“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies

David Hanrahan is the Chief People Officer of Flare and a highly respected people leader. David joins Kelli and Nolan for an unfiltered discussion on pushing for high performance in your company, normalizing scorecards, and what qualities separates the best HR leaders. If you’re looking for HR software that drives performance, check out Lattice https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics–SPONSORS: Lattice | Continuum✅ Discover HR software that drives performance with Lattice: https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics High performance and great culture should never be at odds; they’re better together. With Lattice People Management Platform, companies efficiently run people programs that create enviable cultures where employees want to do their best work. Serving 1000s of customers of all sizes. Learn why companies from Slack to the LA Dodgers choose Lattice. https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics✅ Hire Fractional Executives with Continuum using this link: https://bit.ly/40hlRa9Have you ever had a negative experience hiring executives? Continuum connects executives and senior operators to venture-backed tech companies for fractional and full-time roles. You can post any executive-level role to Continuum’s marketplace and search through our database of world-class, vetted leaders. There is no hidden cost, you only pay the person you hire. And you can cancel at any time. Joincontinuum.com–RECOMMENDED PODCAST:Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff–KEEP UP WITH DAVID, NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDINDavid: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhanrahan/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/–TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(03:00) On People leaders getting a little soft and being burned out(05:00) David 20+ years vs David 10+ years experience(07:35) The gap between what employers and employees are expecting(10:55) Putting together deviations of different generations and tips on how to get them coalesced(14:25) David's view on what high performance is(21:10) Sponsor - Lattice | Continuum(22:55) David's advice on company transparency with practices and organizations(26:00) On normalizing scorecards(27:24) On unlocking higher levels of performance(30:00) David's insights on compensation and how is he advising on compensation(34:10) Salary increase: manager's discretion versus the model(35:30) On making sure a manager delivers the right message to top performers(37:50) How David assesses a people leader?(41:30) Where people leaders fail and how do you get that ship back on the right track?(44:00) Staying sane while aligning with all the competing interests in a company(48:50) David's advice for people having a hard time trying to get the Head of People role(51:15) David on continuous learning and staying sharp(52:30) Staying aligned with a company's founder This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

Steve Cadigan scaled LinkedIn from 400 to 4000 people in 3.5 years, and is now an author and consultant on global talent strategy. He joins Kelli Dragovich and Nolan Church to discuss lessons from working with LinkedIn’s CEO during hyper scale, recruiting talent, going public, and debate the future of work. If you’re looking for HR software that drives performance, check out Lattice https://www.lattice.com/hrhereticsAfter the interview, Nolan and Kelli discuss recent incidents of employees being fired for hate speech at work.–SPONSORS: Lattice | Continuum✅ Discover HR software that drives performance with Lattice: https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics High performance and great culture should never be at odds; they’re better together. With Lattice People Management Platform, companies efficiently run people programs that create enviable cultures where employees want to do their best work. Serving 1000s of customers of all sizes. Learn why companies from Slack to the LA Dodgers choose Lattice. https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics✅ Hire Fractional Executives with Continuum using this link: https://bit.ly/40hlRa9Have you ever had a negative experience hiring executives? Continuum connects executives and senior operators to venture-backed tech companies for fractional and full-time roles. You can post any executive-level role to Continuum’s marketplace and search through our database of world-class, vetted leaders. There is no hidden cost, you only pay the person you hire. And you can cancel at any time. Joincontinuum.com–RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff–KEEP UP WITH STEVE NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDINSteve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cadigan/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/–LINKS:Steve’s podcast: The Work Week After Hours hosted by Steve Cadigan and Shane Howard https://open.spotify.com/show/54IQnRsvb4pCPA0InnjV5uSteve’s book: Workquake https://stevecadigan.com/workquake/Incident at Apple: https://twitter.com/stopantisemites/status/1720380304073035906?s=46&t=DYK-BZSQG0qJD_0l2IU7fQIncident at Wix: https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-769922Kelli and Nolan’s discussion on Politics at Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oULeqedDFYM&t=2s–TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(05:24) Week one at LinkedIn(08:30) LinkedIn’s biggest problem was recruiting: Why would anyone want to work here?(18:49) Sponsors: Lattice | Continuum(21:13) Overcoming the resistance against boring HR foundations(23:27) How to navigate leadership’s expectations for HR(27:52) Steve’s take on HR leaders(28:30) How Steve led his team at LinkedIn(30:21) Stories from working with LinkedIn’s CEO Jeff Weiner(37:42) How to get other stakeholders to own comp(42:30) When LinkedIn went public(46:48) Counseling organizations on creating opportunities with a distributed remote nature(54:13) Blitzcaling at LinkedIn - what didn't go well and finding the right leaders for a billion dollar company(01:01:35) Would Steve return to the chief people seat?(01:04:03) Rapid fire: Steve’s favorite hire and interview question(01:12:20) Kelli & Nolan's segment: Hate speech at work This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

Molly Graham is a seasoned exec, builder, and widely-read writer in tech. She joins Kelli Dragovich and Nolan Church to discuss her lessons from working on different challenges (HR,Comms, GTM, COO) in hyper-scaling companies, career building, assembling strong leadership teams, and managing the rollercoaster emotions of zero-to-one startups. If you’re looking for HR software that drives performance, check out Lattice https://www.lattice.com/hrhereticsAfter the interview, Nolan and Kelli discuss the uproar over whether to use LinkedIn's Open to Work badge, since Nolan was quoted in the press as being very critical of the feature and the signal it sends to hiring managers.–SPONSORS: Lattice | Continuum✅ Discover HR software that drives performance with Lattice: https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics High performance and great culture should never be at odds; they’re better together. With Lattice People Management Platform, companies efficiently run people programs that create enviable cultures where employees want to do their best work. Serving 1000s of customers of all sizes. Learn why companies from Slack to the LA Dodgers choose Lattice. https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics✅ Hire Fractional Executives with Continuum using this link: https://bit.ly/40hlRa9Have you ever had a negative experience hiring executives? Continuum connects executives and senior operators to venture-backed tech companies for fractional and full-time roles. You can post any executive-level role to Continuum’s marketplace and search through our database of world-class, vetted leaders. There is no hidden cost, you only pay the person you hire. And you can cancel at any time.–RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff–KEEP UP WITH MOLLY, NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDINMolly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mograham/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/–LINKS:Molly's newsletter: https://mollyg.substack.com/Molly's operator community: https://www.andthen.com/club-for-the-glue-peopleGive Away Your Legos: https://review.firstround.com/give-away-your-legos-and-other-commandments-for-scaling-startupsMake Friends with the Monster Chewing At Your Leg: https://review.firstround.com/make-friends-with-the-monster-chewing-on-your-leg-and-other-tips-for-surviving-startups–TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(01:06) Introduction to this episode(03:30) Behind Molly’s viral articles and her years at Google and Facebook(06:15) Emotions at work(08:39) Normalizing founder/ early team depression(09:50) Lessons scaling at different stages(11:00) Becoming the 9th employee at Quip(14:20) Overnight success(15:35) You have to pick a big problem(19:10) Sponsors: Lattice | Continuum(21:30) Navigating a career with a high risk appetite(23:50) Molly’s Chamath story(27:25) Creating opportunities by cementing relationships(33:40) How to get teams to work well together(37:45) Hiring great execs(40:30) Exec tenures(43:00) Moving faster on terminations(49:50) What do founders want now from a CPO?(53:10) Rapid fire: best hire, best interview question(54:30) Kelli and Nolan on the Open to Work controversy–HR Heretics is brought to you by Turpentine www.turpentine.coProducer: Natalie Toren Production: Lauren Ligovich, Michelle Poreh For inquiries about guests or sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

Tomasz Tunguz is a General Partner at Theory Ventures and the writer of one of the best blog/newsletters in tech. Tom joins Kelli Dragovich and Nolan Church to discuss the relationship between boards, founders and People leaders, and how HR strategies interact with boards in key moments of a company’s history, including M&A. If you’re looking for HR software that drives performance, check out Lattice https://www.lattice.com/hrhereticsAfter the interview, Nolan and Kelli discuss the dynamics of navigating politics at work in your companies.–SPONSORS: Lattice | Continuum✅ Discover HR software that drives performance with Lattice: https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics High performance and great culture should never be at odds; they’re better together. With Lattice People Management Platform, companies efficiently run people programs that create enviable cultures where employees want to do their best work. Serving 1000s of customers of all sizes. Learn why companies from Slack to the LA Dodgers choose Lattice. https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics✅ Hire Fractional Executives with Continuum: https://bit.ly/40hlRa9 Have you ever had a negative experience hiring executives? Continuum connects executives and senior operators to venture backed tech companies for fractional and full-time roles. You can post any executive-level role to Continuum’s marketplace and search through our database of world-class, vetted leaders. There is no hidden cost, you only pay the person you hire. And you can cancel at any time.–RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff–KEEP UP WITH TOMASZ, NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDINTomasz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomasztunguz/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/ –LINKS:Tomasz Tunguz’ Blog: https://tomtunguz.com/Theory Ventures: https://theory.ventures/Tom on Span of Control: https://tomtunguz.com/span-of-control/–TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode preview(02:40) Span of Control: eliminating middle management(04:19) Tom's take on the ratio of managers to doers(06:19) What should ARR per employee be?(07:19) Talent today vs 5 years ago(08:30) Tom's view on exec searches(11:45) Evaluating the decision for a down round(13:15) Sponsors: Lattice | Continuum(15:00) Opportunities for new talent(16:45) Flexibility of Mind(19:15) Hiring: Getting it Right and Changing When It Goes Wrong(20:40) How should departures be communicated to boards?(21:00) Life cycle of an executive(22:49) On interim roles(25:15) How Tom diligences people(26:20) What makes a great head of people(30:30) Google's acquisition of Looker from Tom and Kelli's perspective(31:00) How does a Mergers and Acquisition process work?(37:00) The 3 kinds of Acquisitions(39:15) Where the puck is going for venture-backed tech companies(41:25) Predictions for AI(43:55) HR Folks and founders should get back on the offense in 2024(45:00) Kelli and Nolan on navigating politics at work–HR Heretics is brought to you by Turpentine www.turpentine.co Producer: Natalie Toren Production: Graham Bessellieu, Michelle Poreh For inquiries about guests or sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

Colleen McCreary, a seasoned Chief People Officer (Zynga, Credit Karma, EA, Twilio) -turned-venture capitalist at Ribbit Capital, sits down with Kelli Dragovich and Nolan Church. This insider conversation covers tactical advice for navigating Mergers and Acquisitions (she’s been through multiple), layoffs, recruiting top talent, and transitioning from an HR leader into the world of the board room. Before the interview, Nolan and Kelli also discuss the recent negative press for Carta's CEO Henry Ward, and offer listeners a behind the scenes understanding of executive departures and settlement packages. If you’re looking for HR software that drives performance, check out Lattice https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics–SPONSORS: Lattice | Continuum ✅ Discover HR software that drives performance with Lattice: https://www.lattice.com/hrhereticsHigh performance and great culture should never be at odds; they’re better together. With Lattice People Management Platform, companies efficiently run people programs that create enviable cultures where employees want to do their best work. Serving 1000s of customers of all sizes. Learn why companies from Slack to the LA Dodgers choose Lattice. https://www.lattice.com/hrheretics✅ Hire Fractional Executives with Continuum: HR Heretics listeners get 15% off of their first month using this link (https://bit.ly/40hlRa9)Have you ever had a negative experience hiring executives? Continuum connects executives and senior operators to venture backed tech companies for fractional and full-time roles. You can post any executive-level role to Continuum’s marketplace and search through our database of world-class, vetted leaders. There is no hidden cost, you only pay the person you hire. And you can cancel at any time. HR Heretics listeners get 15% off–RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff–KEEP UP WITH COLLEEN, NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDINColleen:https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenmccrearychiefpplofficer/Nolan:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/–LINKS:- Ribbit Capital: https://ribbitcap.com/- Henry Ward’s blog post about negative press: https://henrysward.medium.com/what-i-tell-employees-about-negative-press-7c134e7a601c –TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(01:43) The Carta story: executive terminations and lawsuits(05:15) Rolling Layoffs(13:45) Setting expectations after a layoff event(17:49) Sponsors: Lattice | Continuum(19:23) Employee accountability and RTO debate(21:00) CHRO/CPO’s responsibility to be the voice for the company(26:20) Moral challenges and breaking up with a CEO - infamous Zynga story(31:28) Colleen’s experience being an advisor for Silicon Valley, the HBO series(34:25) Recruiting lessons from Silicon Valley(36:20) Colleen’s tactical lessons from multiple M&As(43:30) Most important ‘gotchas’ to watch out for in M&A process(47:08) Transitioning from HR to VC(50:40) Being a long date in the interview process to create opportunities(53:15) Navigating the choice between CPO at a big company, COO, and VC (55:40) Colleen’s best hire(s): Mike Vernal and his crew(58:28) Colleen’s best interview question–HR Heretics is brought to you by Turpentine www.turpentine.co Producer: Natalie TorenProduction: Graham Bessellieu, Michelle PorehFor inquiries about guests or sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

On the inaugural episode of HR Heretics, author and former Chief Talent Officer of Netflix Patty McCord joins co-hosts Kelli Dragovich and Nolan Church for a candid interview to talk through how to innovate from the HR role, buck best practices, and how to build a high performing company. If you’re looking for HR software that drives performance, check out Lattice www.lattice.com/hrheretics–Sponsors: Lattice | Continuum✅ Discover HR software that drives performance with Lattice: www.lattice.com/hrhereticsHigh performance and great culture should never be at odds; they’re better together. With Lattice People Management Platform, companies efficiently run people programs that create enviable cultures where employees want to do their best work. Serving 1000s of customers of all sizes. Learn why companies from Slack to the LA Dodgers choose Lattice. www.lattice.com/hrheretics✅ Hire Fractional Executives with Continuum: HR Heretics listeners get 15% off of their first month using this link: https://bit.ly/40hlRa9Have you ever had a negative experience hiring executives? Continuum connects executives and senior operators to venture backed tech companies for fractional and full-time roles. You can post any executive-level role to Continuum’s marketplace and search through our database of world-class, vetted leaders. There is no hidden cost, you only pay the person you hire. And you can cancel at any time.–RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff–KEEP UP WITH PATTY, KELLI, & NOLAN ON LINKEDINPatty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattymccord/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/–LINKS:Netflix Culture Deck- https://www.slideshare.net/reed2001/culture-1798664 Powerful by Patty McCord- https://pattymccord.com/book/–TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(02:19) How we got Patty on this podcast(05:22)The true story behind Netflix’s culture deck(09:15) High Performance cultures actually take 4-5 years to pull off(09:40) Why releasing the culture deck changed Netflix’s hiring immediately(11:33) What to do when employees are averse to change(15:10) Delivering effective feedback(18:15) Sponsors: Lattice | Continuum (19:50) Why execs need to get used to short tenures(22:10) If you’re successful your company will change(24:30) Retention and the truth we need to tell employees about career pathing(26:19) How Reed Hastings hired Patty McCord(29:45) How HR officers can get a seat at the table(33:25) The P&L is the most important HR metric(35:10) Are HR leaders getting soft?(37:40) What Patty would tell her younger self(39:00) Why an HR officer is a business leader, not a business partner(40:00) What do HR people do?(41:30) Fixing equal pay and compensation strategy(43:28) Why HR keeps doing stupid stuff and needs to abandon best practices(48:10) What HR can learn from product managers(52:44) Compartmentalization and terminations(55:20) If Patty rewrote her book, she would change the chapter about relationships at work(56:40) Why HR people invite inappropriate therapist-style relationships(59:50) Why having arguments at work should be normalized(01:04:25) Does Patty miss being in the arena?(01:06:58)The portions of the workforce most impacted right now–HR Heretics is brought to you by Turpentine www.turpentine.co Exec Producer: Amelia SalyersProducer: Natalie TorenProduction: Will Henderson-Nold, Seth Hahn, Michelle PorehFor inquiries about guests or sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected] thanks to Patty McCord for hosting our team at her home. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com