey to improve employee engagement, especially during periods of growth and organizational challenges. He outlines strategies for maintaining trust and morale during workforce reductions and detailed initiatives like focus groups and refreshed employee branding. Russ also dives into the future of AI in the workplace, advocating for treating AI agents like employees to ensure smoother integration. He provides early results from AI deployments, emphasizing transparency and employee reassurance. Russ highlights the importance of strategic navigation in HR to embrace technological advancements for workforce augmentation and business scalability.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:38 Meet Russ: From Teacher to HR Leader02:16 Challenges in Employee Engagement03:09 Implementing the PECON Survey04:11 Driving Higher Engagement Scores06:38 Navigating Workforce Reductions09:30 AI in the Workforce: Digital Workers11:10 Early Results and Challenges with AI12:32 Parting Advice for HR Leaders

Navigating HR Leadership with Beth on the Built by People PodcastIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, the host interviews Beth, an HR professional with 17 years of experience. Beth shares her career journey from starting in Kentucky to taking on various roles in Austin, including at Wheatsville Food Co-op, Kendra Scott, and her current position at Auctane. She discusses the challenges of balancing data-driven decision-making with maintaining a human element, the importance of personal branding, and her evolving leadership style. Beth provides insights into making impactful changes within budget constraints and offers advice on meaningful work and thoughtful delegation. The episode closes with Beth emphasizing the value of aligning personal and company missions for a fulfilling career.

00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast

00:14 Sponsor Message: Previ Network

00:38 Guest Introduction: Beth's Career Journey

02:18 Career Highlights and Growth at Kendra Scott

03:58 Transition to Tech and Current Role at Auctane

04:30 Balancing Data-Driven Decisions with Human Element

06:21 Elevating Personal Brand in HR08:06 Evolving Leadership Style

09:50 Maximizing Impact with Limited Resources

11:52 Final Advice for HR Professionals

12:55 Conclusion and Thank You

Innovative HR Transformations with Cortney: From Military to CryptoIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, the host interviews Cortney, who shares her diverse career journey from the Army National Guard to the corporate world, spanning roles in the beauty industry, tech, and crypto. Cortney discusses a major restructuring at her current research organization, resolving challenges by shifting from isolated verticals to a unified talent pool. She details the resistance faced from both leadership and analysts, highlights the successful seven-month change process, and reveals the positive impact on recruitment, retention, and customer service. Cortney concludes with insightful advice on staying ahead in the AI landscape.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:38 Meet Cortney: A Journey from Army to HR01:27 Challenges in Scaling and Organizational Structure03:00 Resistance and Overcoming Challenges04:36 Steps to Transition and Unexpected Obstacles05:52 Measurable Results and Impact07:05 Parting Advice and Closing Remarks

Building and Transforming Company Culture with Katie from HarveyIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, the host welcomes Katie, the Chief People Officer at Harvey, an AI company focused on legal and professional services. Katie shares her career journey from HubSpot to Harvey and her experiences in shaping company culture. She discusses the strategies she used at HubSpot to foster transparency and alignment, and how she's now defining Harvey's culture from the ground up. Katie highlights key moments and challenges in this process, including balancing decisiveness with necessary process during rapid company growth. She also emphasizes the importance of humility and adaptability in leadership. Katie provides advice on embracing AI in the workforce and preparing teams for change, ending with the importance of normalizing change in a rapidly evolving business environment.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:37 Meet Katie: Career Journey and Current Role01:17 Defining and Building Company Culture04:07 Navigating Cultural Tensions in a Startup05:20 Making Company Values Tangible06:38 Parting Advice on AI and Workforce Transformation07:57 Conclusion and Farewell

Aligning HR Strategies with Organizational Goals featuring CourtneyIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, host Dave welcomes Courtney, a seasoned HR professional with over 18 years of experience in a charter school management company, National Heritage Academies. Courtney shares her journey into HR and her dedication to education, influenced by her family's background. She discusses the alignment between HR strategies and organizational goals, particularly addressing issues like the national teacher shortage and the implementation of the Teacher in Residence program. Courtney highlights the importance of proactive, strategic planning, especially in HR's role to support evolving business needs. In closing, she advises HR professionals to stay ahead of future challenges by being strategic partners to their organizations.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:38 Meet Courtney: A Journey in HR02:11 Addressing HR Challenges: Teacher Shortages04:08 Strategic Planning and Professional Development06:11 Outcomes and Learnings from HR Realignment07:26 Reflections and Future Strategies09:11 Parting Advice for HR Leaders10:11 Conclusion and Farewell

Scaling HR Excellence with Heather from Thomas CuisineIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, the host welcomes Heather, an HR leader with a diverse background, to discuss her career journey and insights. Heather shares her transition from advertising to HR, inspired by personal experiences. She highlights the importance of aligning personal strengths with professional roles and the impact of feeling valued at work. Heather delves into scaling culture across a dispersed workforce, recruiting leaders based on values, and the significance of real food in her company's operations. She details immersive experiences for new managers, road shows to connect leadership with hourly team members, and strategies for effective change management. Heather advises HR leaders to regularly reevaluate and nurture their company culture to ensure it scales effectively.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:14 Sponsor Message: Previ Network00:38 Guest Introduction: Heather's Career Journey01:22 The Importance of Aligning Work with Personal Strengths02:28 Heather's Role at Thomas Cuisine02:56 Scaling Across a Dispersed Workforce05:10 Recruiting Leaders Based on Values05:38 Real Foods Philosophy08:28 Immersive Experiences for New Managers10:20 Connecting Leadership with Hourly Team Members11:27 Approaching Change Management12:50 Advice for Scaling Company Culture13:16 Conclusion and Farewell

Leading with Empathy and Excellence: A Conversation with Christine on the Built by People PodcastIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, host Dave welcomes Christine, an HR executive with over 25 years of experience. Christine shares her unique journey in HR, starting straight out of college and evolving through roles at major organizations like Ford Motor Company and Dunkin Brands. She discusses her current passion for startups and highlights the importance of execution excellence led by empathy. Christine offers insights into the challenges of modern HR, including the rise of deepfake candidates, and the use of advanced AI technology at her current organization, Pindrop, to combat fraudulent activities. She emphasizes the critical shift of HR from a foundational role to a strategic business partner, sharing a successful case study from her experience at Pra. The episode closes with Christine's advice on combining strong leadership with vulnerability and asking better questions to drive business success.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:14 Sponsor Message: Previ Network00:37 Guest Introduction: Christine's Career Journey02:11 Leadership Philosophy: Execution Excellence with Empathy04:48 Addressing Deep Fake Candidates in HR09:13 HR's Evolution to Strategic Business Partner12:09 Parting Advice and Conclusion

Creativity Under Constraints: Insights from Pat on Agile HR PracticesIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, the host welcomes Pat, an HR executive, to discuss his career journey and innovative HR strategies. Pat shares how his struggles in school led to a career in HR, influenced by family members in the field. He emphasizes the importance of constraints in fostering creativity and provides a metaphor of a crow solving a problem through ingenuity. Pat illustrates how resource limitations led to the development of AI solutions to better support employees. He also compares HR processes to product management, advocating for iterative development. Additionally, Pat discusses embracing AI and technological change to create opportunities and elevate workplace joy. He concludes with advice on viewing HR as a craft, emphasizing continual learning and the importance of asking questions.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:14 Sponsor Message: Previ Network00:38 Guest Introduction: Pat's Career Journey01:31 The Theory of Constraints and Agility03:04 Innovative AI Solutions in HR04:22 Transforming HR with Product Management Principles05:56 Embracing Technological Disruption07:15 Parting Advice and Conclusion