Unpacking Hyper Growth: HR Insights from Heather Cassar

In this episode of the Built by People podcast sponsored by Previ, host Dave D'Angelo welcomes Heather, a distinguished HR leader, to share her career journey and insights from working with high-growth companies like Uber and Cash App.

Heather discusses her accidental start in HR, managing hyper growth, transitioning to a continuous feedback model, and the evolution of HR leadership in tech. She emphasizes the importance of decision-making with incomplete information, maintaining culture during rapid scaling, and moving away from annual review cycles. Heather’s advice for those considering roles in startups focuses on aligning with a company's values over job titles.

00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast

00:16 Sponsor Message from Previ

00:44 Guest Introduction: Heather's Career Journey

02:40 Challenges and Lessons in Hyper Growth

03:57 Transitioning to Continuous Feedback at Cash App

05:50 HR Strategies in Hyper Growth vs. Startups

07:31 Evolving HR Systems and Processes

08:56 The Changing Role of HR Leadership

09:39 Parting Advice for Aspiring HR Professionals

10:15 Conclusion and Farewell