Christina McClung, SVP of HR at Capital One

Episode SummaryWhat does it take to lead through uncertainty, rebuild a struggling team, and scale your impact across an entire organization? In this episode of Built by People, we sit down with Christina McClung, a seasoned HR executive with over 15 years at Capital One, to explore the realities of courageous leadership, strategic risk-taking, and the power of building trust in transformative environments.From relocating her family to Canada for a major leadership role to stepping into a Chief of Staff position against conventional advice, Christina shares candid stories of growth, grit, and self-belief. She outlines how focusing on team engagement before performance led to lasting results, and reveals her personal frameworks for leadership—including her four C’s and a powerful definition of grit. Whether you're an HR leader or an executive navigating your own turning points, this conversation delivers real-world wisdom on how to lead with impact and integrity.Key Timestamps[00:51] – Christina’s career journey: a winding but focused path in HR[01:38] – Relocating to Canada: tackling dysfunction and rebuilding team trust[04:29] – Why listening is a critical (but often overlooked) leadership skill[05:59] – The 4 C’s of effective leadership: Care, Candor, Courage, Collaboration[08:18] – Driving organizational growth through strategic acquisitions[09:20] – Career advice: betting on yourself and others through bold mentorship[10:40] – Christina’s G.R.I.T. framework: Growth, Resilience, Innovation, TrustTakeawaysRebuilding trust is the first step in turning around underperforming teamsListening deeply before acting creates stronger, more sustainable strategiesLeaders should embrace roles that stretch them beyond their functional expertiseThe 4 C’s—Care, Candor, Courage, and Collaboration—build authentic leadershipGrit is not just endurance, but a mix of growth, resilience, innovation, and trustMentorship can unlock potential you may not see in yourself—find those who believe in youOur SponsorPrevi is an employer network that provides private pricing for employees. Joining the Previ network allows employees to save on necessities they already pay for, such as cell phone service and insurance. Previ saves the average employee $2,200/year. ⁠Join at no cost to the company.⁠