People Leader Accelerator Podcast

By Andrew BartlowBusiness Education Management

People Leader Accelerator Podcast episodes

May 26Episode 35: AI Meets HR - How OpenAI’s People Innovation Labs Are Simplifying Workflows - with Dylan Vassallo
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guest today is Dylan Vassallo, an engineering leader at OpenAI, where he leads the People Innovation Labs team. Dylan brings a unique blend of technical expertise and a deep passion for people operations, having previously held impactful roles at Khan Academy and Stripe. His background in both engineering management and HR innovation gives him a distinctive perspective on how cutting-edge technology can empower and transform people teams.
In this conversation, we discuss the strategic and practical considerations behind building internal tools for people teams at scale. Dylan shares how OpenAI balances the decision to build versus buy people systems, the importance of simplifying employee workflows, and how AI is enabling new levels of efficiency and impact for people operations. The episode delves into the nuances of aligning technology, culture, and operational realities as organisations expand rapidly.
Listeners will come away with actionable insights on optimising people processes, fostering a culture of experimentation, and navigating the trade-offs of introducing new technologies within HR. Dylan also shares tips on how HR leaders can adopt a builder’s mindset, pilot solutions, and partner effectively with engineering teams, even in resource-constrained environments.
Discussion highlights:
Why OpenAI created a dedicated People Innovation Labs team to address organisational challenges during periods of hypergrowth
Balancing “build vs. buy” decisions and creating user-friendly layers on top of complex HR systems
The importance of simplifying employee experiences by curating paved paths through HR workflows
How to assess when an organisation is ready for custom internal tools based on operational complexity and compliance demands
The role of cross-functional collaboration with security, legal, and other stakeholders when implementing people technology
Common pitfalls in rolling out HR tech, including the need for strong operational support and sustainable adoption
Encouraging a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and iterative improvement within HR teams
Practical strategies for fostering a mindset of continuous learning and career growth in people leadership
This conversation is a grounded exploration of how technology and people strategy intersect as organisations grow.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.
About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, YouTube).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast.
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:
Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen | jessyuen.com
Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow | peopleleaderaccelerator.com
43 min
May 19Episode 34 - Navigating AI-Driven Efficiency and Headcount Impacts for HR Leaders (Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow in Conversation)
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
In this episode, we take a break from the traditional guest interviews and invite you into an informal conversation between hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow. Instead of sharing the spotlight with a guest, they dive into their own lived experiences and perspectives as people leaders, exploring what leadership, culture, and authenticity look like in practice.
This episode centres on the real impact of artificial intelligence on productivity, headcount, and organizational structure. Andrew and Jess discuss how recent technology-driven layoffs in major companies, the drive for efficiency in tech and high-growth environments, and the practicalities of leveraging AI tools are reshaping management practices and leadership demands. They examine whether the wave of workforce reductions is truly about AI-driven efficiency or if other factors, such as investor pressure and post-pandemic organizational changes, also play a critical role.
Discussion highlights:
The current wave of tech layoffs and whether AI is the real cause or a convenient narrative
How leaders can approach organizational “flattening” and wider spans of control with caution
The unique challenges and risks of managing large numbers of direct reports
Investor and board pressures shaping productivity and technology adoption in HR
The pitfalls of pursuing AI for its own sake rather than solving specific business problems
Key factors to consider before replacing complex systems with AI or no/low-code solutions
The importance of evaluating the complexity and sensitivity of business processes before deciding whether to build or buy solutions
Practical strategies for team leaders to identify use cases, measure ROI, and avoid common technology traps
Taken together, this conversation delivers a thoughtful look at what it takes to lead organizations through waves of change, especially as AI and new technology reshape job roles and leadership responsibilities.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.
About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, YouTube).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast.
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:
Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen | jessyuen.com
Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow | peopleleaderaccelerator.com
27 min
May 12Episode 33: From Employment Lawyer to Chief People Officer - with Guissu Baier from GoFundMe
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we dive into what it truly means to lead teams and build effective organisations.
Our guest today is Guissu Baier, Chief People Officer at GoFundMe. With a diverse background as both an employment attorney and people executive, Guissu brings unique perspective from her time at Visa, Instacart, venture capital firm General Catalyst, and as a co-founder of The People Collective. Her experience spanning high-growth startups, large enterprises, and investor advisory roles gives her uncommon insight into the challenges and opportunities people leaders face as organisations evolve.
In this conversation, we examine the real-world complexities of leadership development, the evolving role of people leaders, and the nuances of career growth in HR. The episode explores the contrast between operating roles and advisory positions, offers a candid look at working with stakeholders like legal and investors, and highlights the decisions that matter most as organisations scale or adapt.
Discussion highlights:
Guissu’s unconventional career progression from employment law to Chief People Officer
Building partnerships between HR and legal teams, including practical tips for reducing friction
Determining when organisations need in-house employment counsel and the variables that affect hiring decisions
Lessons learned from moving between in-house HR leadership, consulting, and venture capital advisory work
Common missteps founders make when hiring their first people leaders and how to clarify people team roles
Why pattern recognition helps but doesn’t replace context-specific judgement in talent decisions
Navigating personal career transitions - what to look for in your next operating or advisory role
Taken together, this conversation offers grounded insight into the multifaceted nature of HR leadership. Guissu shares practical lessons on building impactful partnerships, making the right career decisions, and focusing on the outcomes that matter most for your organisation and your own growth. People leaders who want to deepen their influence, whether inside fast-scaling companies or in investor advisory roles, will find plenty to reflect on and apply.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.
About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, YouTube).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast.
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:
Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen | jessyuen.com
Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow | peopleleaderaccelerator.com
43 min
May 05Episode 32: Navigating Change and Building Influence as an HR Leader - with Teresa Lilly
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to accelerate careers and build high-performing organizations.
Our guest today is Teresa Lilly, an experienced HR leader and fractional CPO who has navigated the people leadership landscape across the US and Australia. With over a decade spent scaling tech startups from early to growth stages, advising founders, and now helping multiple organizations as a consultant and interim executive, Teresa Lilly offers a candid perspective on the practical realities of change leadership, executive relationships, and adapting people strategy to diverse business contexts.
In this episode, we focus on the leadership challenges of managing organizational change, aligning HR and business strategy, and building the relationship between people leaders and CEOs. Teresa Lilly shares lessons from change-heavy environments, the impact of local employment regulations, and what she wishes more HR professionals understood about their own influence.
Listeners will gain a wealth of practical insights on navigating organizational transitions, building credibility with executive teams, and stepping into consulting or fractional leadership roles. Teresa Lilly provides grounded advice on influencing company direction, managing personal values amid business pressures, and making the leap from in-house operator to advisory roles.
Discussion highlights:
How a non-traditional background and international move shaped Teresa Lilly’s approach to people leadership
The emotional and relational costs of sustained organizational change - and how leaders can address them
Practical strategies for planning and communicating major changes, such as CEO transitions
The critical role of managers in helping teams process and adapt during change
Why the HR-CEO relationship is pivotal, and techniques to “stress test” alignment early in a new role
Recognizing when values and beliefs between HR and leadership are too misaligned to reconcile
The realities of moving from in-house roles to fractional or consulting work, including building trust and managing context-switching
How to structure fractional CPO work across multiple clients without losing effectiveness
The trade-offs between flexibility, influence, and workload as a consultant versus an in-house HR leader
Key differences between US and Australian startup ecosystems, particularly regulatory impacts on people practices
Advice on how to build career growth, credibility, and influence - regardless of organizational context
The importance of understanding your business and speaking its language as a people leader
This conversation offers a nuanced, experience-based look into the trade-offs and decisions people leaders face when managing organizational transitions and shaping people strategy. Teresa Lilly’s insights into executive relationships, practical change management, and the realities of consulting are relevant for HR leaders, founders, and executives alike. Whether you are scaling a startup, considering a shift to advisory work, or navigating the unique challenges of your region’s ecosystem, the lessons here provide actionable guidance and candid reflection for your leadership journey.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.
About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, YouTube).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast.
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:
Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen | jessyuen.com
Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow | peopleleaderaccelerator.com
47 min
April 28Episode 31: Navigating Talent Advisory and Executive Search Across Europe - with Puren Ucar
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guest today is Puren Ucar, one of Europe’s original venture capital talent partners, and now an independent advisor working closely with founders and VC firms across the UK and Europe. With a background in executive search and years spent building out talent functions for leading venture firms, Puren brings a unique, insider’s view of both the operational and strategic sides of scaling leadership teams inside high-growth companies.
In this episode, we explore the evolution of the talent function within VC-backed organisations, the shift from talent acquisition to advisory, and the practical realities of supporting founders as they scale teams and navigate critical leadership hires. We also examine how emerging tools like AI are influencing executive search and networking, and delve into the personal side of working closely with ambitious founders.
Listeners will gain practical, candid insight into what it takes to build and support executive teams—from diagnosing organisational needs, to coaching founders through decision-making, to leveraging frameworks that balance business needs with human dynamics. Leaders will also hear about effective approaches to founder advisory, common misconceptions in hiring, and lessons for building trust with both founders and boards.
Discussion highlights:
Shifting from embedded executive talent acquisition to strategic talent advisory for portfolio companies
Building frameworks and playbooks that help diagnose organisational challenges and guide leadership hiring
The importance of starting every search by clarifying the true capability needs of the business
Tactics for engaging founders deeply in the search and selection process—including bespoke scorecards and benchmarking conversations
Addressing the emotional and psychological elements underlying leadership hiring decisions
How leadership traits valued in the UK or Western Europe may differ from those prioritised in Eastern European contexts
The impact of AI tools on sourcing and networking—what changes and what remains uniquely human
Trends in using psychometric assessments within VC-backed organisations and their alternatives
“IC” work at the executive level—why hands-on curiosity and continued learning are increasingly valued alongside traditional management skills
How AI fluency is influencing the composition and nurturing of today’s executive networks
Why founder alignment, safe spaces, and clear role boundaries are essential for successful C-level searches
Practical advice for people leaders: prioritising hands-on learning, leveraging peer insights, and building a network that adapts to changing organisational needs
This conversation sheds light on the realities of building and advising executive teams in high-growth environments, where business strategy and people dynamics intersect. For senior people leaders and founders, the insights shared here offer both tactical takeaways and a reminder that effective leadership is as much about human connection as it is about frameworks and process.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.
About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, YouTube).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast.
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:
Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen | jessyuen.com
Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow | peopleleaderaccelerator.com
33 min
April 21Episode 30: How Hypergrowth Companies Balance Speed And Talent Quality - with Maryanne Caughey and Charles Guillemet from Lovable
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guests today are Maryanne Caughey, Head of People at Lovable, and Charles Guillemet, Head of Recruiting at Lovable. Between them, they bring decades of experience leading people and talent functions at world-class technology organisations, including Google, Dropbox, Notion, Meta, Neuralink, and Gusto. Their perspective is highly relevant for leaders building teams at the intersection of culture, talent strategy, and breakthrough technology.
This episode centers on the realities and challenges of building organisational culture, systems, and talent processes in an environment defined by hypergrowth and rapid technological change. Jess Yuen, Andrew Bartlow, Maryanne Caughey, and Charles Guillemet discuss how Lovable, a leading AI-native company, scales its team and leadership practices while navigating intense competition and a fast-moving market.
Listeners will walk away with grounded insights into what it means to operationalize people strategy for speed without sacrificing trust, quality, or culture. The conversation unpacks practical approaches to hiring, compensation, decision-making, and performance management, as well as the core leadership habits required to succeed in dynamic, founder-led environments.
Discussion highlights:
The impact of founder involvement and talent obsession on early hiring and culture formation
Why Lovable prioritizes “systems over heroics” to enable both speed and quality in people processes
Practical approaches to removing compensation as a barrier and building trust through transparent pay structures
The value of direct culture diagnosis and the importance of understanding founder DNA when shaping talent strategy
How high-growth companies balance the need to unlearn past habits and adapt to new organisational contexts
Examples of rapid decision-making, such as evolving location strategy and the willingness to reverse previously “irreversible” choices
Early implementation of scalable HR and recruiting systems, often years ahead of company age
The reality of work intensity and the deliberate setting of expectations with candidates and employees
Approaches to performance management that decouple compensation from reviews to favor shipping and growth
How AI is integrated into talent and operations, and what “AI fluency” looks like for hiring and career growth
Rethinking headcount planning and prioritisation in a context of uncertainty and rapid change
The interplay between high trust, direct feedback, and the ability to course-correct quickly as an organisation
This conversation offers practical, experience-driven guidance for senior HR and business leaders looking to build high-performance organisations in uncertain and fast-moving markets. Maryanne Caughey and Charles Guillemet share not just frameworks, but also lived experience scaling teams where stakes are high, expectations are explicit, and learning cycles are short. For leaders navigating similar environments, there is much here to reflect on, whether you are building your first systems, rethinking people strategy for the AI era, or working to harmonise trust, culture, and operational excellence.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.
About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, YouTube).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast.
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:
Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen | jessyuen.com
Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow | peopleleaderaccelerator.com
49 min
April 14Episode 29: Empowering Technical Leaders Through Effective Coaching Strategies - with Kevin Rice
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guest today is Kevin Rice, an executive coach who previously led product and engineering teams through rapid growth at companies like Airbnb.
Drawing on a background that bridges hands-on technical management and leadership coaching, Kevin now partners with heads of product, heads of engineering, and CEOs, helping leaders evolve as their organisations scale. With experience developing people processes in high-growth environments and supporting leaders through changing responsibilities, Kevin brings a unique perspective to supporting both leadership and people teams.
This episode centres on the evolving challenges faced by technical leaders, particularly as their teams expand and the demands of scale intensify. We discuss the tension between technical expertise and people management, how leaders can determine where their time and focus are most valuable, and the critical partnership between HR and technical functions as companies evolve.
Discussion highlights:
Why technical leaders often face distinct scaling challenges as their teams become the largest in the company
The trap of comparing leadership roles to external models rather than identifying what the company uniquely needs
Practical frameworks for leaders to prioritise responsibilities based on position, skills, context, and passion
How high growth in technical functions drives early development of people processes such as levelling and performance rubrics
The value of 360 feedback for surfacing hidden or unspoken development needs
Navigating the “brilliant but difficult” leader dynamic and the importance of coaching readiness
Critical distinctions between coaching for growth and coaching as part of performance management
Setting clear performance expectations as a prerequisite for successful coaching engagements
The importance of engaging coaching proactively during major leadership transitions or team scale
Structuring effective collaboration and information flows between HR, direct managers, and external coaches
Measuring the ROI of executive coaching and the leverage of investing in leadership capability
Five hidden obstacles to scaling teams, including role drift, decision bottlenecks, shared mental models, process avoidance, and tenured employee resistance
Taken together, this discussion offers a practical roadmap for people leaders working alongside technical executives in dynamic, scaling environments. The episode surfaces both the hidden pitfalls and proven tools for accelerating leadership growth, structuring effective partnerships with HR, and ensuring that coaching has a measurable and lasting impact. For those supporting technical talent or navigating rapid organisational change, these insights offer valuable guidance for developing high-performing teams and resilient leadership.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.
About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, YouTube).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast.
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:
Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen | jessyuen.com
Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow | peopleleaderaccelerator.com
42 min
April 07Episode 28: Bridging Academic Insights and Business Practice - with Brad Harris from HEC Paris
In this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, we welcome Brad Harris, Professor of Management and Human Resources and Associate Dean at HEC Paris.
Brad brings an exceptional blend of academic rigour and deep practical experience, having taught, researched, and consulted across several continents. As a co-author of Scaling for Success and one of the core faculty members in the People Leader Accelerator program, his perspective is especially relevant for executives shaping organisational effectiveness and people strategy.
Brad’s background bridges academic research with on-the-ground leadership, advisory, and program delivery for high-growth companies. His understanding of team dynamics, leadership development, and organisational behaviour equips him to pinpoint the real challenges people leaders encounter, including those intrinsic to scaling teams, driving alignment, and navigating executive decisions.
This episode centres on the realities of building and leading high-performing teams. The discussion dives into what leaders consistently get wrong about teamwork, the critical design elements of effective teams, and the essential (but often misunderstood) balance between clarity, empowerment, and control. Brad and the hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow, unpack the “messy middle” where most organisations and leaders operate and share tangible approaches for aligning people and business priorities.
Listeners will gain actionable insights into diagnosing team effectiveness, optimising goal setting for clarity and alignment, and approaching empowerment in complex environments. Brad’s advice is grounded in research but always tailored to the practical realities of leadership, offering new ways for people leaders to support executives, make better trade-offs, and accelerate their own impact.
Discussion highlights:
Why HEC Paris is a leading business school and how global experience shapes HR and leadership practice
The origins of Scaling for Success and the development of People Leader Accelerator
Realities of partnership and collaboration between business and academia
Bridging the academic-practice gap: why thoughtful, evidence-based leadership is essential and practical
Common myths about teamwork and the overlooked importance of team design versus “feel-good” factors
Understanding and balancing the “collaboration tax” with collaboration gains in teams
Leadership archetypes: the “prophet” versus the “mule driver” and the dangers of extremes
How complexity and context should determine leadership style and team decision-making
Practical frameworks for increasing team clarity, alignment, and effectiveness
Why effective goal setting requires meaningful trade-offs, not just standard outcomes like “increase revenue”
The two-sided problem of empowerment and the challenges leaders face when letting go
Strategies for HR leaders to align with CEOs and drive purposeful conversations about priorities and personal growth
This conversation offers people leaders a grounded look at what it actually takes to foster effective teams and drive organisational performance. Brad’s practical frameworks and coaching stories clarify how leaders can apply academic insights without overcomplicating their approach - and why clear alignment and the right strategic bets matter most.
For HR executives, founders, and those supporting high-growth businesses, these lessons offer actionable prompts to elevate leadership, influence strategy, and empower teams.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.
About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, YouTube).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast.
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:
Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen | jessyuen.com
Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow | peopleleaderaccelerator.com
37 min
March 31Episode 27: Transforming HR Through Community and Innovation - with Stephen Huerta from the Modern People Leader Podcast
Welcome to the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, the show where we dive into the realities of building effective organisations and accelerating the careers of people leaders.
Our guest today is Stephen Huerta, co-founder of The Modern People Leader Podcast, founder of Huertonomics, and an experienced HR entrepreneur. With a career spanning HR consulting, corporate roles at Goldman Sachs, and multiple ventures in HR tech and media, Stephen brings a seasoned perspective about both the operational and strategic sides of people leadership. His work as a podcaster and advisor has connected him with hundreds of leaders across startups, scaling companies, and enterprise organisations, making him uniquely positioned to comment on the evolving landscape of HR, leadership, and organisational culture.
In this conversation, we explore how HR leaders can expand their impact, adapt to shifting trends in people strategy, and navigate the challenges of building meaningful community - both within organisations and across the wider HR ecosystem. We discuss the practicalities of career development, entrepreneurship in HR, and why community-driven approaches are reshaping how leaders learn, build networks, and make decisions.
Listeners will gain actionable insights on advancing their own leadership careers, building engaging workplace cultures, and responding strategically to new challenges such as AI adoption and shifting stakeholder expectations. Stephen’s candid reflections offer guidance for people leaders looking to grow their network, refine their skills, and exert greater influence inside their organisations.
Discussion highlights:
The accidental career path into HR - and why curiosity drives lasting impact
Lessons learnt from corporate HR and entrepreneurial ventures in services, SaaS, and media
The origin story of The Modern People Leader podcast and its evolution from a side project to a thriving community
Why communication and PR skills are increasingly essential for HR executives
Observations on how remote-first and AI-forward companies are shaping new operating models for people functions
How HR leaders can synthesise market trends and adapt to evolving organisational needs
The importance of intentional event design in fostering meaningful professional connections
What makes Modern People Leader live events distinct from traditional HR conferences
Strategic advice for HR tech founders on go-to-market challenges, including the critical role of peer communities
How vendor outreach has shifted - with buying decisions now driven by trusted HR networks rather than cold calls
Making tech stack decisions: frameworks for assessing buy, build, borrow, and bot options
Practical tips on upskilling, reskilling, and building a network for career acceleration
This episode offers a grounded look at the realities of navigating an HR career, expanding your influence, and adapting to new forms of organisational and community leadership. Stephen’s experience highlights both the power of network and the urgency of embracing new skills in today’s environment. For senior HR leaders and executives, the discussion provides a roadmap for cultivating professional connections, making strategic decisions, and investing in your own career growth.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.
About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, YouTube).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast.
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:
Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen | jessyuen.com
Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow | peopleleaderaccelerator.com
45 min
March 24Episode 26: HR Career Growth Through Mentorship and Networking - with Maggie Ruvoldt
Welcome to the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we dive deep into the realities of building and leading high-impact organisations.
Our guest today is Maggie Ruvoldt, an experienced CHRO and executive with over 30 years spanning HR, business operations, and advisory roles. Maggie’s career features significant time in education and healthcare, from building HR teams at early-stage startups to managing global people operations in billion-dollar companies. Her perspective is particularly relevant to people leaders seeking to bridge the gap between HR and business, evolve their own careers, and contribute meaningfully as both leaders and mentors.
In this episode, we explore the interplay between HR and business strategy, challenging traditional career path thinking and examining what it means to truly partner with the business. Maggie shares hard-earned lessons from her own “careen, not a career” trajectory, including how she navigated between business and functional roles, developed a personal board of directors, and cultivated the confidence to take on stretch assignments and difficult conversations.
Listeners will gain practical frameworks for career development, tools for networking intentionally, and actionable advice for influencing senior leaders and opening doors to new opportunities. Maggie offers grounded insights on seeing HR through the lens of business impact, building relationships across and beyond the function, and the critical importance of sponsors, mentors, and connectors for sustained career growth.
Discussion highlights:
• Seeing HR as a business function: why understanding the broader business context is essential for HR leaders
• The “careen, not a career” approach: embracing non-linear paths and focusing on growth over rigid career planning
• Taking stretch assignments and leveraging fear as a signal for learning and growth
• How to open doors between HR and business roles—and why advocating for yourself matters
• Structuring conversations with executives to align your skills with organisational needs
• The strategic value of developing both sponsors and mentors, and how each supports career acceleration
• Building a personal board of directors and finding your “pump-up” person for confidence and support
• Practical tactics for intentional networking, including the “20-minute meeting” strategy
• Systematising relationship management to become a super connector, even as an introvert
• Giving and receiving difficult feedback: skill-building for tough conversations with senior leaders
• Understanding and leveraging second-degree connections (“weak ties”) for opportunity and growth
• The importance of diversity of thought and lived experience in mentorship relationships
Taken together, this episode offers an honest and practical look at career development, influence, and the human side of organisational leadership. Maggie’s journey illustrates that impact often comes from stretching outside your comfort zone, building intentional relationships inside and outside your function, and always keeping the broader organisational context in view. For HR executives and senior leaders shaping their own careers and teams, her advice is immediately applicable—and grounded in genuine experience.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.
About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, YouTube).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast.
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:
Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen | jessyuen.com
Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow | peopleleaderaccelerator.com
44 min

About People Leader Accelerator Podcast

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Welcome to “People Leader Accelerator Podcast”! On this show, we dive deep with business and HR leaders to uncover what really works when it comes to building high-performing organizations,…

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About People Leader Accelerator Podcast