

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

Jul 18, 2024 • 56min
Remote Work, Hiring Trends, and the Value of a College Diploma with Heather Doshay, Partner and Head of Talent at SignalFire
Heather Doshay, Partner and Head of Talent at SignalFire, discusses remote work trends, Gen Z job hopping, and the shift towards skills-based hiring. They explore the value of college degrees, AI in hiring, and challenges faced by HR leaders. The episode covers job requirements, work flexibility, and the impact of technology on job roles.

Jul 16, 2024 • 17min
Meta Cuts VP Roles
Exploring Meta's VP cuts and the future of big tech jobs; discussing the impact of bloated management structures, the evolving landscape of VP roles, and preparing for a changing job market; highlighting the significance of networking, strategy, and hands-on work in professional roles; and emphasizing the importance of generating ideas and expanding opportunities to enhance career outcomes.

Jul 11, 2024 • 53min
Talking Executive Search 2.0 with Nick Cromydas of Hunt Club: Equity, Severance, and Overvaluation
Nick Cromydas, CEO of Hunt Club, discusses revolutionizing executive search with technology and AI, negotiation points in executive compensation, transparency in hiring processes, challenges of overvaluation in tech companies, and strategic considerations in executive transactions.

Jul 9, 2024 • 37min
Is MEI the Anti DEI? with Colleen McCreary and David Hanrahan
Colleen McCreary from Ribbit Capital and David Hanrahan from Flare discuss the MEI stance at Scale AI and the backlash against DEI initiatives. They touch on Netflix's new culture deck and the importance of effective workforce planning, employee experience, AI in interviewing, and navigating DEI in the corporate world.

Jul 3, 2024 • 18min
How (and why!) to take time off
Exploring the challenges of taking vacations in modern HR, discussing setting boundaries for mental health and planning ahead for time off. Tips on training colleagues to enforce your vacation, deleting Slack, and recognizing false urgency.

Jul 2, 2024 • 1h 4min
From CPO to CEO: Michelle Wagner Tells All
Former Chief People Officer at AOL and Evernote, Michelle Wagner, discusses her journey to becoming the CEO of MindStrong, sharing insights on leadership transitions, challenges in engaging hybrid employees, navigating the CEO role, difficult decisions in turbulent times, post-sale expectations, and emphasizing transparency in the workplace.

20 snips
Jun 27, 2024 • 1h 2min
Navigating the Real Power Structures at Your Company
Andrew Bartlow, a seasoned HR VP, discusses the challenges across startups to Fortune 100 companies. Topics include AI in hiring, private equity dynamics, CEO-CHRO relationships, and executive compensation nuances.

Jun 25, 2024 • 30min
Scale AI's "MEI" Hiring Announcement with Richard Ni, the former Head of People
Former Head of People at Scale AI, Richard Ni, discusses the implications of the 'MEI' hiring policy focusing on meritocracy and diversity. They explore leveraging AI for interviews, balancing meritocracy and diversity, and navigating challenges in tech companies.

Jun 21, 2024 • 55min
Navigating Media, LinkedIn, and the HR Echo Chamber with Lars Schmidt
Lars Schmidt, a talent leader turned creator, discusses challenges and motivations in content creation. The conversation delves into AI in recruitment, enhancing employee engagement with WorkVivo, and maintaining authenticity in media. They explore the importance of diverse perspectives in the HR industry and the transition of leadership roles in the evolving landscape.

Jun 14, 2024 • 15min
Rippling vs. Competitors: The Ex-Employee Dilemma
Rippling's controversial HR policy of banning ex-employees from competitors in a secondary stock offering is debated. The podcast discusses the ethics and implications of this move, examining the zero-sum game, company messaging, and employee value. Regulatory implications, non-compete arguments, and the importance of understanding the 'why' behind Rippling's decision are also explored.


