Donna Brown, Founder of Cultivation HR

SummaryIn this conversation, Heidi shares her extensive career journey in HR, detailing her rise from a content writer to CEO and now president of iSolve Talent Acquisition. She discusses the challenges faced during a surge in job applications, particularly during mass layoffs in tech, and how her team adapted by implementing AI-driven solutions to streamline the recruitment process. Heidi emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity in candidate applications and shares valuable lessons learned from her experiences, including the need for clear job ads and effective screening processes. She concludes with advice on leveraging AI effectively in recruitment.TakeawaysHeidi's career began in marketing and evolved into HR.She faced overwhelming job applications during tech layoffs.Quality of candidates is more important than quantity.AI tools helped streamline the recruitment process.Well-written job ads are crucial for attracting the right candidates.Candidate matching AI can surface the best fits.Understanding the job role is essential for effective hiring.Recruiting should be treated as a system, not a linear pipeline.Over-automation can lead to challenges in recruitment.Inputs to AI systems must be continuously refined.Chapters00:00 Heidi's Career Journey in HR02:03 Navigating High Volume Job Applications04:33 Implementing AI in Recruitment07:04 Lessons Learned from Recruitment Challenges10:08 Parting Advice on AI Utilization

SummaryIn this conversation, HR strategic leader and VP of People at 15Five, Karina Young, shares her extensive experience in scaling tech organizations and the challenges faced in HR, including burnout and manager enablement. She discusses the importance of data in advocating for HR needs, the role of executives in program rollouts, and the significance of measuring HR impact through various metrics. Karina concludes with advice on making small, incremental changes for personal and professional growth.TakeawaysHR burnout is unfortunately more and more common given shrinking team sizes.Karina uses data to advocate for the right balance with headcount.Executives must play a big role in the rollout of the manager enablement program to ensure their success.Peer-to-peer learning creates a cool community that drives continuous engagement.One small shift every day makes you better.Chapters00:00 Karina's Journey in HR02:06 Addressing HR Burnout04:07 Manager Enablement Challenges06:41 Measuring HR Impact08:42 Parting Advice for Growth

SummaryIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, Monet Williams shares her career journey from a student with a passion for people to a leader in organizational transformation. She discusses key influences that shaped her path, including her experiences at McKinsey and the Red Sox, and highlights the importance of understanding employee needs and community engagement. Monet emphasizes the significance of employee resource groups and the need for HR leaders to adapt to constant change in the workforce. She concludes with valuable advice for emerging leaders on facilitating change and making it easier for people to do the right thing.TakeawaysMonet describes herself as a 'people nerd'.Her early experiences shaped her career path away from engineering.She spent 11 years at McKinsey focusing on people and organization.Listening to concerns is crucial in high-stakes situations.Expanding customer bases can lead to meaningful change.Credibility can be a challenge when proposing new ideas.Change management requires addressing people's fears and uncertainties.Employee resource groups can enhance culture and retention.HR leaders should align ERGs with business impact.Facilitating change involves removing barriers for employees.Chapters00:00 Monet's Career Journey: From Student to Consultant03:21 Key Influences and Career Shifts06:11 High-Stakes Decisions and Change Management09:07 Leadership Strategies and Employee Resource Groups10:47 Future of HR: Adapting to Change

SummaryIn this conversation, Jill Wrobel shares her career journey from being an actuary to becoming the CHRO of Brunswick Corporation. Jill discusses the challenges faced in fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the organization, especially during rapid growth periods. She outlines concrete steps taken to address these challenges, the impactful outcomes of their efforts, and offers recommendations for others looking to implement similar strategies in their organizations.TakeawaysContinuous improvement is critical for our internal workforce.Storytelling drives a culture of continuous improvement.Walk the walk, model the behaviors.Celebrate the wins and near misses.Lead with the heart in HR.It's an obligation to lead with authenticity.Chapters00:00 Jill's Career Journey in HR03:11 Fostering a Culture of Continuous Improvement05:59 Concrete Steps for Continuous Improvement08:36 Impactful Outcomes of Continuous Improvement11:18 Strategies for Driving Continuous Improvement14:18 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

In this episode of the Built by People podcast, Sharon John shares her extensive career journey in HR, emphasizing the importance of total rewards and the impact of COVID-19 on compensation practices. She discusses her career-defining moments, the challenges of communication in a global context, and her aspirations for leaving a lasting legacy in HR leadership. Sharon advocates for transparent communication and the need for HR professionals to evolve into strategic partners within organizations.

SummaryIn this episode of the Built by People podcast, Dallin Demke interviews Donna Brown, founder of Cultivation HR, who shares her extensive experience in HR and technology leadership. The conversation delves into the challenges HR professionals face, particularly in embracing AI while maintaining fairness and compliance. Donna discusses the operational demands on HR teams, especially in smaller organizations, and the potential of AI to alleviate some of these burdens. The discussion also covers the evolution of performance reviews and the importance of continuous feedback in modern HR practices. Donna emphasizes the need for HR to think creatively about resource allocation and partnerships to enhance their capabilities.TakeawaysHR professionals are challenged by balancing innovation with governance.AI can create capacity for HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives.Year-end HR activities are particularly demanding for small teams.AI's promise in HR is significant, but implementation is complex.Continuous coaching is becoming a viable alternative to annual performance reviews.AI tools can enhance learning and operational efficiency in HR.HR should leverage external partnerships to extend capabilities.The future of HR involves thinking beyond traditional staffing models.AI can help automate routine tasks, freeing up time for strategic work.HR must ensure ethical considerations are integrated into AI usage.

SummaryIn this episode of the Built by People podcast, Bruce Nichols shares his unconventional career journey from the army to HR leadership roles across various industries. He discusses pivotal moments in his career, the importance of building lasting change within organizations, and the challenges of making unpopular decisions. Bruce emphasizes the need for HR leaders to adapt to technological advancements while maintaining a human-centric approach. He concludes with valuable advice on humility and decisiveness in leadership.TakeawaysBruce's career journey began unexpectedly after leaving the army.He transitioned from finance to HR through various roles.Building a centralized employee relations team was a significant achievement.Navigating unpopular decisions is part of effective leadership.Presence and engagement with employees are crucial for leaders.Understanding business fundamentals is essential for HR leaders.AI and technology should complement human interaction in HR.Humble decisiveness is key to effective leadership.Leaders must accept the consequences of their decisions.Building trust within teams is vital for long-term success.

SummaryIn this episode of the Built by People podcast, Wendy Moore, founder of Eleve Talent, shares her career journey and insights into the challenges faced by HR professionals in today's competitive market. She emphasizes the importance of strategic hiring, role clarity, and compliance as startups scale. Wendy also discusses the critical role of technology and partnerships in HR, and the transformative impact of AI on the industry, advocating for its use to enhance the human experience rather than replace it.TakeawaysWendy's career has always centered around helping people build.She emphasizes the intersection of technology and people in her work.Strategic hiring is crucial in a competitive market.Every hire must have a significant impact on the team.Role clarity is essential as teams grow to avoid confusion.Compliance infrastructure is vital for scaling teams effectively.Technology can help HR move fast without sacrificing quality.Partnerships with experts enhance HR capabilities.AI should be embraced to remove friction in HR processes.The future of HR lies in leveraging technology to enhance human connections.

SummaryIn this episode of the Built by People podcast, Jim Miller, the Head of People at Ashby, shares his extensive experience in talent acquisition and human resources. He discusses his career journey, the challenges he faces in HR, particularly around headcount planning and growth, and the importance of internal partnerships in building effective HR strategies. Jim also offers valuable advice for aspiring HR professionals, emphasizing the need to be proactive in career development.TakeawaysJim Miller has 25 years of experience in talent acquisition.He is currently the Head of People at Ashby, focusing on ATS technology.The company's top priority is organizing a company-wide offsite for remote employees.Jim faces challenges related to growth and headcount planning.He emphasizes just-in-time hiring based on business outcomes.Internal partnerships with product and engineering teams are critical for success.Transparency in compensation is essential for attracting talent.Jim wishes for faster feature development in HR systems.He aims to build a more specialized HR team in the future.Proactivity in career opportunities is key for aspiring HR professionals.

In this episode of the Built by People Podcast, Steve Browne shares his intentional journey in HR, discussing transformative practices that have reshaped workplace culture, accountability, and the integration of technology in human resources. He emphasizes the importance of listening, small manageable changes, and building a supportive network among HR professionals.Key TakeawaysSteve Browne has been in HR intentionally since college.He transformed the perception of HR from a 'black hole' to a human-centric function.Listening for three months before implementing changes was pivotal in his approach.Small changes can have a significant impact on workplace culture.Redefining accountability in HR can lead to better management practices.Being present with employees is crucial for effective HR leadership.HR professionals should embrace technology rather than fear it.Networking with HR peers can enhance professional growth.Sustainable change comes from manageable steps, not giant leaps.HR leaders need to prepare for labor shortages and technological advancements.Chapters00:00 Steve Browne's HR Journey03:34 Transforming HR Culture06:25 Redefining Accountability in HR09:32 Embracing Technology in HR12:18 Building a Supportive HR Network