52 episodes

After a decade+ of “blitz-scaling” companies, HR, talent, and People leaders now face an uncertain economy that has already seen big booms and busts. What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact?    
Hosts Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich have been through it all, the highs and the lows – IPOs, layoffs, executive turnover, board meetings, culture changes, and more. With a lineup of industry vets and experts, Nolan and Kelli break down the nitty-gritty details, trade offs, and dynamics of constructing high performing companies. Through unfiltered conversations that can only happen between seasoned practitioners – Kelli and Nolan dive deep into the kind of leadership-level strategy that often happens behind closed doors.

This show is for those who are ready to ditch conventional wisdom and figure out from first principles what works for their culture, business model, and industry, with the goal of building a resilient and enduring company. You’ll come away with real guidance for seeing around corners, building enduring companies, and carving out an impactful career – plus a newly-honed bullshit detector.

Topics frequently touched on in this season include: building high performing cultures, compensation negotiation, performance reviews, company design, equity, M&As, recruiting the best talent, and how to manage your own psychology as a people leader.

hrheretics.substack.com

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

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 41 Ratings

After a decade+ of “blitz-scaling” companies, HR, talent, and People leaders now face an uncertain economy that has already seen big booms and busts. What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact?    
Hosts Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich have been through it all, the highs and the lows – IPOs, layoffs, executive turnover, board meetings, culture changes, and more. With a lineup of industry vets and experts, Nolan and Kelli break down the nitty-gritty details, trade offs, and dynamics of constructing high performing companies. Through unfiltered conversations that can only happen between seasoned practitioners – Kelli and Nolan dive deep into the kind of leadership-level strategy that often happens behind closed doors.

This show is for those who are ready to ditch conventional wisdom and figure out from first principles what works for their culture, business model, and industry, with the goal of building a resilient and enduring company. You’ll come away with real guidance for seeing around corners, building enduring companies, and carving out an impactful career – plus a newly-honed bullshit detector.

Topics frequently touched on in this season include: building high performing cultures, compensation negotiation, performance reviews, company design, equity, M&As, recruiting the best talent, and how to manage your own psychology as a people leader.

hrheretics.substack.com

    The Future of Tech Operators with Casey Woo, Founder of Operators Guild

    The Future of Tech Operators with Casey Woo, Founder of Operators Guild

    In this episode of HR Heretics, Nolan and Kelli sit down with Casey Woo, a former public market investor turned 7x high-growth executive (including WeWork). He is now the founder of Operations Guild and General Partner at FOG Ventures. Casey shares eye-opening experiences from his time at WeWork and describes working with Adam Neumann, and the dynamics of rapid business scaling. They also highlight the impact of AI on business operations, the rise of the business operator, and discuss what skill-based ‘‘specialist generalists” do.
    HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.
    Share this with your friends, forward to your enemies. Hit subscribe now.
    Discover Workvivo, Zoom’s employee experience platform, designed to delight your hybrid workforce. With dynamic and intuitive features people actually like using, Workvivo fosters a sense of belonging and boosts retention and productivity. Join Ryanair, Dollar General, and Virgin — head to https://bit.ly/hrhereticsworkvivo to book a demo (tell them Kelli and Nolan sent you).
    Attio is the next generation of CRM. It’s powerful, flexible, and easily configures to the unique way your startup runs, whatever your go-to-market motion. The next era deserves a better CRM. Join ElevenLabs, Replicate, Modal, and more at https://bit.ly/AttioHRHeretics
    KEEP UP WITH CASEY, NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDIN
    Casey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseywoo/
    Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/
    Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

    TIMESTAMPS:
    (00:00) Intro
    (01:14) Casey's journey and WeWork experience
    (08:39) Lessons from WeWork
    (14:19) Current Climate and Operators Guild
    (19:48) Sponsor: WorkVivo |  Attio
    (20:45) Current pace of AI development
    (26:26) The Rise of the Operator
    (35:03) Importance of generalists in business
    (41:10) Building a Community: Lessons Learned
    (44:42) Future of operators and founding businesses
    (49:56) Wrap




    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

    • 49 min
    The Big Stay

    The Big Stay

    In this episode of HR Heretics, Nolan and Kelli discuss an article from Business Insider about the ongoing white-collar recession, particularly affecting those earning over $100,000 a year.
    They discuss significant changes in the tech job market, including the influence of AI, global competition, and the shift from managerial roles to more individual contributor positions. The episode concludes with insights into personal fulfillment versus financial stability in career choices.
    Vanguard data reveals a hiring freeze for six-figure earners, impacting tech and finance. Is this the start of a white-collar recession?
    HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.
    Discover Workvivo, Zoom’s employee experience platform, designed to delight your hybrid workforce. With dynamic and intuitive features people actually like using, Workvivo fosters a sense of belonging and boosts retention and productivity. Join Ryanair, Dollar General, and Virgin — head to https://bit.ly/hrhereticsworkvivo to book a demo (tell them Kelli and Nolan sent you).
    Attio is the next generation of CRM. It’s powerful, flexible, and easily configures to the unique way your startup runs, whatever your go-to-market motion. The next era deserves a better CRM. Join ElevenLabs, Replicate, Modal, and more at https://bit.ly/AttioHRHeretics
    KEEP UP WITH NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINNolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich

    TIMESTAMPS:
    00:00 Introduction to the White Collar Recession
    00:30 The Dichotomy of Employment Data
    00:48 Challenges for High Earners
    01:56 The Big Stay and Trapped in Place Economy
    02:34 Industry-Specific Impacts
    05:21 Global Competition and AI's Role
    06:23 The Future of Tech Employment
    08:34 Personal Reflections and Career Changes
    08:43 Sponsor: Workvivo | Attio
    11:12: First-World Work Problems
    13:02: Self-Reflection and Assessment
    15:34: On Gratitude on Salaries and Roles
    16:11 Wrap




    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

    • 16 min
    A Deep Dive Into Coaching as a Career with Nathan Tanner, author of The Unconquerable Leader

    A Deep Dive Into Coaching as a Career with Nathan Tanner, author of The Unconquerable Leader

    In this episode of HR Heretics, Nolan and Kelli sit down with Nathan Tanner, an executive coach, author of The Unconquerable Leader, and former HR leader at DoorDash, Neighbor, and LinkedIn. Nathan demystifies the black box of coaching as a career path for people leaders, getting into the nitty-gritty of setting up the business, getting clients, and the economics of coaching. They also discuss the fine line between the empathy required of an HR leader, an executive coach, and a therapist.
    HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.
    Share this with your friends, forward to your enemies. Hit subscribe now.
    This episode is brought to you by AttioAttio is the next generation of CRM. It’s powerful, flexible and easily configures to the unique way your startup runs, whatever your go-to-market motion. The next era deserves a better CRM. Join Replicate, ElevenLabs, Modal and more at https://bit.ly/AttioHRHeretics
    KEEP UP WITH NATHAN, NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDIN
    Nathan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathantanner/
    Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/
    Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

    TIMESTAMPS:
    (00:00) Intro
    (00:58) Nathan’s journey into coaching
    (02:53) Impact and philosophy of coaching
    (05:25) Navigating the coach, HR leader, and client relationship
    (13:08) What makes a great coach?
    (15:52) Sponsor: Attio
    (16:49) Assessing client’s perspectives
    (21:49) Lifecycle of a coaching relationship
    (24:29) Balancing revenue and client success
    (26:03) Strategies and challenges of building a client base
    (30:38) Economics of coaching
    (35:33) Maximizing your coaching business
    (39:34) Essential tools for success
    (42:20) Value of transparency and resilience
    (44:13) Wrap


    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

    • 44 min
    What's the Deal at OpenAI?

    What's the Deal at OpenAI?

    Nolan Church breaks down what is happening over at OpenAI and what we know about three developing stories involving exec departures, equity, and transparency. Kelli is on vacation this week. He touches on:
    * The departure of Ilya Sutskever, co-founder and chief scientist, along with Jan Lieke
    * The journalistic investigation by Vox's Kelsey Piper, who broke the story of OpenAI's practice of requiring departing employees to sign life-long non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements, threatening the loss of vested equity for breach
    * The incident involving Scarlett Johansson being approached to voice OpenAI’s AI, without her consent, raising questions about ethical use of voice likeness in AI technologies
    Nolan debriefs with lessons for HR leaders and company founders.
    HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.
    SPONSOR:
    Attio is the next generation of CRM. It’s powerful, flexible, and easily configures to the unique way your startup runs, whatever your go-to-market motion. The next era deserves a better CRM. Join ElevenLabs, Replicate, Modal, and more at https://bit.ly/AttioHRHeretics
    KEEP UP WITH NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINNolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/
    Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich

    TIMESTAMPS:
    (00:00) Intro
    (00:47) The Big Departures: OpenAI's Executive Shake-Up
    (03:31) OpenAI's Controversial NDAs
    (05:12) Sponsors: Attio
    (08:21) The Scarlett Johansson Voice Saga
    (10:04) The Future of OpenAI and HR Lessons
    (10:50) Wrap



    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

    • 11 min
    $3B Remote CEO on Killing the Return to Office

    $3B Remote CEO on Killing the Return to Office

    In this episode, Nolan and Kelli have an honest and transparent discussion with CEO and founder of Remote Job van der Voort (also the former VP of Product at GitLab) on the nuances of running an international remote company. 
    Job strongly emphasises how trying to replicate the office environment in a remote setting doesn’t work and how giving small teams extreme autonomy with focus on outcome-based-management far outweighs surveillance and micro management. 
    Kelli, Nolan and Job chat about early career growth and development in remote settings vs learning by osmosis in the office and how the company committed to developing new methodologies to mentor and train up juniors.
    Job also gives insights into the complexities of global hiring, geography-based compensation, and geographic mobility for remote workers and discusses the impact it has on contracts and mutual obligations.
    HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.
    Share this with your friends, forward to your enemies. Hit subscribe now.
    SPONSOR: Attio is the next generation of CRM. It’s powerful, flexible and easily configures to the unique way your startup runs, whatever your go-to-market motion. The next era deserves a better CRM. Join Replicate, ElevenLabs, Modal and more at https://bit.ly/AttioHRHeretics
    KEEP UP WITH JOB, NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDIN
    Job: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobvo/
    Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/
    Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

    TIMESTAMPS:
    (00:00) Intro
    (00:53) Replicating Office Culture in Remote Settings
    (06:45) Embracing Asynchronous Work and Team Autonomy
    (09:48) Hiring and Training in a Remote-First World
    (13:51) Innovative Remote Work Practices and Tools
    (17:50) Addressing the Challenges of Remote Work 
    (22:10) Remote's Approach to Documentation and Communication
    (26:00) International Employment and Expansion
    (26:54) Global Employment with Remote
    (28:10) Global Compensation Strategies
    (33:52) Equity and Performance in Global Teams
    (39:40) Mobility and Compensation In Employee Relocation
    (46:55) The Global Hiring Market and Future Trends
    (51.24) Wrap




    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

    • 51 min
    Career Decisions Round 2 with Janelle Lopez

    Career Decisions Round 2 with Janelle Lopez

    In today's segment, Kelli welcomes back Janelle Lopez, discussing her recent career decision to take a second-in-command role at Coursera over the top Chief People Officer position elsewhere. She gives us an honest look into her decision-making, her networking efforts (75 meetings!), and how to assess a company for fit.
    HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.
    --
    SPONSOR:
    Attio is the next generation of CRM. It’s powerful, flexible, and easily configures to the unique way your startup runs, whatever your go-to-market motion. The next era deserves a better CRM. Join ElevenLabs, Replicate, Modal, and more at https://bit.ly/AttioHRHeretics
    --
    KEEP UP WITH JANELLE, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN
    Janelle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelle-lopez-29997a4/
    Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/
    Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich

    TIMESTAMPS:
    (00:00) Intro
    (00:27) Career Decision: Chief People Officer vs. Number Two Role
    (01:27) Networking
    (04:29) Evaluating Opportunities
    (08:04) The Real Power of Networking
    (12:01) Biggest Lessons From the Job Search
    (13:23) Janelle's Future Aspirations
    (14:20) Wrap


    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

    • 14 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
41 Ratings

41 Ratings

CamilleBrittany ,

Meaty

The content is such a great deep dive! Really meaty / interesting conversations and insights. No high level fluff! Really loving this podcast.

Sports fan00 ,

HR Heretics

Wow! So interesting and loved hearing the behind the scenes stories from Patty McCord! Great questions and honest answers… How refreshing to hear the truth about HR, Recruiting, secrets from the C Suite…. Do yourself a favor and listen! Then do yourself a favor and watch on YouTube! So enjoyable! I’m all in - waiting the next episode👍

Ajdcnslaiendns ,

Great Content and Refreshing Perspectives

Such a refreshing and REAL take on HR in today’s tech landscape

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