#9 Business First, People Thrive: A Modern Playbook for HR Leaders with Shayna Cooke's

In this episode of Build by People Leaders, Daria Rudnik speaks with Dr. Shayna Cook, Chief People Officer at Dominion Payroll, about what it really takes to build modern organizations where people and performance thrive together. Shayna shares her nonlinear journey from science teacher to HR executive, why HR must think like a business owner, and how to move from “accidental organizations” to intentionally designed systems. She also walks through her practical AI transformation playbook — including governance, human oversight, and the three pillars guiding adoption — and tells the surprising story of how one employee built internal AI agents that saved the company hundreds of thousands of dollars.   A grounded, practical conversation for HR leaders navigating growth, AI, and real business impact.   Company website: www.dominionpayroll.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaynacooke/   Takeaways • From science teacher to Chief People Officer — a nonlinear path that reshaped modern HR leadership. • Why HR must think like a business owner before advocating for people. • The 3-pillar AI playbook that turns transformation into measurable impact. • How building a culture of innovation unlocks unexpected employee growth and engagement. • Stop running “accidental organizations” — start designing systems where people and performance thrive.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to HR and AI Transformation 04:50 Shayna's Nonlinear Career Path 09:54 The Role of HR in Organizational Systems 14:44 AI Integration in HR 19:57 Building a Culture of AI Engagement 24:38 Advice for HR Leaders 29:30 Unexpected Outcomes of AI Implementation