Summary

In this episode of the Built By People podcast, Nancy Hauge shares her unconventional journey from aspiring artist to a prominent figure in corporate HR. She discusses the transformative changes she has implemented in organizations, particularly through the adoption of new technologies and the elimination of outdated performance evaluations. Nancy emphasizes the importance of adapting to the evolving workforce dynamics, especially with the decline in birth rates and the rise of AI. She concludes with powerful advice for HR leaders about finding value in their roles and not settling for less.

Takeaways

• Nancy's journey began in the arts before transitioning to HR.
• She found a welcoming environment in Silicon Valley that encouraged authenticity.
• Technological advancements have allowed for significant changes in HR practices.
• Performance evaluations are outdated and detrimental to employee morale.
• The workforce is declining, presenting challenges for HR leaders.
• AI should be viewed as a solution, not a threat.
• HR must adapt to the expectations of millennials and Gen Z.
• Leadership requires navigating unpopular decisions for long-term success.
• Finding a supportive organizational culture is crucial for HR professionals.
• Improvisation has been key to Nancy's career success.

Summary

In this episode of the Built By People Podcast, Melissa Leneis shares her extensive career journey in HR, highlighting her experiences across various industries and her evolution into a CHRO role. She discusses the importance of inclusion, community, and well-being in the workplace, and how these elements drive performance and engagement. Melissa reflects on defining moments in her career, the challenges she faced, and the legacy she hopes to leave as an HR leader. She concludes with valuable advice for future HR professionals, emphasizing the need for purpose, humanity, and a focus on talent investment.

Takeaways

• Melissa's career spans various industries including defense and technology.
• She was inspired to pursue HR after hearing a Disney HR leader speak.
• Inclusion and community are central to her HR philosophy.
• She transformed HR from transactional to enabling roles.
• Melissa's defining moment was realizing the impact of inclusion-based work.
• She introduced global family planning benefits and expanded parental leave.
• Leadership upscaling is critical for effective strategy implementation.
• Her legacy aims to make organizations and people better.
• She advises future HR leaders to lead with purpose and humanity.
• Investing in talent is essential for organizational success.

• Navigating the HR Landscape: Melissa Leneis' Journey
• The Power of Inclusion in the Workplace

• "Inclusion isn't just about representation."
• "Lead with purpose, but stay human."
• "Thank you very much for the opportunity."

Chapters

00:00 Melissa's Career Journey in HR

03:26 Defining Moments in Inclusion and Leadership

06:06 Challenges and Legacy in HR Leadership

Summary

In this episode of the Built by People Podcast, Carolina Terrazas shares her inspiring journey in HR, discussing the pivotal moments that shaped her career. From being unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role to navigating international moves, Carolina emphasizes the importance of courage, resilience, and adaptability in personal and professional growth. She highlights transformative HR initiatives and the significance of understanding unique company cultures while adapting leadership practices. Ultimately, Carolina encourages listeners to embrace curiosity and the ability to unlearn in a rapidly changing world.

Takeaways

• Carolina's career in HR began unexpectedly but became a passion.
• A key mentor saw potential in Carolina that she didn't see in herself.
• Growth occurs when we are trusted to rise to the occasion.
• Courage involves moving forward despite fear.
• Transitions in her career taught Carolina resilience and empathy.
• Preparation for change is less about knowledge and more about confidence.
• Meaningful HR changes can have lasting impacts on employees.
• Adapting practices to fit unique company cultures is crucial.
• Curiosity and adaptability are essential in today's fast-paced world.
• The ability to unlearn and relearn is vital for success.

Chapters

00:00 Carolina's Journey in HR

03:37 The Impact of Trust and Leadership

05:26 Navigating Career Transitions

07:35 Driving Change in Organizations

11:53 Adapting and Evolving in a Changing World

Summary

In this episode of the Built by People Podcast, Liezl Tolentino shares her extensive career journey in HR, emphasizing the importance of coaching, self-care, and the impact of leadership during challenging times. She discusses her sabbatical, defining moments in her career, and the challenges she faced as an HR leader, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Liezl also highlights the significance of building confidence, minimizing self-doubt, and leaving a positive legacy in the workplace.

Takeaways

• HR can be a key driver in transformation and value creation.
• Taking a sabbatical can provide clarity and energy for future endeavors.
• Healthy selfishness is crucial for personal and professional well-being.
• Building trust with employees is essential during crises.
• Self-acceptance helps minimize self-doubt and negative self-talk.
• Practicing gratitude can rewire your brain for positivity.
• Leaders should focus on their strengths to build confidence.
• The legacy of an HR leader should be about positive impact.
• HR leaders have the privilege to make a significant impact on humanity.

Chapters

00:00 Liezl's Career Journey

03:41 The Power of Coaching

06:11 The Importance of Taking a Sabbatical

07:57 Defining Moments in HR Leadership

11:17 Overcoming Challenges as an HR Leader

15:51 Building Confidence and Minimizing Self-Doubt

15:57 Legacy and Impact as an HR Leader

17:39 Parting Advice for HR Leaders

Summary

In this episode of the Built By People Podcast, Leah Buckley shares her non-traditional career journey in HR, highlighting key influences and mentorship that shaped her path. She discusses critical decisions made during acquisitions, the importance of building business partner teams, and the challenges of making unpopular decisions for long-term benefits. Leah emphasizes the significance of implementing competencies and leveling in organizations and provides advice for early career professionals on valuing their voices and ideas.

Takeaways

• Leah's career journey in HR was non-traditional and exploratory.
• Key influences include her father and mentors from Target and Amazon.
• Navigating critical decisions during acquisitions can build trust.
• Building business partner teams provides essential support for leaders.
• Unpopular decisions can lead to long-term organizational benefits.
• Implementing competencies and leveling is crucial for employee growth.
• Foundational steps are necessary for successful HR initiatives.
• Early career professionals should value their voices and ideas.
• Mentorship plays a significant role in career development.

Chapters

00:00 Leah's Non-Traditional Career Journey

06:23 Navigating Tough Decisions in HR

12:28 Advice for Emerging Leaders

Summary

In this conversation, Heidi shares her extensive career journey in HR, detailing her rise from a content writer to CEO and now president of isolved Talent Acquisition. She discusses the challenges faced during a surge in job applications, particularly during mass layoffs in tech, and how her team adapted by implementing AI-driven solutions to streamline the recruitment process. Heidi emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity in candidate applications and shares valuable lessons learned from her experiences, including the need for clear job ads and effective screening processes. She concludes with advice on leveraging AI effectively in recruitment.

Takeaways

• Heidi's career began in marketing and evolved into HR.
• She faced overwhelming job applications during tech layoffs.
• Quality of candidates is more important than quantity.
• AI tools helped streamline the recruitment process.
• Well-written job ads are crucial for attracting the right candidates.
• Candidate matching AI can surface the best fits.
• Understanding the job role is essential for effective hiring.
• Recruiting should be treated as a system, not a linear pipeline.
• Over-automation can lead to challenges in recruitment.
• Inputs to AI systems must be continuously refined.

Chapters

00:00 Heidi's Career Journey in HR

02:03 Navigating High Volume Job Applications

04:33 Implementing AI in Recruitment

07:04 Lessons Learned from Recruitment Challenges

10:08 Parting Advice on AI Utilization

Summary

In this conversation, HR strategic leader and VP of People at 15Five, Karina Young, shares her extensive experience in scaling tech organizations and the challenges faced in HR, including burnout and manager enablement. She discusses the importance of data in advocating for HR needs, the role of executives in program rollouts, and the significance of measuring HR impact through various metrics. Karina concludes with advice on making small, incremental changes for personal and professional growth.

Takeaways

• HR burnout is unfortunately more and more common given shrinking team sizes.
• Karina uses data to advocate for the right balance with headcount.
• Executives must play a big role in the rollout of the manager enablement program to ensure their success.
• Peer-to-peer learning creates a cool community that drives continuous engagement.

• One small shift every day makes you better.

Chapters

00:00 Karina's Journey in HR

02:06 Addressing HR Burnout

04:07 Manager Enablement Challenges

06:41 Measuring HR Impact

08:42 Parting Advice for Growth

Summary

In this episode of the Built by People Podcast, Monet Williams shares her career journey from a student with a passion for people to a leader in organizational transformation. She discusses key influences that shaped her path, including her experiences at McKinsey and the Red Sox, and highlights the importance of understanding employee needs and community engagement. Monet emphasizes the significance of employee resource groups and the need for HR leaders to adapt to constant change in the workforce. She concludes with valuable advice for emerging leaders on facilitating change and making it easier for people to do the right thing.

Takeaways

• Monet describes herself as a 'people nerd'.
• Her early experiences shaped her career path away from engineering.
• She spent 11 years at McKinsey focusing on people and organization.
• Listening to concerns is crucial in high-stakes situations.
• Expanding customer bases can lead to meaningful change.
• Credibility can be a challenge when proposing new ideas.
• Change management requires addressing people's fears and uncertainties.
• Employee resource groups can enhance culture and retention.
• HR leaders should align ERGs with business impact.
• Facilitating change involves removing barriers for employees.

Chapters

00:00 Monet's Career Journey: From Student to Consultant

03:21 Key Influences and Career Shifts

06:11 High-Stakes Decisions and Change Management

09:07 Leadership Strategies and Employee Resource Groups

10:47 Future of HR: Adapting to Change

Summary

In this conversation, Jill Wrobel shares her career journey from being an actuary to becoming the CHRO of Brunswick Corporation. Jill discusses the challenges faced in fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the organization, especially during rapid growth periods. She outlines concrete steps taken to address these challenges, the impactful outcomes of their efforts, and offers recommendations for others looking to implement similar strategies in their organizations.

Takeaways

• Continuous improvement is critical for our internal workforce.

• Storytelling drives a culture of continuous improvement.
• Walk the walk, model the behaviors.
• Celebrate the wins and near misses.

• Lead with the heart in HR.
• It's an obligation to lead with authenticity.

Chapters

00:00 Jill's Career Journey in HR

03:11 Fostering a Culture of Continuous Improvement

05:59 Concrete Steps for Continuous Improvement

08:36 Impactful Outcomes of Continuous Improvement

11:18 Strategies for Driving Continuous Improvement

14:18 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

In this episode of the Built by People podcast, Sharon John shares her extensive career journey in HR, emphasizing the importance of total rewards and the impact of COVID-19 on compensation practices. She discusses her career-defining moments, the challenges of communication in a global context, and her aspirations for leaving a lasting legacy in HR leadership. Sharon advocates for transparent communication and the need for HR professionals to evolve into strategic partners within organizations.