Rusty Ralston and Jay Patil on Unlocking Startup Success With a People-First Approach

On this episode of Redefining Work, I’m joined by Rob Mac Giolla Phadraig, founder of SkillStack, a cutting-edge learning platform built around the power of storytelling. Rob shares his personal journey, the inspiration behind SkillStack, and the profound impact storytelling has had on his life and career. Tune in to discover how SkillStack is revolutionizing learning and development by harnessing the power of narrative to unlock human potential.

On this episode of Redefining Work, I’m joined by J.P. Sanday, partner at Menlo Ventures. Throughout his career in private equity and venture capital, J.P. has gained a sharp understanding of market dynamics and early-stage growth. In this episode, we dive into his philosophy on scaling startups, assembling powerful teams and making the most of AI opportunities.

On this episode of Redefining Work, I’m joined by Rich Diviney, retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer, author and founder of The Attributes. Throughout his 20-year career, which includes leading SEAL Team Six selection, Rich developed a deep understanding of leadership, team dynamics and human performance. In this episode, we dive into Rich’s belief in the role of attributes over skills in determining success, his philosophy on building high performing teams and how mastering uncertainty takes performance to the next level.

In this episode of the LinkedIn Presents: Redefining Work podcast, host Lars Schmidt sits down with Ruben Harris, co-founder and CEO of Career Karma, to discuss the launch of OutRival, a no-code platform that democratizes access to AI across the enterprise. Ruben shares how OutRival empowers non-engineering teams to build AI-driven agents and solutions without technical expertise, reshaping how companies engage with customers and employees. They dive into the future of work, AI's role in personalization, and how OutRival is transforming workforce development for industries beyond tech.

On this episode of Redefining Work, I’m joined by Rusty Ralston and Jay Patil, co-founders of Swell Venture Capital. We dive into their unique approach to venture capital, centered around identifying visionary founders and helping them build exceptional teams. Rusty and Jay share their hands-on recruitment strategies, how they assess founders’ potential, and the importance of a people-first investment philosophy. Listen in to discover how Swell VC is giving its portfolio companies a recruiting advantage and reshaping venture capital through a talent-driven lens.

There’s something universal in the world of work that we’ve all encountered. You’ve written it, reviewed it, probably stressed over it. Yes, I'm talking about that staple of the corporate world: the resume. Now, I know you’re probably thinking, "Really? The resume? That outdated piece of paper is still a thing?" And yes, it is—tragically. In this episode of Redefining Work Reports, host Lars Schmidt explores that antiquated hiring document known as the resume.

Today I'm sharing a very special bonus episode! Redefining Work is a part of a whole network of podcasts at LinkedIn–The LinkedIn Podcast Network. This month, their team launched a new show in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. It’s called Let’s Talk Offline and it is packed with actionable advice and engaging insight for early career development. This episode in particular feels valuable to anyone at any stage of their career: it’s all about salary negotiation. More about Let’s Talk Offline: Each week, LinkedIn's Gianna Prudente and Jamé Jackson Gadsden answer your unfiltered questions about work life, from negotiating pay to setting boundaries to navigating office friendships. Gianna – an early career development editor and resident Gen Zer – and Jamé – a community manager, workshop host, and millennial – get real about their own career experiences (spoiler: they're still figuring it out, too) and confide in expert guests who've been there, done that. Through it all, you'll learn what it takes to thrive in the early years of your career — without sacrificing your values, sanity or sleep. Listen HERE!

In this episode of Redefining Work, Lars Schmidt sits down with Kelly Scheib, Chief People Officer at Crunchbase, to explore how the company is transforming HR through innovative strategies. Kelly shares insights on spaghetti careers, a flexible benefits model, and how Crunchbase leverages AI to streamline processes while maintaining human connection. Learn how Crunchbase’s people-first culture is redefining the future of work and the role of HR in tech companies. Topics covered: Crunchbase’s "People Project Pool" and how it breaks down HR silos The Live Your Best Life flexible benefits program How Crunchbase integrates AI without losing human empathy Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging woven into people systems

This episode features the brilliant Laura Mae Martin, Executive Productivity Advisor at Google and author of "Uptime: A Practical Guide for Personal Productivity and Well-being." Laura’s insights provide a fresh take on how to balance our intentions and actions in both professional and personal spheres.

On this episode of Redefining Work, I’m joined by Jeffrey Pfeffer, professor of organizational behavior at Stanford University and author of “Dying for a Paycheck.” We dive into the critical topic of employee well-being and explore the harmful effects of workplace stress and poor working conditions on employee health.