In this candid episode of We’re Not Recording, Roxanne Petraeus—Ethena’s CEO and an expectant mom—joins VP of People Melanie Naranjo to unpack the real, often avoided conversations around parental leave. Together they explore the tension between business needs and human realities, from the fear of announcing a pregnancy to the unspoken pressure on women to “do it all.” They question toxic positivity around maternity leave, challenge outdated assumptions about ambition, and share what it actually looks like to build fair, flexible policies without losing honesty or empathy. It’s a grounded, funny, and refreshingly real look at what leaders and employees both wish they could say about balancing work, family, and ambition.

In this episode of We’re Not Recording, Roxanne Petraeus and Melanie Naranjo dive into the surprising parallels between executive coaching and leadership therapy—and why every founder should probably have one. Roxanne reflects on how bringing in a coach early helped her and her co-founder navigate growing pains, communication gaps, and the emotional turbulence of scaling a company through big transitions like AI. From there, the conversation takes a sharp turn into modern workplace ethics: how should companies handle employees who attend protests or post activism on LinkedIn? The hosts debate where free expression ends and company values begin, exploring real examples of when social media behavior crossed the line. It’s candid, nuanced, and a little spicy—exactly what you’d expect when compliance meets real life.

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?

What does it really take to lead through change without breaking the trust that makes leadership work? Roxanne Petraeus (CEO @ Ethena) and Melanie Naranjo (VP of People) get personal about tough feedback, cultural transformation, and the messy balance between honesty and empathy.

From HR messages that accidentally sound like resistance to leadership offsites built around connection—not KPIs—this episode dives into what happens when growth demands vulnerability. Expect candid moments, self-deprecating humor, and a few brilliant insights on how to keep trust intact when everything’s shifting under your feet.

Topics: feedback that lands, psychological safety, leadership dynamics, HR perception, motivating leaders, AI in HR, and the emotional side of organizational change.

Brex grew fast — maybe too fast. When Heather Dunn stepped in as Chief People Officer, the company was fresh off hypergrowth, layoffs, and a complete rebuild of its operating model. In this episode, Heather opens up about what it takes to lead through turbulence, rebuild trust after hard decisions, and recalibrate a culture that once prized speed above all else.

From interviewing founders for values alignment to handling executive scandals and rethinking performance reviews, Heather shares how Brex went from scaling fast to scaling intentionally — and what it taught her about leadership, resilience, and the art of transparency.

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance ambition with stability, or how to rebuild employee trust after big change, this one’s for you.

Most CEOs would rather eat tax forms than fill out a performance review. Roxanne Petraeus is no exception. In this episode, Melanie corners Roxanne into doing the one thing she dreads most: completing her own self-assessment live, on mic.

What follows is equal parts therapy session, leadership masterclass, and roast. Roxanne reveals why structured processes feel like her kryptonite, how she balances vision with chaos, and why reacting fast might be her real superpower. Melanie doesn’t hold back either—pushing, prodding, and pointing out the blind spots only your Chief People Officer would dare mention.

Roxanne and Melanie sit down with Justin Clifford (CEO @ Bereave) to unpack what happens when the personal smashes into the professional. From six weeks of bereavement leave for a pet, to the impossible art of firing “well,” to the chaos of going viral on LinkedIn—this episode dives into HR’s messiest gray areas. Expect laughs, discomfort, and maybe a few “did they just say that?” moments as we talk grief, culture, and why posting through the fear might be the only way forward.

Are college degrees even still relevant to get a job? Unlimited PTO might actually work. And the way we talk at work? Let’s just say disagreements escalate a lot faster than they used to. From clashing opinions online to tension creeping into team meetings, it feels like workplace conversations have a new edge. We unpack it all—unfiltered and a little messy.

What does it really look like when a CEO leads with people first?

In this episode, Ben Sesser — CEO & co-founder of BrightHire — sits down with Roxanne Petraeus and Melanie Naranjo to unpack the realities of modern leadership. From navigating PR crises and taking ownership of mistakes, to staying calm under pressure and hiring with intention, Ben shares candid insights from building a company used by 600+ organizations worldwide.

The conversation touches on vulnerability, accountability, and the hidden weight of being a CEO — while also digging into practical hiring strategies, structured interviews, and the future of AI in recruiting. Whether you’re scaling a startup or leading a team through uncertainty, this episode delivers both human perspective and tactical takeaways.

In this episode of We’re not recording, Roxanne Petraeus and Melanie Naranjo explore why HR leaders deserve a permanent seat in the boardroom. With guest Katelin Holloway (Founding Partner at 776, former Reddit HR exec), the conversation unpacks how people strategy drives business outcomes, why culture clarity matters more than perks, and how HR’s influence expands when leaders move beyond compliance into performance.

From the myth of “People Ops rebrands” to the real lessons of the Netflix culture deck, Katelin makes the case for why HR leaders can’t just track payroll—they should be shaping company strategy. And she explains how that boardroom perspective inspired her pivot into investing, where she’s backing the next generation of founders and making the case for funding women.