Built by People Leaders

Dr. Irvine Nugent is co-founder of ConflictEQ and a former nonprofit CEO with a Ph.D. in Management who helps leaders navigate pressure and difficult conversations without losing clarity or connection. In this episode, Dr. Nugent argues that conflict is not a signal something has gone wrong—it is the natural friction of differing opinions and perspectives, and it is the fuel scaling companies need for creativity and problem-solving. He describes his own turning point as a "recovering conflict coward": a key employee quit because the team was not having the conversations it needed to have. For People leaders at companies in the 100–1,500 employee range, Dr. Nugent addresses a familiar breakdown. As headcount grows, informal communication stops working, HR teams get pulled in as the constant referee, and leadership meetings turn either performatively calm or aggressively winner-take-all. Both patterns stall the decisions high-growth companies cannot afford to delay. Challenges Addressed HR as the permanent referee: Dr. Nugent describes how People teams at scaleups burn out because managers escalate every interpersonal tension instead of handling it themselves, expecting HR to resolve conflict "out of a puff of air." Calm meetings hiding cynicism: Dr. Nugent explains that high engagement scores and agreeable leadership meetings often mask resignation—people stopped raising ideas because past attempts went nowhere, which stalls critical initiatives like AI adoption and org redesign. Two instinctive threat responses: Dr. Nugent frames conflict avoidance (freeze) and conflict aggression (fight) as untrained instincts that both create destructive patterns as the old "we're a family" culture stops scaling. Actionable Takeaways Shift People Ops from referee to capacity-builder: Dr. Nugent advises People leaders to invest in conflict-capacity training so managers can hold hard conversations themselves, rather than escalating every tension to HR. Open with pressure, not correction: When addressing a colleague's unhealthy behavior, start with "What are you overwhelmed with right now?" instead of "Your behavior is a problem." Surfacing the underlying stress opens a real conversation. Map your triggers before you regulate: Dr. Nugent recommends writing down your specific emotional triggers and the patterns that follow—for example, asking "Am I 10-angry or 4-angry?"—because self-awareness alone introduces choice and breaks automatic responses. Questions This Episode Answers How do I stop being the HR referee for every team conflict? Dr. Nugent recommends building conflict capacity across your leadership team through realistic, tension-filled training rather than staying the person who resolves every dispute. When managers develop their own skills, People teams stop being pulled in as the default fixer. My engagement scores are high but no one raises hard truths—is that a red flag? Yes. Dr. Nugent warns that surface calm often hides resignation and cynicism. If no one debates ideas in a leadership meeting at a company facing market pressure, conflict avoidance has calcified, and important decisions are stalling beneath the quiet. How do I give tough feedback to my CEO? Dr. Nugent advises learning how the executive prefers to consume information, pre-framing your feedback with genuine concern for the organization, and accepting short-term discomfort. The truth may not land immediately, but it holds weight over time when events prove it out. Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Dr. Irvine Nugent on LinkedIn, where he shares educational conflict-management resources ConflictEQ website with a free conflict-response assessment: https://www.conflicteq.com/ 

Michael K. Cobb, Founder and CEO of ECI Development, has run three fully remote businesses across Central America for 30 years: a mortgage bank in Belize, an international real estate development company, and a teak timber operation in Panama that started with 100 acres planted in 1999 and now runs its own sawmill. His single biggest argument for scaling People teams: leadership and management are different jobs, and most growing organizations must deliberately build management infrastructure even when founders resist it. For scaleups in the 100–1,500 employee tier, informal information sharing—the water cooler, the coffee pot—breaks down as headcount grows and leadership can no longer oversee everything directly. Michael Cobb built remote protocols to replace those channels long before COVID, starting with fax machines in the mid-1990s. He explains how People leaders rebuild connection and trust when co-location is no longer the glue. Challenges Addressed Losing informal communication in remote scaleups: Michael Cobb explains that remote and high-growth companies lose the informal "water cooler" network that co-located offices rely on, and must replace it with deliberate structure. Founders resisting management structure: Michael Cobb assumed autonomy always drives satisfaction, but morale rose when he hired a Chief Operating Officer in the early-to-mid 2000s to add management structure. HR seen only as a problem-surfacer: Michael Cobb describes how People teams struggle to earn executive trust when they only bring problems to leadership rather than offering to help. Actionable Takeaways Make remote connection an institution, not an accident: Require cameras on for every Zoom meeting and fund regular in-person gatherings so senior teams get the informal exchange that formal agendas miss. Calibrate management structure to each person: Some employees want autonomy and others want direction; hire managers who can read where each person sits on that spectrum and give them the right amount of structure. Open HR conversations with "How can I be more helpful to you?": Michael Cobb says this question earns immediate attention from leadership because most people arrive with problems, not offers of support. Questions This Episode Answers How do you replace water cooler conversations in a remote company? Michael Cobb rebuilds informal networks through deliberate protocols: mandatory camera-on Zoom meetings, company-funded in-person gatherings, and both formal HR and informal "mother hen" support roles. He argues connection must be intentional because it no longer happens automatically. What is the difference between leadership and management? Michael Cobb defines leadership as inspiring people and forecasting future needs, and management as providing the structure that helps employees do their jobs. He says most growing organizations need dedicated management infrastructure, and that founders often confuse the two roles. How can HR build trust with business leadership? Michael Cobb recommends that HR leaders proactively engage executives and ask how they can help, rather than only surfacing problems. He notes that HR combines hard functions (payroll, recruiting, vacation tracking) with the softer, high-trust work of supporting employees through interpersonal and emotional challenges. Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Michael K. Cobb on LinkedIn Michael K. Cobb's website: michaelkcobb.com Book: How to Buy Your Home Overseas and Get It Right the First Time (available on Amazon)

Nathaniel Sietz is an HR professional who built an entire People function from scratch as the only HR Manager at a logistics company that had no HR infrastructure. In this episode of Built by People Leaders, Nate introduces The 91st Day framework—a practical way to keep onboarding and culture-building going beyond the standard 90-day probation period. Ironically, that’s exactly when most companies stop investing in new hires, even though it’s also when many people decide to leave. He published the framework under the name Nate Hill. Nate talks about the challenges People teams face as companies grow: onboarding that ends after the first week, managers who push back on structure because “things change too fast,” and acquisitions that create rumors and uncertainty, leading to preventable turnover. For companies that have outgrown informal communication and where leaders can’t keep track of everything themselves anymore, Nate explains how to replace ad hoc ways of working with simple, consistent people practices that scale. Challenges Addressed Onboarding that stops at day 90: Nate Hill explains how companies spend roughly $20,000 to hire one person, then withdraw cultural attention after probation—forcing repeat spend when new hires leave inside the three-month window. Trust erosion during acquisitions and rapid growth: Nate Hill describes employees updating resumes and crying in his office over layoff rumors, and how leadership distraction with new departments left the core team feeling left behind. Managers without an onboarding framework: Nate Hill addresses the gap where managers own onboarding but lack a structured plan, defaulting to one-week classroom orientations instead of month-long integration. Actionable Takeaways Co-design a month-long onboarding plan with each manager: Sit down with the hiring manager to build a role-specific 30-day timeline instead of using a generic company template. Secure manager buy-in so the plan is followed, not filed away. Run 30-, 60-, and 90-day self-evaluations for employees and managers: Use these surveys to catch onboarding failures before the three-month attrition window. A downward trend signals it is time to rebuild that manager's onboarding plan. Translate HR issues into leadership's own language: Reframe turnover, meeting time, and disengagement as financial cost for money-focused executives. Bring survey data and cost breakdowns as proof rather than subjective opinion. Questions This Episode Answers Why do new hires quit right after the probation period? Nate Hill explains that culture and manager attention often stop at day 90, so employees who impressed early feel forgotten once they are "safe." Most resignations happen around the three-month mark, which is why Nate Hill pushes companies to sustain support into the 91st day. How do you keep employees calm during an acquisition or rapid growth? Nate Hill recommends direct, top-down reassurance: he organized an all-hands meeting where the CEO personally told staff their jobs were safe, because rumors spread faster than management can contain them. Hearing it from the owner rebuilt trust that middle-layer messaging could not. How does HR earn trust with a skeptical executive team? Nate Hill positions HR as a partner, not a subordinate, and explicitly requests trust during interviews. He uses industry-specific analogies—like a surgeon showing up drunk to the OR as a "never do moment"—to make policy decisions land with leaders who don't think in HR terms. Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Nate Hill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielsietz/  The 91st Day by Nate Hill — available on Kindle (Amazon) and hardcover (Barnes & Noble): www.the91stday.com 

Maria Kolesnikoff spent 20 years across every HR function—recruitment, compensation, organizational design, and change management—before becoming head of talent management at the corporate investment business unit of a large bank, and now works as an ICF PCC coach. In this episode of Built by People Leaders with Daria Rudnik, Maria Kolesnikoff argues that effective learning and development must be built as infrastructure across performance management, compensation, succession planning, and recruitment—not delivered as one-touch training events that end when people leave the room. The friction Maria Kolesnikoff unpacks matters most for People teams in the 100–1,500 employee range, where informal oversight breaks down and standalone programs stop working. Content-only training covers learning but skips practice and feedback, so behavior never changes. Maria Kolesnikoff shows how systemic incentives—not entertainment—push people out of their comfort zone and make new behaviors stick. Challenges Addressed Training that delivers content but no behavior change: Maria Kolesnikoff explains that content-focused programs only cover learning, leaving out the practice and feedback that the full development cycle requires. Low buy-in and disengagement in talent programs: After running a talent program for one year at her banking organization, Maria Kolesnikoff found weak engagement because stakeholders were never involved in the design. The HR–business language gap: Maria Kolesnikoff notes that most HR and L&D professionals speak in behaviors and psychology, while leaders respond to numbers and business outcomes. Actionable Takeaways Embed development into promotion and compensation criteria: Maria Kolesnikoff redesigned her banking program so candidates needed set study hours, assessment scores, strong talent reviews, an identified successor, and evidence of sharing expertise—all tied to bonus and promotion eligibility. Use design thinking to co-create programs: Interview representatives from every stakeholder group—business units, HR functions, leaders, and participants. People advocate for programs built from their own ideas. Engage stakeholders horizontally and vertically at the design stage: Involve peer HR functions and business units alongside leaders and leaders-of-leaders before launch, so the whole system supports the change. Questions This Episode Answers Why does our leadership training never change behavior? Maria Kolesnikoff explains that content-based training covers only learning and skips practice and feedback. Behavior change requires systemic infrastructure—performance management, compensation, and incentives—that pushes people beyond their comfort zone and rewards new habits until they become the default. How do I get buy-in from stakeholders on a new L&D program? Maria Kolesnikoff recommends design thinking: interview business leaders, HR peers, and participants during the design phase and build the program from their input. People support programs built on their own ideas, which raises engagement and adoption. Does gamification or edutainment make training more effective? Maria Kolesnikoff argues that edutainment masks the real problem of low motivation. Instead of entertaining participants, clarify the personal and career benefits of the program and build systems that make participation advantageous.   Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Maria Kolesnikoff on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-kolesnikoff/  Maria Kolesnikoff's website: https://www.yourwayup.coach/  

Rachel Sutherland is SVP of People & Operations at Respondology, a 50-person venture-backed SaaS company, and she builds HR functions from the ground up at high-growth startups. In this episode of Built by People Leaders, Rachel Sutherland argues that the hardest part of scaling is forcing the founding executive team to stop making every decision and instead build a trusted middle layer that can act without them—her core lens on the startup-to-scaleup transition. Rachel Sutherland reached people leadership through an unconventional route: an English literature degree, 10 years in publishing, entrepreneurship running brick-and-mortar businesses, then seven years building people functions in startup incubators. The friction she unpacks is specific to companies where founders can no longer sit in every room. Rachel Sutherland calls this "brain dumping" onto a new leadership layer—aligning them, then trusting them to make decisions that may not match how the executive would have done it. Challenges Addressed Delegating decision authority: Rachel Sutherland describes the angst executives feel when they push decisions to a new leadership layer and must accept choices that are business-aligned but not exactly their own. Executive hiring risk: Rachel Sutherland treats executive hires as the highest-stakes decisions in a scaleup, where a wrong hire becomes a six-month mistake that damages a small leadership team. Stage-specific ceilings: Rachel Sutherland explains how early employees who excel at "zero to one" often cannot carry the company through "one to two," forcing hard layering or exit conversations. Actionable Takeaways Design incentives before headcount: Rachel Sutherland supports revenue by building compensation and KPI structures that motivate people to hit targets, and by keeping teams lean so capital funds growth instead of avoidable layoffs. Ask every colleague what they do: At Respondology, new hires spend 15 minutes with each person to learn the business. Rachel Sutherland uses this same curiosity to spot gaps and overlaps before making org design decisions. Be an advocate and a truth-teller: Rachel Sutherland builds board and executive trust by fighting for their compensation annually while also delivering hard feedback when leaders get in their own way—never acting as a "yes person." Questions This Episode Answers How do I get founders to delegate decisions as we scale? Rachel Sutherland recommends aligning a trusted leadership layer with business objectives, then accepting decisions that differ from how the executive would have made them. The executive's job is to reinvent their own value rather than remain the single point of approval. How does HR actually support revenue in a venture-backed company? Rachel Sutherland focuses on incentive design, executive compensation, and lean org structures so people work on high-impact tasks, not busy work. This lets revenue fund growth instead of covering an inflated headcount. How do I know when an early employee has hit their ceiling? Rachel Sutherland says the ceiling is usually obvious; the hard part is deciding whether to layer someone with a new hire above them or move them on. She frames it as a stage mismatch, not a failure. Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Rachel Sutherland on LinkedIn

Katherine Hawkins-Jones is Chief People Officer at a UK-based motor insurance company and founder of the People Experience Consultancy PeopleScape. She entered HR from retail and hospitality management, completed her CIPD qualifications, and built over two decades of experience across insurance, financial services, automotive, retail, hospitality, and education — specializing in change and transformation. In this episode, Katherine explains the Bridge Builders model: a system of self-selected, trained employee advocates who launch and sustain internal communities using a shared playbook. The core friction Katherine unpacks is what happens as a company scales past the point where informal "water cooler" connection holds it together. In a 100–1,500 person organization, junior and newer employees lose visibility to leadership and access to projects, and community initiatives die without structure. Katherine argues that the People team is uniquely positioned to fix this, using its cross-department "aerial view" to connect people who would never otherwise meet. Challenges Addressed Informal networks break down as headcount grows: Katherine Hawkins-Jones describes how "water cooler" collisions that once sparked connection and innovation stop scaling once a company spreads across multiple offices and remote workers. Leadership can no longer oversee every relationship directly, so connection needs deliberate structure. Junior and newer employees get locked out: Katherine shares her own early-career experience of being excluded from working groups and projects, a pattern that repeats for new starters and recently transferred staff who lack access and leadership visibility. Community initiatives die from lack of structure: Katherine explains that most workplace communities fail because they are launched for the wrong reasons, try to please everyone, and receive no sustained investment, agenda, or scheduled time. Actionable Takeaways Appoint self-selected Bridge Builders: Identify natural connectors who volunteer, then train them on your platform tools (Microsoft Teams, Slack), communication, and event planning. Never conscript people, because forced participation kills the organic energy that sustains a community. Block calendar time, like Deal Days: Katherine's "Drop Everything and Learn" (DLD) program schedules learning time directly in diaries with structured comms and shared collision points. Put the time in the calendar rather than trusting that people will find it. Run an opt-in access system like "Me Please": Create a channel where employees raise their hand for upcoming projects and initiatives. Katherine's "Me Please" group gave underrepresented staff a simple way to say yes to opportunities that were previously invisible to them. Questions This Episode Answers How do we keep workplace communities alive as we scale past 100 employees? Katherine Hawkins-Jones says communities survive through patience, investment, diligence, and consistency, not instant results. Assign trained Bridge Builders, set agendas, send pre-meeting thinking points, and monitor conversation quality rather than chasing member counts. How big should an internal community be before it stops working? Katherine argues that depth beats size: once a group grows too large, conversation quality erodes and psychological safety drops. She recommends smaller, focused communities united under one organizational identity rather than one group that serves nobody well. Can remote and hybrid teams build genuine community without an office? Yes. Katherine's Women in Insurance Network runs as a hybrid group connecting Bristol offices, Newcastle offices, and home workers. She stresses that technology builds meaningful connection when used deliberately, making hybrid formats more inclusive of parents, carers, and those with health or travel constraints. Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Katherine Hawkins-Jones on LinkedIn PeopleScape website and free organizational health check diagnostic tool 

Greta Stahl, Vice President of Organizational Learning and Development at Workday, ran the largest L&D program in the company's 20-year history: Everyday AI, which reached over 85% monthly AI adoption (a 40%+ jump from baseline) and conservatively saved more than 600,000 hours. Greta structured that program on a three-part framework—Mindset, Skill Set, and Habits—and her central argument is that AI delivers value only when organizations redesign roles and embed tools into core workflows, not bolt them onto old processes. For People and L&D teams in scaling companies, the friction Greta unpacks is concrete: AI gives employees time back, but without clear role design, that time gets reinvested in more low-value busywork instead of strategy, collaboration, and relationship building. Greta details how Workday re-architected its own L&D roles to move people from content execution toward business consulting—proving the shift can be a win for both the business and the people doing the work. Challenges Addressed AI creating busywork instead of capacity: Greta Stahl explains that employees who get time back from AI often fill it with more repeatable, low-value work unless their roles are deliberately redesigned to focus on high-value tasks. Bolt-on tools that fail to deliver ROI: Greta cites research showing only 27% of organizations embed AI into core workflows; the rest run standalone tools that never produce the business value they expect. Atrophying human skills: As employees spend more of the day working with AI agents, Greta warns that interpersonal skills like relationship building and candid communication can depreciate without intentional investment from HR and L&D. Actionable Takeaways Run role redesign with your business partners: Sit down with a business leader this week to map a single workflow—which parts AI handles, which parts the person handles, and where reclaimed time gets reinvested in high-value work. Build the Mindset, Skill Set, Habits structure: Activate mindset through events (Greta's team ran "Prompt-a-thons"), grow skills with a single learning destination, and build habits through personal goals and usage dashboards employees track themselves. Measure quality outcomes, not speed: Track quality of hire in recruiting, forecast accuracy in finance, and time reinvested into collaboration—not transaction volume—to prove whether AI is actually delivering value. Questions This Episode Answers How do I get my organization to actually adopt AI instead of ignoring the tools? Greta Stahl's Everyday AI program at Workday hit 85%+ monthly adoption by combining mindset-activation events, a digital academy with gamification, and habit-building activations like personal goals and usage dashboards. The program treated adoption as behavior change, not a one-time rollout. Why aren't we seeing ROI from the AI tools we bought? Greta points to two failures: most companies bolt AI onto old processes rather than embedding it into core workflows (only 27% succeed at integration), and they don't enable people to use the tools effectively. Both the workflow design and the human enablement have to be right. What skills should I be developing as AI takes over more tasks? Greta defines the core skills as judgment (knowing when to override AI and apply responsible AI principles), creativity and complex problem solving, and interpersonal skills like relationship building and candid communication. She stresses that interpersonal skills need deliberate investment because they can fade with heavy AI use. Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Greta Stahl on LinkedIn

Dom Dib is Head of Human Resources at 'Maplewave', a technology firm that won the Digital Nova Scotia Talent Champion Award and recognition as one of the best places to work in Atlantic Canada. Dom runs a two-person HR team supporting a globally distributed workforce across Canada, South Africa, and the Middle East, and his core operating principle is "Continuous Curiosity" — a company value that drives both product innovation and how his team adopts AI. After 20 years in HR, starting in retail sales management, Dom treats automation as a way to remove administrative load so the team can focus on strategy. This episode addresses the friction point People leaders hit between 100 and 1,500 employees: informal communication stops working, leadership can no longer oversee everything directly, and a small People team must scale culture and decision-making without scaling headcount. Dom Dib explains the specific systems 'Maplewave' built to solve this with two people. Challenges Addressed Scaling a lean People team across borders: Dom Dib runs HR for a globally distributed company with only two people, requiring standardized processes and intentional connectivity instead of in-office proximity. Preserving culture and psychological safety in remote/hybrid setups: 'Maplewave' lost natural in-person connection during the COVID transition and had to rebuild it deliberately across time zones. Keeping human judgment in AI-assisted talent decisions: Dom Dib stresses that AI at 'Maplewave' produces recommendations only, and personal employee data is never fed into AI systems for assessment. Actionable Takeaways Map behavioral interview questions to each core value: For "Continuous Curiosity," Dom Dib's team asks candidates how they stay current with technology and whether they use AI in their work, so cultural fit is measured, not assumed. Automate 30/60/90-day check-ins for both sides: 'Maplewave' sends automated survey links to new hires and managers on each milestone, then uses AI to analyze sentiment on satisfaction, psychological safety, and onboarding gaps. This surfaces relationship and training gaps without manual tracking. Build AI learning paths from de-identified role data: Have leaders map skills and competencies per role, then let AI recommend training against those gaps. Dom Dib confirms 'Maplewave' uses only role-based data, never personal employee data, and advises checking privacy laws first. Questions This Episode Answers How do you scale HR across multiple countries with a tiny team? Dom Dib relies on process standardization and rollout so every location knows the same values, tools, and processes. 'Maplewave' also assigns intentional connectivity work to keep distributed teams aligned, a practice that became critical during COVID. How can you use AI in talent development without violating privacy laws? At 'Maplewave', leaders first map role competencies, and AI recommends training only against that de-identified, role-based data. Dom Dib advises checking your jurisdiction's privacy laws before deploying AI in any talent assessment or screening. How do you get leaders to buy into HR initiatives? Dom Dib leads by giving the end result and ROI first, then explaining the work, rather than telling the full story upfront. He frames HR as a partner that enables leaders, defining its own success by the success of leaders and employees. Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Dom Dib on LinkedIn 'Maplewave' website: www.maplewave.com   

Ted Forbes, co-author of Making HR Matter: What CEOs Want and How to Deliver It, spent 25 years running HR functions at companies ranging from United Airlines (85,000 employees) to the startup Cotopaxi (70 to 300 employees). Ted introduces the "Relevant HR" framework and income statement thinking—a method that connects every people decision directly to EBITDA and cash flow. Ted started in consulting on merger integration before moving into HR at Capital One after the 1991 downturn. For People teams in scaling companies, Ted addresses the moment when HR can no longer justify its work by activity alone. As headcount grows, leadership demands proof that talent, development, and well-being spend moves financial outcomes. Ted explains how to translate HR work into the numbers executives already track. Challenges Addressed CEO expectations are capped by past experience: Ted Forbes explains that if a CEO's prior HR was tactical and compliance-focused, that becomes the ceiling for what they expect from the People function. Activity over outcomes: HR leaders struggle to justify development and well-being investment because they report training attendance instead of results like sales improvement or EBITDA impact. Expensive hires made blind: Forbes describes how technical hiring decisions get made without visibility into their effect on company-wide bonus and EBITDA metrics, and how HR sits isolated from FP&A. Actionable Takeaways Apply income statement thinking: Map every HR initiative to a line on the income statement. If a People program has no connection to the financials, Ted Forbes advises questioning whether the work should continue. Build a fixed labor cost metric: Bundle salary, benefits, relocation, bonuses, and perks into one number reported monthly against a ±2% tolerance. Ted used this to make hiring decisions transparent to the CEO and CTO. Identify growth drivers with a modified nine-box: Plot employees by cultural role modeling against economic value creation. Ted invests differentially in the upper-right quadrant—typically 15–20% of staff who open markets, design products, or improve distribution.   Questions This Episode Answers How do I connect leadership development ROI to financial outcomes at a scaleup? Ted Forbes recommends income statement thinking: tie each program to a financial line item and measure outcomes, not attendance. He invests more in the 15–20% of employees who drive economic value while maintaining baseline development for everyone else. What metrics should HR report in monthly business reviews for a high-growth company? Ted built a single fixed labor cost metric—salary, benefits, relocation, bonuses, and perks combined—tracked monthly against a ±2% target. One aggregated line lets executives see how people spend affects EBITDA. What financial literacy does an HR leader need when scaling from 100 to 1,000 employees? Ted Forbes advises building a relationship with FP&A and requesting walkthroughs of the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. He stresses using the right outcome-focused numbers, not vanity metrics. Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Ted Forbes on LinkedIn: search "Ted Forbes"  Making HR Matter: What CEOs Want and How to Deliver It (200 pages) — available on Amazon

In this episode of Built by People Leaders, host Daria Rudnik sits down with Ed Howard, founder of One Breath Leadership and author of the One Breath Leadership book and app. Ed spent 20 years as a global compliance executive in investment banking before combining that high-stakes corporate experience with three decades of Zen training to create practical micro-recovery tools for corporate skeptics. Together, they break down how sustained stress physically alters our cognitive state, and how people leaders can help executives maintain decision quality, emotional regulation, and sanity without needing hours out of their packed calendars. Challenges Addressed The Stress Hijack: How the physiological threat response silently alters a leader's perception, causing intelligent, values-driven people to narrow their honesty and miss critical signals. The Failure of Standard Wellness: Why traditional corporate mindfulness programs fail when they are simply bolted onto a high-speed culture that actively rewards hustle, speed, and reaction over reflection. Email Apnea: The physical habit of holding your breath when opening stressful inbox messages, and how this oxygen-starved state reduces an executive's day-to-day effectiveness by 30-40%. Actionable Micro-Habits for Leaders The One-Breath Rule: Demystifying meditation by stripping it down to the bare bones—breath, mind, and attention—to switch the brain out of "cognitive wheel-spinning." Trigger-Based Habit Stacking: How to spread micro-recovery throughout a 12-hour day by anchoring a single deep breath to existing operational triggers like opening a laptop, sitting at a desk, or getting into an elevator. The Professional Athlete Model: Shifting the executive culture from performative, fear-based busyness to a high-performance framework where recovery is valued just as much as performance.   Links & Resources Mentioned: Connect with Ed Howard on LinkedIn Learn more about the book and app at One Breath Leadership

In this episode of the Built by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Marina Morgan, fractional strategy leader, executive facilitator, and founder of AIQ Impact, about why successful transformation depends less on technology and more on human and organizational readiness. Marina shares insights from her journey across corporate leadership in Russia and her transition to entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley, where she now builds the AIQ framework for measuring how prepared organizations are for AI adoption. The conversation explores how leadership mindset shapes organizational culture, why strategy cycles are shrinking in the age of AI, and how companies must rethink adaptability as a core capability. Marina also reflects on the challenges of scaling organizations in a non-linear environment, the importance of aligning executives around execution rather than planning, and why enjoyment and neurophysiological well-being are essential for creativity, resilience, and sustainable performance in fast-changing systems. Takeaways AI transformation success depends on human readiness, not technology. Even the best tools fail if employees and leaders are not aligned in behavior, mindset, and adoption. Organizational culture is a direct reflection of leadership mindset. Founders and top leaders shape how strategy is executed far more than any formal HR system or structure. Strategy cycles are collapsing due to AI-driven speed. Companies have moved from 5-year plans to real-time, data-driven decision-making, making adaptability a core leadership skill. HR and strategy must be tightly connected to business KPIs. Influence comes from linking people initiatives directly to revenue, market position, and operational outcomes. AI is reshaping identity at both individual and organizational levels. Professionals and companies must continuously redefine roles, capabilities, and direction in a rapidly shifting environment. Enjoyment is a performance driver, not a luxury. Psychological well-being directly impacts creativity, resilience, and cognitive flexibility needed for adaptation and growth. https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinamorgan-sf aiqimpact.com

In this episode of the Built by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Anastasia Minko, Senior HR Project Manager at Smart Europe, about how HR leadership changes across cultures, industries, and stages of company growth. Drawing from her experience in global corporations, fast-growing tech companies, and German organizations, Anastasia shares practical insights on navigating complexity in international HR, building systems that support business growth, and why leadership culture matters more than processes alone. The conversation explores the differences between German and Russian management cultures, the role of HR in creating business structure without overcomplicating processes, and why leadership behavior during difficult moments shapes employees far more than formal policies. Anastasia also reflects on coaching, organizational maturity, psychological safety, and how leaders can create environments where disagreement stays productive rather than personal. Takeaways Strong leadership is revealed in how managers handle mistakes. Employees recover and grow faster when leaders treat mistakes as solvable problems instead of personal failures. Professional disagreement creates stronger organizations than personal conflict. Healthy cultures allow leaders to challenge ideas without attacking individuals or damaging trust. HR maturity shows up when leaders no longer question the need for people systems. In mature organizations, performance management, pay structures, and leadership development are viewed as business infrastructure, not HR bureaucracy. Organizational culture is shaped less by slogans and more by everyday leadership behavior. The way managers react under pressure becomes the real culture employees experience. International HR becomes easier when leaders focus on human similarities before cultural stereotypes. Understanding people first creates better collaboration across countries and teams. Leadership development delivers the most value when connected to real business feedback. Coaching works best when it reflects actual employee experience and organizational realities, not abstract self-improvement goals. https://de.smart.com/de/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasia-minko/

In this episode of the Built by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Chris Farr, Operations Executive at Invision Technologies, about leadership, organizational growth, and how HR can become a true operational partner during periods of rapid change and AI transformation. Drawing from his experience leading teams in the MSP and technology space, Chris shares practical insights on scaling businesses without losing culture, building trust during uncertainty, and why communication is the foundation of effective leadership. The conversation explores how HR supports growth far beyond hiring — through onboarding, process building, coaching leaders through difficult conversations, and helping organizations maintain alignment during constant change. Chris also discusses the importance of leaders listening to employees instead of making decisions in isolation, and why trust must be built long before companies face restructuring, mergers, or other difficult transitions. Takeaways Trust must exist before organizations go through change — employees accept uncertainty more easily when leadership credibility is already established. HR creates the most value when it helps scale culture, communication, and operational consistency during growth. Leaders make better decisions when they stay close to frontline employees instead of operating in isolation. Successful AI adoption starts with improving employee efficiency and reducing repetitive work, not replacing people. Companies need clear AI governance and employee education to avoid security, compliance, and operational risks. AI transformation is ultimately a leadership and communication challenge as much as a technology challenge. www.invtech.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-farr-409b3585/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 01:08 Chris Farr's Leadership Journey 01:58 The Role of HR in Organizational Growth 03:15 Strategic Support from HR 04:25 Shared Responsibility for Company Culture 04:55 Successful HR Partnerships 06:07 Collaboration Between HR and Business Leaders 06:56 Finding Balance in HR Leadership 08:18 The Essence of Great Leadership 09:36 Learning from Leadership Experiences 10:31 Navigating Change in Fast-Growing Companies 11:05 Supporting Employees Through Change 12:25 Handling Uncertainty and Transparency 14:58 AI's Impact on Workplaces 16:01 AI as a Tool for Efficiency 17:52 AI Adoption in Organizations 20:19 The Role of AI Officers 22:17 HR's Role in AI Transformation 24:04 Building AI Governance 25:01 Rapid Fire Questions and Conclusion

In this episode of the Built by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with John Pezoulas, co-founder and managing partner of Ready Set Exec, about the realities of executive hiring in startups and scaling companies. With from more than 20 years in recruitment and executive search, John shares why recruiting is ultimately about helping people find opportunities where they can succeed — not just filling roles. The conversation explores how startups often overhire for titles they don’t actually need yet, why great recruiters rely more on curiosity and research than industry background alone, and how executive turnover can quietly damage business momentum and team trust. John also explains why founders need to balance ambition with realistic compensation, how employer branding became essential for attracting senior talent, and why companies should treat recruitment as a long-term culture-building exercise rather than a transactional process. Takeaways Strong recruiters succeed because they learn fast, not because they already know every industry. Curiosity, research, and the ability to deeply understand a business matter more than starting as a subject-matter expert. Startups often hire for aspirational titles instead of current business needs. A company may not need a C-level executive yet — sometimes a strong director plus fractional leadership creates better results at an earlier stage. Executive turnover creates hidden operational costs beyond replacement fees. Every leadership change disrupts trust, team dynamics, decision-making speed, and institutional knowledge across the company. Employer branding is no longer optional for startups hiring senior talent. Candidates increasingly evaluate founders’ visibility, company reputation, and online presence before considering high-risk opportunities. Recruitment is fundamentally a culture-building function. Every leadership hire reshapes how teams collaborate, communicate, and perform together over time. https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/ readysetexec.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Recruitment and Career Paths 02:22 The Satisfaction of Recruitment 05:38 Understanding the Role of Recruiters 06:27 The Importance of Industry Knowledge 10:09 Consultation and Strategy in Executive Search 14:29 Navigating Startup Hiring Challenges 20:01 Retention of Executive Leaders 23:50 The Cost of Turnover in Leadership 26:52 Onboarding and Team Dynamics 27:50 Job Market Predictions for 2026

In this episode of the Built by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Jason Aydelott, Fractional Chief Learning Officer and L&D strategist, about how Learning & Development can evolve from a cost center into a measurable business driver. Drawing on over 25 years of experience, Jason explains why most L&D functions struggle to prove impact—and how shifting from content creation to performance consulting changes everything. The conversation explores how to align learning initiatives with real business KPIs, why measurement should not start with tools but with design, and how L&D leaders can influence decision-making by asking better questions instead of pushing solutions. Jason also shares a practical example of redesigning onboarding to cut training time in half while doubling speed to proficiency. The episode also dives into the future of work in the age of AI—how organizational structures are flattening, why individual contributors are becoming managers of AI agents, and why “soft skills” should be reframed as critical human skills that drive business outcomes. Takeaways L&D proves its value when it starts with business KPIs, not training needs. ROI becomes clear when learning is directly tied to performance metrics like revenue, CSAT, or time to proficiency. Measurement doesn’t fix bad design. If learning isn’t built around real outcomes from the start, no AI tool or dashboard will make it look valuable later. Asking better questions is more powerful than pushing solutions. L&D becomes strategic when it uncovers root causes instead of blindly delivering requested training. AI won’t replace people—but it will change what “individual contributor” means. Employees will need leadership-level thinking to manage AI agents effectively. Most training fails because it focuses on content instead of practice. Real performance improvement comes from building experiences, not delivering information. You’ll also learn how AI is reshaping leadership, why “soft skills” should be redefined as human skills, and how L&D leaders can step into a strategic role within the organization.   https://jasonaydelott.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonaydelott/ 

In this episode of Built By People Leaders, Daria Rudnik sits down with Ochuko Dasimaka, Career Strategist, HR Leader, and Founder of Career Heights Consulting, to explore what it really takes to build a successful career—and lead people through complex organizational change. With experience across global companies like Shell, Amazon, Unilever, and Rio Tinto, Ochuko shares her perspective on navigating large-scale transformations, including restructurings and business closures, while maintaining trust, transparency, and dignity for employees. The conversation dives into the evolving role of HR as a strategic partner, not just a support function, and how leaders can take real ownership during difficult moments like layoffs and organizational shifts. Ochuko also brings her expertise in career coaching, sharing how professionals can take control of their career paths and position themselves for long-term growth. Key topics include: How to lead people through restructurings and layoffs with empathy Why transparency and overcommunication matter in times of change The role of HR as a strategic partner (not a “cleanup” function) How to align leadership accountability during difficult decisions Career strategy: becoming the CEO of your own career Supporting employees through transitions and redeployment https://www.linkedin.com/in/ochukodasimaka Www.careerheights.org  https://www.instagram.com/careerheights/

What happens when success is no longer enough? In this deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation, Daria Rudnik speaks with Catherine Dudtschak—former banking CEO turned Conscious Leadership Advisor—about the hidden cost of high performance and the journey toward authentic, essence-led leadership. After more than 30 years in executive leadership, Catherine shares how burnout, identity suppression, and a personal breaking point led her to redefine leadership—not as control or performance, but as integration, presence, and purpose. Together, they explore what it really takes to build human-centered organizations, why most companies still operate from fear, and how leaders can move toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and regenerative way of working. This episode is for leaders who have mastered the external game—and are ready for something deeper. Key Takeaways Sustainable leadership starts with inner integration, not external achievement. Your effectiveness as a leader is defined less by your skills and more by how aligned you are with your true self. Burnout is not caused by workload—it’s caused by misalignment. When people operate too long from roles and expectations instead of their essence, breakdown becomes inevitable. Organizations operate from two modes: fear or nurturing. Fear-driven systems create competition and fragmentation. Nurturing systems create resilience, collaboration, and long-term value. Culture transformation must be CEO-led—but HR is the amplifier. Without personal evolution at the top, cultural change remains superficial and unsustainable. Human potential cannot be measured by experience alone. True capability comes from the integration of three dimensions: essence, physical/inherited self, and lived experience. Most transformative leaders are shaped by personal crisis. Deep leadership evolution often begins when identity breaks—and a more authentic self emerges. https://sincerelykatherine.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-dudtschak-icd-d-7673a036/    Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Conscious Leadership 01:37 Catherine's Journey: From Banking to Authentic Leadership 07:51 The Importance of Embracing One's Essence 13:50 Creating Inclusive Workplaces: Real-World Examples 19:01 The Role of Leadership in Cultural Change 23:14 The Human Condition: Collaboration vs. Competition 38:54 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

In this episode of Built By People Leaders, Daria Rudnik speaks with Daniela Morein Bar, Founder of Inspired Marketing, about how employer branding has evolved into a critical growth function for modern companies. Daniela shares how her background in B2B marketing led her to build recruitment marketing systems for tech companies like Teva, HiBob, and Intel. She explains why employer branding is no longer just about messaging—but about uncovering a company’s real DNA and turning it into a structured, measurable talent acquisition engine. Together, they explore how companies can align HR and marketing, build recruitment funnels from awareness to retention, and why “controlling the narrative” is essential in a transparent digital world. Daniela also breaks down how startups and enterprises approach employer branding differently, and how AI is reshaping—but not replacing—human creativity in the process. Key Takeaways: Why employer branding is similar to product marketing Building a recruitment funnel: awareness, trust, conversion, retention The importance of company DNA and authenticity gaps How startups vs. enterprises approach talent attraction differently The role of AI in modern recruitment marketing Why retention starts before hiring A practical, strategic conversation for HR leaders, talent teams, and founders building companies in fast-changing markets.   https://www.inspiredmarketing.co.il/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielamoreinbar/    Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Employer Branding and Recruitment Marketing 03:07 The Journey of Inspired Marketing 05:54 Understanding Company DNA for Effective Branding 09:04 Tailoring Messaging for Diverse Audiences 11:56 Building Awareness and Trust in Recruitment 14:42 The Importance of Retention and Employee Advocacy 17:44 Navigating Recruitment Challenges in Startups vs Enterprises 20:31 The Role of AI in Recruitment Marketing    

In this episode of Built by People Leaders, host Daria Rudnik sits down with Jim Carlough — Leadership Identity Architect and author of The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership. With over 30 years of experience scaling organizations from $100M to $1B, Jim shares a powerful perspective: leadership isn’t about skills alone — it’s about identity. Together, they explore why most managers fail not because they lack knowledge, but because they never evolve into leaders. Jim breaks down his proven “Six Pillars” framework and explains how organizations can build strong, loyal, and high-performing teams — even in times of uncertainty and change. From reducing attrition to creating psychologically safe environments, this conversation is packed with practical insights for CEOs, HR leaders, and anyone responsible for developing talent at scale.   Key Takeaways: Why the biggest leadership gap isn’t skills — but identity, and how to bridge it How strong leadership directly reduces costly employee attrition What truly builds trust in teams (and why it’s nearly impossible to recover once lost) A practical approach to leading through layoffs while maintaining engagement and loyalty Why mentoring — not one-off training — is the most underutilized leadership development tool The six timeless leadership pillars that remain effective across generations and industries https://www.jimcarlough.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimcarlough  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Leadership Development 02:50 The Importance of Building Leaders 05:47 Corporate Culture and Leadership Responsibility 08:50 The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership 09:47 Integrity: The Cornerstone of Leadership 13:44 Compassion and Empathy in Leadership 21:43 Stability and Focus in Leadership 26:38 The Role of Humor in Leadership 29:20 Personal Insights and Rapid Fire Questions

In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Monica Duque, senior people leader and AI transformation driver, about what it really takes to build an AI-first organization. Drawing from her hands-on experience transforming a company through AI, Monica shares how HR can move from a support function to the driver of organizational change. Instead of waiting to be invited to the table, she explains why HR must lead by example — starting with its own processes, automating workflows, and proving impact through measurable results. The conversation explores how AI is reshaping not just tools, but entire organizational structures. Monica introduces the concept of “blended teams” — combining full-time employees, AI agents, and fractional experts — and explains why this model is becoming essential for modern companies. They also dive into the practical side of AI adoption: how to train non-technical teams, run internal AI challenges, and create a culture of experimentation that actually delivers ROI. Finally, Monica shares her “secret recipe” for successful AI transformation — and why the real challenge is not technology, but mindset.   Key Takeaways HR becomes a driver of AI transformation only when it builds and proves solutions itself, not when it facilitates or coordinates others. AI adoption works only through bottom-up learning — real change happens when teams experiment hands-on, not when leaders mandate it. The emerging org model is not just “AI-powered” — it’s blended teams: employees + AI agents + fractional experts working as one system. The real ROI of AI is not in tools, but in headcount leverage — the ability to scale output without scaling teams. The biggest shift is not technological but behavioral: mindset changes only when leaders actively learn and build alongside their teams.   https://www.influur.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/m%C3%B3nica-duque-est%C3%A9vez/    Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI-Ready Organizations 07:37 Measuring AI Transformation Success 16:14 Framework for AI Deployment 23:53 Mental Health and Cybersecurity in AI

In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Kurt Uhlir, CMO and growth operator, about what truly changes when companies move from startup chaos to scalable systems. Drawing from his experience scaling companies to hundreds of millions in revenue, Kurt shares why the very traits that make founders successful early on often become the bottleneck at the next stage. He explains the critical shift from directive leadership to outcome-driven, servant leadership — and why scaling requires systems, not heroics. The conversation explores how companies can introduce structure without killing speed, why documentation is not bureaucracy but a foundation for clarity, and how leaders must rethink hiring and team design as complexity grows. Kurt also shares a candid perspective on AI in organizations — why most companies are getting it wrong, what roles are actually changing, and why human judgment is becoming more important, not less. Finally, the episode dives into one of the most overlooked leadership skills: speaking the language of business. Kurt explains how misalignment in language — even in hiring — can lead to costly mistakes, and why HR and leaders must learn to translate their work into business outcomes to earn trust at the executive level. Takeaways The skills that help you reach $10–20M often become the bottleneck at scale — especially founder-driven, directive leadership. Documentation is not bureaucracy — it’s what makes teams scalable, resilient, and independent of individuals. AI doesn’t replace roles — it shifts everyone into managing systems and “teams of tools,” not just people. Curiosity is a strategic skill: without understanding investor expectations and time horizons, HR and leaders operate blindly during growth. Most leaders lose influence not because of плохие идеи, but because they can’t translate them into business outcomes. https://kurtuhlir.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtuhlir/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI-Ready Leadership 01:11 Kurt Uhlir's Nonlinear Journey to CMO 02:52 Enterprise vs. Scale-Up: Leadership Differences 06:15 The Importance of Documentation in Growth 09:41 Navigating Leadership Changes During Funding Rounds 11:46 Curiosity in Leadership: Understanding Team Dynamics 15:13 AI's Impact on Team Dynamics and Roles 18:58 The Perception of HR in AI Transformation 21:48 Speaking the Language of Business 26:55 Lost in Translation: The Importance of Clarity

In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Diana Abdrahmanova, organizational architect, strategic HR advisor, and former Head of HR, about what it really takes for HR to become a true business driver. Drawing from her experience leading HR in fast-growing companies and complex M&A environments across regions, Diana shares how the role of HR must evolve from operational support to strategic partnership. She explains why HR professionals need to stop thinking like “HR” and start thinking like business leaders — understanding financial models, market dynamics, and how companies actually make money. The conversation dives into one of the toughest parts of leadership — managing uncertainty and transformation. Diana shares practical insights on navigating acquisitions, dealing with disengaged teams, and why transparency (even when the truth is uncomfortable) is the most powerful tool leaders have. They also explore the real impact of AI on HR, shifting the function from administrative execution to organizational architecture, and discuss why many CEOs still don’t see HR as a strategic partner — and how to change that. Finally, Diana shares a powerful perspective on leadership: how HR can help CEOs become more human, more vulnerable, and ultimately more effective by engaging people instead of trying to lead alone. Key Takeaways HR only becomes strategic when it understands how the business makes money — not just how people work. In M&A, the real challenge isn’t integration — it’s negative motivation from people who didn’t choose to join you. Honest uncertainty (“we don’t know yet”) builds more trust than polished but empty communication. Great HR isn’t about retaining everyone — it’s about creating the right match between people and the system. AI doesn’t elevate HR by default — it removes admin work, shifting value to decision-making and execution. The biggest barrier between HR and the CEO is not tools, but lack of business thinking. https://dianabdrakhmanova.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianabdrakhmanova/    Chapters 00:00 Introduction to HR and AI in Leadership 02:46 Diana's Journey in HR 05:37 Transformations and Challenges in HR 08:35 Creating Engagement in Acquisitions 11:33 The Value of Transparency in HR 14:25 The Role of HR in Business Success 17:07 AI's Impact on HR 20:05 Bridging the Gap Between HR and CEOs 22:44 Final Thoughts and Surprising Trades in HR

In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Martin Beischl, VP of People & Culture, about how the role of HR evolves as startups grow into complex organizations. Drawing from his experience scaling B2B tech companies from early growth to successful exit, Martin shares how people leaders must shift from intuitive decision-making to structured, business-aligned people strategy.   The conversation explores how HR can become a true strategic partner by speaking the language of the business, simplifying processes instead of overengineering them, and protecting organizational clarity during rapid growth. Martin also shares practical insights on hiring leadership in early-stage companies, designing career paths that go beyond people management, and why many companies might be better off eliminating bonus systems entirely.   The episode also dives into the role of HR in the age of AI — not just adopting new tools, but protecting employees’ cognitive bandwidth and ensuring technology actually creates value rather than noise.   Takeaways - Process doesn’t slow companies down — bad hierarchy does. Simple, well-designed processes actually speed up decisions, while unnecessary organizational layers are what truly create bottlenecks. - HR becomes strategic when it starts solving revenue problems. Talking with leaders about ramp times, quotas, and pipeline makes HR part of business outcomes, not just people operations. - AI in HR should reduce cognitive load, not create more content. The real responsibility of HR is filtering and implementing AI tools that meaningfully simplify work. - Many bonus systems don’t drive behavior at all. When goals constantly change in scaling companies, bonuses often create confusion and stress instead of motivation.   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-martin-beischl-71058594/   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to People Leadership in Tech 03:01 The Evolution of HR in Scaling Companies 05:58 Balancing Speed and Structure in HR 08:53 Hiring Strategies in Uncertain Times 11:45 The Role of HR as Business Partners 14:49 Navigating AI in the Workplace 19:37 The Case Against Bonuses in Organizations

In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Andrew Bolton, CEO and co-founder of Tech Rescue, about one question many companies have forgotten to ask: What are we actually trying to accomplish? Andrew shares his unconventional journey from financial markets and hedge funds to building a tech-for-good company that provides real human tech support instead of automated systems. Along the way, he offers a blunt perspective on the corporate world, leadership decisions, and why many organizations have lost clarity around their real goals. The conversation dives into the role of HR in shaping companies that actually deliver results — not just perks and processes. Andrew argues that HR becomes powerful only when it is tightly connected to business outcomes and understands exactly what the organization is trying to build. They also explore the impact of AI on the workforce, why many “generalist” roles may disappear, and how professionals can stay relevant by becoming deeply specialized and using AI as an amplifier rather than a replacement. This episode is a candid and thought-provoking discussion about leadership clarity, the future of work, and why defining the goal is the first step to building any successful company. Takeaways Many organizations operate without a real goal. When companies cannot clearly state what they are trying to achieve in one sentence, hiring, culture initiatives, and strategy quickly become disconnected and ineffective. AI will compress the job market toward true expertise. As AI automates generalist tasks, professionals who cannot clearly define a specific skill or domain expertise will struggle to stay competitive. Traditional employment structures may shift toward individual expertise. With AI enabling companies to find and contract specialized talent globally, the future of work may rely less on permanent roles and more on highly skilled individuals working with companies on demand. HR’s strategic power comes from asking the right question. Instead of focusing on processes or perks, HR can reshape organizations by forcing leadership to define a clear, measurable goal — and then building the team required to achieve it. https://www.youtube.com/@TechRescueLlc  https://www.linkedin.com/company/techrescue-llc/ https://www.facebook.com/people/Tech-Rescue-Llc  https://www.instagram.com/techrescuellc/ https://x.com/TechRescuelllc  https://techrescue.io/    Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tech Rescue and Andrew Bolton 01:46 Andrew's Journey: From Finance to Tech for Good 06:00 The Role of HR in Achieving Company Goals 09:04 The Importance of Defining Goals in Business 15:49 AI's Impact on Jobs and the Future of Work 21:25 Building a People-Centric Company in an AI World

In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Traci Austin, transformational leadership strategist and founder of Elevated Talent Consulting, about what it really takes to scale organizations without losing care for people. Drawing from her unconventional career path — from building HR departments from scratch to leading nursing homes and advising trade businesses — Traci shares practical, field-tested strategies for building culture that actually lives beyond the walls. Takeaways Scaling breaks when succession is accidental. If leaders can’t move up without preparing someone to replace them, growth will eventually stall — or burn people out. Core values don’t belong in posters — they belong in interview questions. The way you design hiring conversations determines whether culture survives scale. AI won’t replace HR — but incurious HR will replace itself. Strategic advantage comes from using AI to challenge your thinking, not confirm it. Facts dissolve emotional noise. When HR anchors difficult conversations in data (impact on revenue, customers, retention), they earn a seat at the executive table. Curiosity is a strategic skill. The ability to ask better questions — of leaders, of data, of AI — is what transforms HR from tactical support into business partnership. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Transformational Leadership 02:57 The Journey into HR and Leadership 05:51 Scaling with Care: Balancing Growth and Culture 09:04 Defining and Owning Organizational Culture 11:40 Practical Hiring Strategies for Cultural Fit 14:49 AI in HR: Embracing Change and Overcoming Fear 18:03 The Role of Curiosity in HR 20:39 Tough Conversations: A Blueprint for HR Leaders

In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Oksana Lukash, People & Culture executive and fractional Chief People Officer with over 25 years of experience helping high-growth companies scale sustainably. Oksana shares practical insights on what it really means for HR to understand the business, why culture must be treated as organizational infrastructure, and how leaders can adopt AI and growth strategies without turning their companies into copies of others. The conversation explores how people leaders can balance rapid growth, limited resources, and human-centered leadership in today’s evolving workplace.   Key Takeaways Understanding the business means understanding how value is created end-to-end. HR earns credibility when it speaks the operational language of the company—not external frameworks or trends. Culture cannot be owned by HR alone. Sustainable culture exists only when every employee takes responsibility for how work gets done. AI should create capacity, not just efficiency. The real opportunity of AI is freeing people to focus on collaboration, learning, and human connection. The biggest leadership mistake is copying successful companies. Organizations perform better when they design culture, benefits, and ways of working around their own reality—not someone else’s playbook.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Oksana Lukash 00:58 Oksana's Journey into HR 03:58 Challenges in Fast-Growing Companies 05:59 Understanding Business as an HR Leader 10:23 The Role of HR in Company Culture 12:51 The CEO's Role in Culture 16:20 AI's Impact on Workplace Dynamics 24:55 Rapid Fire Questions 28:37 Lessons on Authenticity and Individuality

In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Dr. Mary C. Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy commander and executive leadership advisor. They explore how HR leaders can earn a seat at the executive table, lead organizational transformation, and leverage AI while keeping people at the center. Mary shares insights from her extensive leadership experience, emphasizing problem-solving, mentorship, and proactive involvement in both business and technology initiatives. The conversation highlights how HR directors are uniquely positioned to develop leaders, drive engagement, and even prepare for executive roles like CEO.   Key Takeaways - HR prevents problems before they escalate.Strategic HR is about creating solutions, not just managing issues. - Small gestures drive engagement. Simple recognition and personal connection can dramatically boost motivation and productivity. - HR leads the AI transformation. Technology is a tool—success comes from guiding people on how to use it effectively. - HR experience prepares you for the CEO role. Understanding people, processes, regulations, and budgets builds the foundation for strategic leadership.   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarykelly www.ProductiveLeaders.com   Chapters   00:00 Introduction to HR Leadership in Tech 02:42 The Importance of HR at the Executive Table 06:08 Earning a Seat at the Table 09:05 Transforming HR from a Reactive to a Proactive Role 11:38 The Role of HR in Employee Engagement 14:44 AI's Impact on HR and Organizational Dynamics 17:36 Leading AI Transformation in Organizations 20:42 The Skills of an HR Director as a CEO 23:45 Rapid Fire Questions and Personal Insights

In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Elena Krutova, a seasoned HR and operations leader with over 20 years of experience. Elena shares her journey from recruiter to Chief Operations Officer, highlighting the importance of human-centric leadership, integrity, and delivering tangible results. She discusses strategies for HR professionals to be true business partners, the challenges of leading transformations in both fast-growing and struggling organizations, and the role of AI as an efficiency-enhancing tool rather than a replacement for human connection. Elena also shares her advice for sustaining a successful career after 40, emphasizing persistence, confidence, and continuous learning. Takeaways HR earns a real seat at the table by delivering outcomes, not just “the right theory”. A sustainable career in fast-growing companies comes from clarity of purpose, strong values, and doing consistent “baby steps”. Moving from HR into broader operational leadership is possible when you understand how people work and can connect human, financial, legal, compliance, and process perspectives. The hardest transformations aren’t growth—they’re restoring health in struggling organizations, making fair but sometimes unpopular decisions with a “surgeon” mindset. AI should boost HR’s efficiency (policies, comms, materials) but never replace human connection. Linkedin - https://cy.linkedin.com/in/elenakrutova Company - www.voiso.com HR, leadership, business partner, AI in HR, career growth, organizational transformation, employee engagement, human resources, operations, workplace dynamics  

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

In this high-impact episode, executive coach Roshan Chander breaks down why leaders and executives get stuck in invisible decision loops that quietly limit growth, authority, and performance. Roshan explains how autopilot decision-making forms mental loops that affect leadership effectiveness, productivity, and long-term business strategy. He introduces the concept of a personal decision audit and shares practical steps leaders can take to identify patterns, build self-awareness, and move from reaction to intentional response. Through real client stories and clear frameworks, this conversation highlights how cutting decision loops can unlock clarity, confidence, and measurable business results. This episode is ideal for founders, executives, and professionals focused on leadership development, career growth, and better decision-making. Key Topics Covered: Decision-making patterns and mental loops Leadership self-awareness and personal audits Breaking autopilot behavior Executive coaching insights Productivity and performance improvement Strategic thinking and career growth Keywords: decision making, leadership, mental loops, self-awareness, personal audit, business strategy, executive coaching, productivity, decision patterns, career growth   Chapters: 00:00 Understanding Decision Loops 06:18 Identifying Personal Patterns 12:08 The Importance of Auditing Decisions 18:09 Breaking Free from Autopilot 20:27 Transformative Client Stories 22:24 Practical Steps to Cut Loops   #DecisionMaking #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #SelfAwareness #BusinessStrategy #Productivity #CareerGrowth #HighPerformance #LeadershipMindset

In this insightful episode, Dr. David Leitner explores a concept often overlooked in leadership conversations: followership. He challenges the traditional belief that leadership alone drives success and explains why followership is an active, intentional choice that plays an equally powerful role in organizational performance. Dr. Leitner breaks down the dynamic relationship between leaders and followers, emphasizing trust, mutual vision, and shared responsibility. He explains how strategic followership strengthens teamwork, improves organizational culture, and drives performance excellence. This conversation also addresses cultural biases that glorify leadership while undervaluing followership and highlights how choosing to be a follower can lead to personal fulfillment, professional growth, and long-term impact. This episode is essential listening for leaders, team members, managers, and anyone interested in personal development, servant leadership, and high-performing teams. Key Topics Covered: Leadership and followership dynamics Strategic followership in organizations Teamwork and organizational culture Mutual vision and trust building Servant leadership and energy management Personal development through followership Performance excellence and team effectiveness Keywords: leadership, followership, strategy, teamwork, organizational culture, personal development, servant leadership, energy management, mutual vision, performance excellence   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Followership 05:05 The Dynamics of Leadership and Followership 10:07 Growing Followership in Organizations 15:01 The Importance of Followership 20:04 Cultural Perspectives on Leadership and Followership 24:54 Strategic Followership and Team Dynamics 29:57 Practical Applications of Followership 35:06 Personal Insights on Followership and Energy Management 40:07 Conclusion: The Choice of Followership   #LeadershipDevelopment #Followership #Teamwork #OrganizationalCulture #ServantLeadership #PersonalGrowth #PerformanceExcellence #StrategicLeadership #WorkplaceCulture

In this powerful episode, Pavel Kovsharov shares his inspiring business journey from a corporate executive to a successful entrepreneur in the family entertainment industry. Starting his first business at just 16, Pavel reveals how entrepreneurship became his life’s calling and what led him to leave corporate life after a pivotal vacation. Pavel dives deep into the realities of building and scaling a family entertainment business, navigating global challenges like the pandemic and war, and leading teams through uncertainty. He highlights the critical role of company culture, leadership principles, and adaptability in long-term business success. This conversation also explores international expansion, market analysis, brand reputation, and personal growth as essential pillars for sustainable entrepreneurship. Whether you are a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or business leader, this episode offers practical insights on resilience, leadership, and building businesses that last. Key Topics Covered: Entrepreneurship and early business mindset Transition from corporate executive to entrepreneur Building and scaling a family entertainment business Overcoming business challenges and global crises Leadership principles and company culture International expansion and market adaptability Brand building and long-term personal growth Keywords: entrepreneurship, business journey, family entertainment, company culture, leadership principles, international expansion, overcoming challenges, personal growth, market analysis, adaptability Chapters: 00:00 Pavel’s Entrepreneurial Journey Begins 07:33 Building a Family Entertainment Empire 11:08 Overcoming Challenges in Business 15:56 Expanding Internationally 23:52 Creating a Positive Company Culture 30:26 Leadership Principles and Lessons 35:54 Adapting to Change in a Dynamic World   #Entrepreneurship #BusinessJourney #FamilyEntertainment #LeadershipDevelopment #CompanyCulture #InternationalBusiness #StartupLife #BusinessGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #FounderStories

In this episode, Sebastian Gerhardt, founder of Flee, shares his entrepreneurial journey and deep insights into improving developer experience in modern software organizations. He explains why developer productivity cannot be measured by output alone and how organizational structure, team culture, and feedback systems play a critical role in engineering success. The conversation explores how CTOs and engineering leaders can identify friction points, foster open communication, and build high performing teams, especially in remote and distributed work environments. Sebastian Gerhardt also shares practical advice for adapting engineering management practices to the future of work. Key Topics Covered Developer experience and productivity in software teams Why output based metrics fail engineering teams Team culture and psychological safety Feedback systems and survey driven insights Organizational structure and engineering management Remote work and the future of software development LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastiangerhardt/ helloflea.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/helloflea #DeveloperExperience #EngineeringLeadership #CTO #SoftwareDevelopment #TeamCulture #RemoteWork #EngineeringManagement #Productivity #FutureOfWork

In this powerful episode, Davidson Oturu shares hard-earned insights from years of working with startups and first-time CEOs. He breaks down why having a great idea is not enough to run a successful business and highlights the most common mistakes new CEOs make in execution, operations, and financial management. David emphasizes the importance of understanding core business principles, building a leadership team with complementary skills, and defining company culture from day one. He also explores the critical relationship between CEOs and boards, the importance of aligning vision with stakeholder expectations, and why leadership must be treated as a continuous learning journey. This episode is essential listening for founders, first-time CEOs, and startup leaders aiming to build sustainable, high-performing companies. Key Topics Covered Common mistakes made by first-time CEOs Why ideas alone do not build successful businesses Business strategy and execution fundamentals Team building and leadership composition Company culture and long-term success CEO and board alignment Leadership development in startups LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsonoturu/ #StartupAdvice #FirstTimeCEO #LeadershipDevelopment #CompanyCulture #StartupSuccess #BusinessStrategy #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #FounderLeadership

In this insightful episode, Simon Mulder shares his journey from software engineering to becoming a global HR leader. He explores how leadership styles evolve across large corporations and fast growing scale-ups, the real challenges behind mergers and acquisitions, and why many organizations struggle with integration and alignment. Simon Mulder also draws powerful parallels between parenting and leadership, emphasizing transparency, adaptability, and long-term thinking. From corporate culture to continuous learning and strategic decision-making, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders navigating the future of work. Key Topics Covered HR leadership and organizational development Corporate culture in scale-ups vs large enterprises Leadership styles across growth stages Mergers and acquisitions challenges Parenting principles applied to leadership Continuous learning and future-ready organizations LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonmulder/?originalSubdomain=nl #HRLeadership #CorporateCulture #FutureOfWork #LeadershipDevelopment #ScaleUps #MergersAndAcquisitions #OrganizationalDevelopment #ContinuousLearning #StrategicLeadership #PeopleLeadership

In this episode, Veiko Valkiainen explores the concept of self-managed organizations and how they are reshaping leadership, decision-making, and workplace culture. The conversation breaks down the principles of self-management, the role of Holacracy, and why clear role boundaries are critical for success. We dive deep into decentralized decision-making, team dynamics, and the challenges organizations face when shifting away from traditional hierarchies. Veiko also shares why autonomy and empowerment are becoming essential skills for the modern workforce and how organizations can adapt responsibly. This episode is a must-listen for leaders, founders, HR professionals, and anyone curious about organizational design and the future of work. Key Topics Covered   What self-managed organizations really mean How authority is distributed across roles The fundamentals of Holacracy Decision-making without traditional hierarchy Team alignment and resolving tensions Risks and challenges of self-management Empowerment, autonomy, and workplace culture Preparing organizations for the future of work Key Takeaways   Self-managed organizations distribute authority among role holders Clear role boundaries are essential for effective self-management Holacracy is a structured model for radical decentralization Decision-making happens at the role level, not the top Tensions are addressed through structured meetings Autonomy requires high ownership and accountability Empowerment is central to the future of work Resistance to change is a common challenge Meaningful contribution is replacing rigid job titles Strong team dynamics fuel collaboration and independence Chapters   00:00 Exploring Self-Managed Organizations 04:42 Understanding Self-Management 08:06 Practical Applications of Self-Management 11:28 Holacracy: A Model for Self-Management 19:45 Decision-Making in Self-Managed Organizations 25:19 Team Dynamics in Self-Management 32:46 Challenges and Risks of Self-Management 36:36 Preparing for the Future of Work   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veiko-valkiainen/   #FutureOfWork #SelfManagement #Holacracy #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalDesign #WorkplaceCulture #TeamEmpowerment #DecentralizedLeadership #ModernWorkplace #PeopleFirst

In this episode of Build by People Leaders, we’re talking about the seat at the table — and why it’s built, not given. For years, HR leaders have worked to be recognized as true business partners, not just support or administrative functions. While progress is happening, there’s still a critical gap — especially when it comes to AI. According to IBM’s 2025 CEO Report, only 1% of CEOs expect HR to support their company’s AI transformation. That number should stop us. AI is already reshaping how we work, how we lead, and how organizations build capability. If HR and People leaders are not at the core of this shift — preparing leaders, designing systems, and shaping new ways of working — then who is? This episode sets the tone for why Build by People Leaders exists: to elevate those internal leaders who are earning trust, building capability, and turning people strategy into business strategy. Because the seat at the table isn’t given. It’s built — by People Leaders.

Welcome to Build by People Leaders, a podcast brought to you by Aidra.AI, an AI coach for leaders in tech, and hosted by Darya Rudnik, team architect and executive leadership coach. This podcast is created for in-house HR leaders, people partners, founders, and executives who are building the people side of fast-growing organizations. On this show, you’ll hear real stories — not just frameworks — from internal leaders shaping culture, scaling leadership, and aligning people strategy with business impact. Our guests work in tech, fintech, SaaS, and other growth-focused sectors, sharing how they earn trust, drive change, and build teams that fuel performance. If you care about leading from within and shaping how organizations are built, you’ll feel at home here. This is Build by People Leaders.