In this episode of We’re Not Recording, hosts Roxanne Petraeus (CEO @ Ethena) and Melanie Naranjo (VP of People @ Ethena) sit down with Ian White, Founder & CEO/CTO of ChartHop — and former actor turned tech leader — to unpack what truly drives healthy, high-performing organizations.

They dive into:

Why CEO–CPO alignment matters more than ping-pong perks or culture slogans

How long-term people strategies compound like investments (even when short-term wins tempt you)

The fine line between transparency and overexposure inside a company

Why team offsites often miss the point — and how to build real alignment instead

How improv, acting, and vulnerability translate into better leadership

From offsites and org design to accountability and trust, this conversation is a masterclass in building culture that lasts — not one that just looks good on paper.

And yes, they debate possum cafés, rabies myths, and the eternal question: Should everyone at work really take an improv class?