Collen McCreary, Chief People Officer at Confluent

Navigating Crisis: Colleen McCreary's Journey Through Credit Karma's Tough TimesWelcome to the Built by People Podcast, presented by Previ, where we share insights from top HR leaders. In this episode, we feature Colleen who discusses her 30-year tech career, starting in college recruiting at Microsoft, and later taking HR roles at EA and Zynga. Colleen shares her experiences at Credit Karma during the 2020 financial crisis, highlighting the strategic decision to implement pay cuts instead of layoffs, the importance of company values and transparency, and the long-term positive impacts on employee morale and business outcomes. She also provides valuable advice for HR leaders on leveraging their teams to manage workplace culture and crises effectively.00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast00:38 Meet Colleen: A Journey Through Tech and HR02:18 Navigating the 2020 Crisis at Credit Karma03:39 Strategies and Actions During Financial Crisis09:38 Impact on Company Culture and Employee Morale12:53 Key Lessons and Strategies for HR Leaders14:47 Parting Advice for HR Professionals15:41 Closing Remarks