People Leader Accelerator Podcast

Welcome to this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we sit down with industry leaders to uncover the real-life insights, strategies, and challenges that shape world-class organizations.

Our guest today is Heather Doshay, the founder of Waypoint Works. Heather joins our hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow, for a thoughtful conversation about her unique journey across tech, VC talent leadership, and organizational development.

Heather shares her insider perspective on the evolving role of VC talent partners, what it’s really like to support hundreds of startup leadership teams, and the lessons she’s carried forward into launching her own independent consultancy. Together, we explore the intersection of people strategy, business fundamentals, and the importance of choosing roles and partners, where you can both thrive and have impact.

We discuss:

The role of VC talent partners and how in-house HR leaders can work with them

Building HR foundations for early-stage, high-growth companies and reducing organizational debt

Navigating sensitive conversations with founders and investors, and practicing discretion as a people leader

Candid advice on seeking and evaluating jobs for mission, business strength, and alignment with founders

Heather’s career highlights at Webflow, including scaling through hypergrowth and remote-first challenges

Practical frameworks for prioritizing HR initiatives - balancing big infrastructure improvements with quick wins

Strategies for developing empathy and influence as an HR leader, especially when working closely with CEOs

The pros and cons of formal HR education and alternative paths for professional growth

How to leverage AI as an HR practitioner, using technology thoughtfully for writing and process improvement

How community and peer networks can accelerate your effectiveness as a people leader

Heather also announces her new venture, Waypoint Works, and shares her philosophy for building impact through advisory, coaching, and facilitation.

For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/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

Welcome to this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we sit down with industry leaders to uncover the real-life insights, strategies, and challenges that shape world-class organizations.

Our guest today is Melanie Naranjo, Chief People Officer at Ethena, joining hosts Andrew Bartlow and Jess Yuen for a candid conversation about the real skills, mindset shifts, and strategies needed to accelerate a people leader’s impact at the executive table.

In this episode, we explore Melanie’s career journey from her start in HR to her transition into leading people teams at high-growth startups. Melanie shares honest insights about the challenges of stepping into a Chief People Officer role, including what it takes to earn trust, develop true business acumen, and move beyond the traditional boundaries of HR.

We talk openly about how people leaders can build authentic partnerships with CEOs and other executives, what it means to align work with the priorities that drive organizational success, and how to navigate the discomfort of not knowing all the answers. Melanie also discusses the importance of agency, proactive self-development, and balancing employee advocacy with commercial realities.

We also discuss:

The backstory of Melanie’s move to Ethena and her leap from VP to CPO

Why great HR leaders learn to speak the language of business and finance

How to listen for what your CEO and leadership team truly care about

Lessons on earning respect and influence as the youngest or only diverse voice at the table

The power of asking for direct feedback, and building your own learning opportunities

How to balance empathy for employees with business priorities

Real talk about “bringing your whole self to work” - and when that doesn’t feel right

Melanie’s approach to challenging conversations and dissenting opinions, including leading with kindness and curiosity

Practical advice on finding role models, diversifying your learning sources, and staying open to being wrong

Whether you’re a first-time people leader or a seasoned executive, this episode offers honest reflections and tangible tools for deepening your impact and navigating the real challenges of C-suite HR leadership.

Melanie Naranjo: Ethena and on LinkedIn

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

In this episode, host Jess Yuen and co-founder Andrew Bartlow are joined by executive search experts Brad Warga (Heidrick & Struggles) and Ben Dewar (NU Advisory Partners) for an in-depth conversation about executive search in human resources within tech companies.

Brad and Ben share their extensive insights into hiring Chief People Officers and senior HR talent, covering changes in candidate profiles, evolving business needs, and what today’s market truly values in HR leaders.

Key Topics & Discussion Highlights:

Meet Brad Warga and Ben Dewar, seasoned executive search professionals with unique perspectives on late-stage enterprise and early-stage venture-backed HR hiring.

How the talent market for HR executives is evolving, especially for Chief People Officers in tech and private equity.

The growing demand for HR leaders who combine business acumen with functional depth and how candidate requirements have shifted post-pandemic.

Insights on how companies are tackling the AI talent war, including strategies for recruiting the elusive “$100 million AI engineer.”

The realities behind HR job titles - Head of People, VP, Chief People Officer - and what actually matters when it comes to level and impact.

Trends in compensation and equity for senior HR roles, how executive search firms guide clients through sticker shock, and the importance of data in negotiations.

The rising expectation for in-office work and the impact of location requirements on the talent pool.

Practical advice for HR professionals hoping to accelerate their careers, including where to develop the business skills that modern leaders need.

How to get on the radar of top executive search firms, and why cultivating long-term relationships with recruiters benefits your career in the long run.

Whether you’re leading an HR function or aspiring to your first C-level role in people leadership, this episode offers practical insights for navigating the current landscape of executive HR talent.

Brad Warga: Heidrick & Struggles and on LinkedIn

Ben Dewar: NU Advisory Partners and on LinkedIn

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

Welcome to this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we sit down with industry leaders to uncover the real-life insights, strategies, and challenges that shape world-class organizations.

Our guest today is Kelli Dragovich, a seasoned Chief People Officer and Bay Area native, whose 25-year journey through Silicon Valley’s tech scene includes roles at Yahoo, GitHub, Looker, Pendo, and now, Supio.

Kelli joins us to share her honest perspective on building great cultures, making pivotal career decisions, and how to truly advance as a people leader.

We explore Kelli’s path into HR by design rather than by chance, her intentional approach to both interim and in-house executive roles, and the ways she has learned to identify organizations and leaders that offer the right fit and opportunity.

Kelli offers real-world advice for HR professionals looking to focus their growth, build valuable relationships, and drive impact in their roles.

In this conversation, we dig into:

Kelli’s unique entry into HR and the intentional steps she took to build her career

The reality of moving between interim, advisory, and full-time HR leadership positions

What to look for in a CEO or founder when considering a new executive opportunity

The “trifecta” Kelli uses to evaluate job opportunities: people, product, and competitiveness

Concrete steps for HR professionals to grow their influence, networks, and careers

The challenge and impact of building trust and credibility quickly in a new organization

Kelli’s framework for onboarding successfully as a new people leader

Key advice for getting noticed and adding value - whether you’re early in your career or at a senior level

Why helping others is the most effective way to accelerate your profile and network in HR

Favorite resources and practical recommendations for continuous learning and staying relevant

To access show notes and free bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.

If you’re looking for actionable advice on navigating your HR career, building your peer network, and choosing the right organization for your next chapter, don’t miss this candid, practical conversation with Kelli Dragovich.

Kelli Dragovich: Supio, the HR Heretics podcast, and on LinkedIn

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

Welcome to the very first episode of The People Leader Accelerator Podcast!

We’re thrilled to finally bring you this show, a space for honest, practical conversations about what it really takes to lead people and build high-performing organizations in today’s fast-changing world.

In this opening episode, we share why we created the podcast, what you can expect from future episodes, and some of the lessons we’ve learned along the way as people leaders, advisors, and coaches.

We talk about the pivotal moment every growing company reaches, when leaders are asked to “get more strategic,” and what that really means for HR professionals looking to accelerate their careers and increase their impact.

We also discuss:

Why business alignment is at the heart of every great HR strategy

How to move from being reactive to truly driving business performance

The unwritten lessons we’ve learned from working with hundreds of leaders and executives

The real conversations that happen behind closed doors in high-growth environments

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