People-centered approaches to business emphasize the importance of prioritizing and supporting the well-being, growth, and satisfaction of employees. By adopting a people-centered approach, businesses can create a positive work environment that not only benefits their employees but also contributes to improved performance, productivity, and long-term success. In today’s episode, I sit down with Jessica Zwaan, Chief Operating Officer and  at Whereby, to discuss her innovative, people-centered approach to HR and business development. Jessica is the author of Built for People, a best-selling book that offers advice and tools for transforming HR activities by incorporating elements from product management. In our conversation, Jessica unpacks how the best aspects of product management can be applied to HR to transform the value of your workforce and business. Learn about the type of rigor that HR needs to increase productivity, the ins and outs of streamlining your workforce to increase its value, reducing regrettable churn through effective HR, and analogizing people with products. Gain insights into why justifying an employee based on revenue is outdated, viewing the business as an ecosystem, and much more. Tune in and discover a different way of viewing company culture and employee value with Jessica Zwaan!

 

Key Points From This Episode:

 

• A warm welcome back and a catchup with Jessica Zwaan.

• What motivated her to pursue a law degree.

• How her law experience intersects with her role at Whereby.

• Aspects of HR where her law background has been beneficial.

• How the traditional approach to recruitment needs to change.

• Differences in methods between C-suite and HR departments.

• Metrics to measure the performance and employee lifetime value (ELTV).

• Examples of her progressive approach to HR and recruitment.

• The types of conversations HR should be having with the C-suite.

• Limitations of the traditional forms of measuring employee performance.

• Core company values that determine its success. 

• Performance analysis and how it differs amongst employees.

• Explore the universal competencies that are true for all employees.

• Hear about her career transition into her current role.

• What Jessica has planned for the future. 

 

Quotes:

 

“Your company is a system; it’s not just a group of individuals.” — @jessicamayzwaan [0:15:52]

 

“I think that the experience is the product.” — @jessicamayzwaan [0:21:46]

 

“One of the most important behaviors that matters to a company’s bottom line is your ability to collaborate with other people.” — @jessicamayzwaan [0:24:15]

 

“Teams are more valuable together than they are as individuals.” — @jessicamayzwaan [0:24:23]

 

“We should be building [HR performance] systems which are built for the way human brains work.” — @jessicamayzwaan [0:27:36]

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 

Jessica Zwaan

Jessica Zwaan on X

Jessica Zwaan on LinkedIn

Whereby

Built for People

Talk Talent to Me

Hired