042: Making Your Own Luck in HR with JP Elliott

From working in sales for his family's gumball machine venture as a teenager, to advising CHROs at Fortune 500 companies, JP Elliott's career is anything but linear. Sandy and JP unpack how early lessons from an entrepreneurial father and counselor mother created a powerful blend of commercial acumen and empathy, and how the mantra "one gumball at a time" became JP's lifelong playbook for perseverance.   Listeners hear how JP manufactured his early break at Taco Bell through disciplined outreach, took a risky detour into branding and licensing work with Warner Bros and Lego, and then stepped into major HR leadership roles at Lenovo, Brinks, Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney, McAfee, and in private equity. Along the way, he contrasts Chinese and U.S. leadership styles, shares what it's really like inside aggressive growth cultures, and reflects on the hits and the hard knocks.   You'll come away with practical takeaways on making your own luck, turning "detours" into future advantages, navigating misfit roles, and why serious HR leaders must think like business operators first and talent experts second. In this episode, you will hear: Building gumball machine routes as a teenager and student, and how that shaped perseverance and work ethic   Creating career breaks through proactive outreach and networking, including his pivotal Taco Bell opportunity   Corporate and global HR leadership journey   Comparing Chinese and U.S. leadership styles and what truly business-focused HR looks like   Turning career detours and difficult roles into an entrepreneurial path Connect with Sandy Ogg: Website: https://www.sandyontalent.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyogg/  X: https://twitter.com/SandyOnTalent  Instagram: @SandyOnTalent Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review," then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.