From A People Perspective

The People People Group

A podcast about fascinating professionals, how they got to where they are and where they’re going from the lens HR, Recruitment and People Operations hosted by Martin Hauck.

  1. The Hidden Link Between Job Enjoyment and Performance with Jason Silver, Author & CEO of JI Business Advisory

    1D AGO

    The Hidden Link Between Job Enjoyment and Performance with Jason Silver, Author & CEO of JI Business Advisory

    In this episode, Jason Silver, a former Airbnb country manager turned author, shares eye-opening insights on rethinking productivity, leadership, and purpose. He reveals how scaling at breakneck speed taught him that focusing on culture and values especially the ones you pay a price for, can make or break your success. And he challenges the widely held myth that job satisfaction is about finding your passion it's about practicing it, day by day, task by task. 00:00 – Introduction & Jason Silver background 02:30 – From child actor to Airbnb: unconventional career path 06:10 – Inside Airbnb’s hypergrowth (400 → 2500 employees) 09:30 – “Don’t f*** up the culture”: lessons on scaling companies 12:30 – Why company values fail (and how to make them real) 17:00 – The book Your Grass is Greener explained 20:00 – Personal turning point: loss, perspective & mindset shift 23:30 – The “enjoyment → success” reversal (core philosophy) 28:30 – You have more control over your work than you think 42:30 – Practical exercise: redesign your work using enjoyment 47:15 – HR dilemma: misaligned roles & how to fix them 50:15 – Change HOW you work, not WHAT you do 53:00 – Small tweaks that compound into career satisfaction 59:30 – The future of work: danger of chasing “perfect jobs” 1:03:30 – Final insights on values, work, and fulfillment

    1h 6m
  2. Curiosity, Conviction & the Future of Work with Karam Tawfiq, Head Of Total Rewards & Ops at D2L

    MAR 23

    Curiosity, Conviction & the Future of Work with Karam Tawfiq, Head Of Total Rewards & Ops at D2L

    In this episode, HR leader Karam Tawfiq shares insights on the evolving landscape of human resources, the impact of AI on work, and the importance of authenticity and mentorship in career growth. Discover how to adapt, stay curious, and build genuine human connections in a rapidly changing world. 01:33 – Introduction and episode overview02:01 – The production process and expectations for content sharing02:37 – Reconnecting with Karam Tawfiq and his career journey03:16 – Personal anecdotes and perseverance in podcasting04:09 – Favorite music artists: Olivia Dean and Adele05:09 – Midnight snack preferences: pasta vs. chicken nuggets08:01 – Defining superpowers: caring as a fundamental trait08:59 – Mentorship moments that shaped Karam’s career10:19 – Hot takes on HR’s identity and purpose14:48 – Karam’s career beginnings and unexpected career shifts17:00 – Lessons from mentors and critical moments of growth19:37 – The significance of mentorship and support in leadership22:16 – Authenticity, curiosity, and staying true to oneself24:06 – Experience vs. AI in building frameworks26:15 – The future of work, AI’s influence, and societal impacts29:37 – AI challenges and opportunities for HR and organizations34:42 – Building genuine relationships and mentorship through support38:17 – Curiosity about people and avoiding transactional interactions42:43 – Understanding human motivation and egocentric behavior45:21 – Societal systems that create transactional mindsets46:55 – Concerns about AI reshaping roles and societal norms50:28 – Continuous learning amid rapid technological change54:06 – Strategies to stay grounded in the AI era55:43 – Final reflections and appreciation

    56 min
  3. Building Culture while Scaling Startups with Josh Domingues, Founder of MedWallet & FlashFood

    FEB 18

    Building Culture while Scaling Startups with Josh Domingues, Founder of MedWallet & FlashFood

    In this episode, Josh Domingues shares the journey from hockey and finance to building Flashfood and launching MedWallet, offering an honest look at startup leadership, hiring, and building culture while scaling fast. The conversation explores how intuition, transparency, and human connection shape both product decisions and team dynamics, especially during moments of crisis and rapid growth. Josh also challenges traditional workplace practices like job descriptions and performance reviews while sharing his vision for the future of healthcare powered by AI. 00:00 - Introduction04:22 - From Hockey Player to Finance to Consulting to Startups09:50 - First Startup Failure10:43 - Flashfood Idea: Solving Food Waste11:45 - Scaling Flashfood & Raising $25M 17:23 - Founder Intuition & Being Early to Big Trends20:23 - Building Culture & Motivating Frontline Workers21:45 - COVID Crisis24:05 - Leadership Lessons From Supporting Employees28:00 - Why Companies Are Teams, Not Families30:54 - Flashfood Culture, Systems & Rituals32:55 - Why Performance Reviews Don’t Work35:16 - How to Grow Fast in a Startup (Ignore Job Descriptions)38:10 - Leadership Style: Strong Opinions Loosely Held40:10 - Psychological Safety & Firing a Toxic Manager43:52 - Spotting Bad Teammates (Sports → Business)46:51 - MedWallet Origin Story49:19 - Healthcare System Problems & Personal Experiences49:50 - MedWallet Product Explained52:20 - AI + Healthcare Future53:30 - Final Advice: Authenticity in the AI Era

    52 min
  4. A Winding Path to People Leadership with Lorena Scott, CPO at Relay

    FEB 9

    A Winding Path to People Leadership with Lorena Scott, CPO at Relay

    In this podcast episode, Martin Hauck interviews Lorena Scott, a seasoned Chief People Officer, about her unconventional career journey, the influence of her father's resilience, and her insights on leadership and people operations. Lorena shares her experiences from investment banking to private equity, and ultimately to her current role at Relay, where she emphasizes the importance of culture, curiosity, and the impact of AI in the workplace. The conversation highlights the challenges and joys of scaling teams, navigating mergers and acquisitions, and the significance of serving small businesses.  01:23 Introduction 02:54 Lorena’s Unconventional Path to People Leadership 04:49 Inspiration from Family and Early Aspirations 06:25 Resilience and Reinvention: A Father’s Influence 09:04 First Jobs and Early Career Experiences 10:38 Investment Banking as a Learning Bootcamp 13:28 Transition to Private Equity and Understanding Culture 20:08 The Shift into People Operations 23:38 Curiosity as a Key Leadership Trait 26:10 Testing for Curiosity in Hiring 28:27 Reflections on Executive Roles in People Ops 29:57 Scaling, Global Growth, and Career Transitions 31:53 Navigating Mergers and Acquisitions 38:10 Finding Fulfillment in Work 42:17 Scaling Culture While Growing Fast 47:06 Embracing AI in People Operations 52:03 Lessons Learned in People Leadership 57:04 Final Career Advice and Closing Thoughts

    1 hr

About

A podcast about fascinating professionals, how they got to where they are and where they’re going from the lens HR, Recruitment and People Operations hosted by Martin Hauck.