Built By People

Summary In 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...

Summary In 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 tr...

Summary In 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...

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 Takeaways Steve Browne has...

In this episode of the Built by People Podcast, Bert Somsin shares his unique career journey from a package handler at UPS to the Chief HR Officer at OnSemi. He discusses the challenges he faced during the Christmas rush at UPS, particularly in staffing and training drivers. Bert emphasizes the importance of change management and the need for data-driven solutions in HR practices. He reflects on t...

In this episode of the Built by People Podcast, Maxim Williams, the Vice President of Global Culture and Belonging at Autodesk, shares his extensive career journey and insights on leadership, culture, and the importance of learning from failures. He discusses the recent cultural transformation at Autodesk, the challenges faced in a volatile world, and the significance of upskilling in AI. Maxim em...

In this episode of the Built By People Podcast, Al Crook shares his extensive career journey in human resources, highlighting the transition from a business major to HR. He discusses the current challenges in HR, particularly the rising costs of healthcare benefits, and offers insights into strategic versus non-strategic activities within HR. Al emphasizes the importance of effective communication...

Summary In this episode of the Built by People podcast, Kelly Stover shares her extensive journey in HR, discussing her diverse experiences across various industries and how they shaped her approach to human resources. She emphasizes the importance of embracing change, the value of leadership that prioritizes human connection, and the challenges faced in maintaining one's personal style in a data-...

Explore Michael's transition from law to HR and his role at the MLB Players Association. The significance of aligning HR strategies with organizational goals. The impact of financial independence on professional effectiveness. The importance of effective communication in managing organizational change. Strategies for recruiting and retaining talent in a rapidly growing union.

In this episode of the Built by People Podcast, Markus Enzner , Vice President of Total Rewards Americas at The Adecco Group, shares his career journey, highlighting the importance of early experiences, mentorship, and the challenges faced in corporate environments. He discusses the significance of making impactful changes within organizations, the necessity of empathy in decision-making, and effe...

Episode Summary What does it take to scale a company in today’s volatile market—and why is curiosity the secret leadership skill we underestimate? In this episode of Built by People , we sit down with Sinead , Chief People Officer at Guidewire Software , whose career spans decades in tech, Agile consulting, and large-scale business transformation. From founding her own tech firm in Ireland to lead...

Episode Summary What if your HR team had to operate like a profit center—would it survive? In this episode of Built by People , host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Sean Hartley , a seasoned HR executive with over 25 years of global experience, including COO roles and expat assignments in France and the Netherlands. Sean shares how stepping outside of traditional HR roles shaped his leadership philos...

Episode Summary What does it really take to lead through uncertainty—and stay true to yourself while doing it? In this episode of Built by People , host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Jessica Swank , Chief People Officer at Box, to explore her unconventional journey from recruiting to executive leadership. Jess opens up about the personal and professional turning points that shaped her path, includi...

Episode Summary What happens when a former finance executive and meditation entrepreneur steps into the role of Chief People Officer? In this episode of Built by People , host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Priti Patel , Chief People Officer at G2 , to explore her unconventional path to the C-suite and the powerful lessons she's learned along the way. From starting her career in mergers and acquisit...

Episode Summary How can HR leaders turn employee benefits into a powerful tool for culture building and talent retention? In this episode of Built by People , host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Harrison Newman , Senior Vice President at Corporate Synergies, to explore the strategic power of benefits planning. With 15+ years in the space, Harrison shares how a career that started with a Craigslist a...

Episode Summary What does it take to build a high-performing, values-driven culture across a rapidly scaling global workforce? In this episode of Built by People , host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Barbara Matthews , Chief People Officer at Remote and former HR leader at Google and Stripe. With over two decades in HR, Barbara shares hard-won lessons from the front lines of leadership—starting from...

Episode Summary What does it take to move Talent Acquisition (TA) from a back-office function to a core driver of business strategy? In this episode of Built by People , Dave D’Angelo sits down with Trent Cotton , Head of Talent Insights and Analyst Relations at ICIMS, to explore that very transformation. With 20+ years in HR across high-growth organizations and now a leader in workforce analytics...

Episode Summary What can an engineer-turned-submarine-officer teach us about the future of HR? In this episode of Built by People , host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Cary Sparrow , Founder and CEO of WageScape , to explore a career path that defies convention—and unlocks powerful leadership lessons. From leading teams on nuclear-powered submarines to building cutting-edge HR technology, Cary bring...

Episode Summary What does it take to go from entry-level HR roles to leading the function at the C-suite level—and beyond? In this episode of Built by People , host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Andrew Bartlow, a veteran HR executive with over 30 years of experience, including leadership roles at GE, Pepsi, and Wells Fargo. Now an advisor, author, and mentor, Andrew shares his journey from startup...

Episode Summary What does it take to lead HR with adaptability, resilience, and impact in today’s fast-changing world of work? In this episode of Built By People , host Dave D’Angelo welcomes Damond Fauconier , Chief Human Resources Officer at a leading credit union, for an insightful conversation on his multifaceted journey through the HR field—from training and development to navigating union ne...

Episode Summary What happens when a burned-out social worker becomes a people-first HR leader at a fast-scaling tech company? In this episode of Built By People , host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Kristin Lewandowski , VP of Talent and Recruiting at Quantum Metric , to explore her unconventional journey from clinical psychology to building a talent strategy that helped scale a company from 40 empl...

Episode Summary What happens when a mental health expert leads your people strategy? In this episode of Built by People , host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Dr. Amy Campbell , Chief People Officer with a PhD in Counseling and Clinical Supervision, to explore how psychology—not business buzzwords—can be the foundation for thriving, resilient workplaces. Amy shares her unique journey from clinician a...

Episode Summary How do we keep humanity at the heart of work as technology rapidly evolves? In this episode of Built by People , host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Yutaka Takagi , a 30-year veteran in HR and payroll technology, to explore the evolving role of tech in shaping people-centric workplaces. From early days coding DOS systems to advising global organizations on digital transformation, Yut...

Episode Summary What does it mean to lead with both empathy and decisiveness in today’s ever-evolving business environment? In this episode of Built by People , host Dave D’Angelo welcomes Brian Baker , Chief People Officer at Teneo , a global CEO and board advisory firm, for a compelling conversation on modern leadership, digital transformation, and building cultures that scale. Brian shares his...

Episode Summary How do you transform HR from the "policy police" to a trusted strategic partner—especially in a startup environment? In this episode of Built by People , Dave D’Angelo sits down with Angela Deputy , Chief Human Resources Officer and former HR leader at Walgreens, Volkswagen, and Roche Diagnostics, to explore how she’s helped scale HR from a team of three to a team of 37 while resha...