People Leader Accelerator Podcast
The People Leader Accelerator Podcast features conversations with business and HR leaders about building high-performing organizations, navigating leadership challenges, and making better management decisions. It offers practical insights for people leaders at startups and seasoned executives alike. The show encourages listeners to subscribe, review, and share episodes. For hands-on support, the host directs listeners to their website for leadership development and culture-building services.
Episodes
Episode 47: Designing HR for Greater Strategic Impact - with Brian Kuchcicki from Visiting Media
HR’s strategic influence depends not only on what the function delivers, but on how its leaders design the team, systems and personal capacity behind the work. In this episode, Brian Kuchcicki, SVP, People + Culture at Visiting Media, shares a practical approach to creating greater leverage: build a complementary senior team, experiment with AI around genuine employee needs, retain human accountab
Episode 46: The HR Career Journey That Came Full Circle (Plus a Look Inside the Latest People Leader Accelerator Cohort)
Welcome to the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we go behind the curtain on building high-performing organisations with honest conversations between experienced leaders.
In this episode, we take a break from the traditional guest interviews and invite you into an informal conversation between hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow. Instead of sharing the spotlight with a guest, they dive into
Episode 45: Speaking the Language of Business as an HR Leader (Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow in conversation)
Welcome to the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we go behind the curtain on building high-performing organisations with honest conversations between experienced leaders.
In this episode, we take a break from the traditional guest interviews and invite you into an informal conversation between hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow. Instead of sharing the spotlight with a guest, they dive into
Episode 44: Building Executive Presence From The Inside Out (Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow in Conversation)
Welcome to the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we go behind the curtain on building high-performing organisations with honest conversations between experienced leaders.
In this episode, we take a break from the traditional guest interviews and invite you into an informal conversation between hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow. Instead of sharing the spotlight with a guest, they dive into
Episode 43: Culture Is Built One Decision at a Time - with Alex Buder Shapiro
Culture is not an HR programme to impose, preserve or package into a set of aspirational statements. It is a commercially relevant operating system: shaped by founder behaviour, grounded in the realities of the business and made credible through the decisions and behaviours leaders consistently reinforce.
In this episode, Alex Buder Shapiro, Head of People at Clay, explores what it takes to build
Episode 42: Harnessing AI for Leadership Development and Organizational Insights - with Ben Perreau of Parafoil
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guest today is Ben Perreau, Founder and CEO of Parafoil. Ben brings a unique perspective shaped by his diverse background spanning journalism with major media brands, digital transformation, consulting, and organisational change. After two decades o
Episode 41: AI Adoption, ROI and Governance (Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow in Conversation)
Welcome to the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we go behind the curtain on building high-performing organisations with honest conversations between experienced leaders.
In this episode, we take a break from the traditional guest interviews and invite you into an informal conversation between hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow. Instead of sharing the spotlight with a guest, they dive in
Episode 40: Building Outstanding HR Teams and Board Relationships - with Anna Binder
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guest today is Anna Binder, a seasoned HR executive, board member, and investor. With a career that spans leadership roles at startups and global technology companies such as Asana and MuleSoft, Anna offers a nuanced perspective on scaling teams,
Episode 39: Building Trust and Driving Change as an HR Leader - with L. David Kingsley
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guest today is L. David Kingsley, Chief People Officer at Illumio. With a background spanning management consulting, HR leadership in public and scale-up technology companies, and service as a Navy Reserve intelligence officer, David brings a disc
Episode 38: Increasing HR Impact by Aligning People Analytics with Business Strategy - with Cole Napper
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore the realities of leadership and organizational effectiveness.
Our guest today is Cole Napper, the first Chief People Intelligence Officer at HRBench and a recognized leader in people analytics, workforce intelligence, and evidence-based HR strategy. He is the creator of the *People Intelligence Manifesto*, foun
Episode 37: Prioritization Frameworks To Help People Leaders Drive Organizational Success (Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow in Conversation)
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we examine the realities of building effective organizations and leading through complexity.
In this episode, we take a break from the traditional guest interviews and invite you into an informal conversation between hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow. Instead of sharing the spotlight with a guest, they dive into their o
Episode 36: Navigating Rapid Change and Innovation in People Leadership with - AJ Thomas
Welcome to the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we examine what it genuinely takes to lead, scale, and evolve effective organisations.
Our guest for this episode is AJ Thomas, an accomplished executive with a remarkable track record across talent, HR operations, business strategy, and the early-stage venture ecosystem. Having served in pivotal roles at Alphabet’s Moonshot Factory (Google
Episode 35: AI Meets HR - How OpenAI’s People Innovation Labs Are Simplifying Workflows - with Dylan Vassallo
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guest today is Dylan Vassallo, an engineering leader at OpenAI, where he leads the People Innovation Labs team. Dylan brings a unique blend of technical expertise and a deep passion for people operations, having previously held impactful roles at
Episode 34 - Navigating AI-Driven Efficiency and Headcount Impacts for HR Leaders (Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow in Conversation)
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
In this episode, we take a break from the traditional guest interviews and invite you into an informal conversation between hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow. Instead of sharing the spotlight with a guest, they dive into their own lived experiences and perspectives as people leaders, exploring what leadership, culture, and auth
Episode 33: From Employment Lawyer to Chief People Officer - with Guissu Baier from GoFundMe
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we dive into what it truly means to lead teams and build effective organisations.
Our guest today is Guissu Baier, Chief People Officer at GoFundMe. With a diverse background as both an employment attorney and people executive, Guissu brings unique perspective from her time at Visa, Instacart, venture capital firm General
Episode 32: Navigating Change and Building Influence as an HR Leader - with Teresa Lilly
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to accelerate careers and build high-performing organizations.
Our guest today is Teresa Lilly, an experienced HR leader and fractional CPO who has navigated the people leadership landscape across the US and Australia. With over a decade spent scaling tech startups from early to growth stag
Episode 31: Navigating Talent Advisory and Executive Search Across Europe - with Puren Ucar
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guest today is Puren Ucar, one of Europe’s original venture capital talent partners, and now an independent advisor working closely with founders and VC firms across the UK and Europe. With a background in executive search and years spent building
Episode 30: How Hypergrowth Companies Balance Speed And Talent Quality - with Maryanne Caughey and Charles Guillemet from Lovable
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guests today are Maryanne Caughey, Head of People at Lovable, and Charles Guillemet, Head of Recruiting at Lovable. Between them, they bring decades of experience leading people and talent functions at world-class technology organisations, includi
Episode 29: Empowering Technical Leaders Through Effective Coaching Strategies - with Kevin Rice
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guest today is Kevin Rice, an executive coach who previously led product and engineering teams through rapid growth at companies like Airbnb.
Drawing on a background that bridges hands-on technical management and leadership coaching, Kevin now par
Episode 28: Bridging Academic Insights and Business Practice - with Brad Harris from HEC Paris
In this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, we welcome Brad Harris, Professor of Management and Human Resources and Associate Dean at HEC Paris.
Brad brings an exceptional blend of academic rigour and deep practical experience, having taught, researched, and consulted across several continents. As a co-author of Scaling for Success and one of the core faculty members in the People Le
Episode 27: Transforming HR Through Community and Innovation - with Stephen Huerta from the Modern People Leader Podcast
Welcome to the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, the show where we dive into the realities of building effective organisations and accelerating the careers of people leaders.
Our guest today is Stephen Huerta, co-founder of The Modern People Leader Podcast, founder of Huertonomics, and an experienced HR entrepreneur. With a career spanning HR consulting, corporate roles at Goldman Sachs, and mu
Episode 26: HR Career Growth Through Mentorship and Networking - with Maggie Ruvoldt
Welcome to the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we dive deep into the realities of building and leading high-impact organisations.
Our guest today is Maggie Ruvoldt, an experienced CHRO and executive with over 30 years spanning HR, business operations, and advisory roles. Maggie’s career features significant time in education and healthcare, from building HR teams at early-stage startups
Episode 25: What Private Equity Looks for in Top HR Leaders - with John K. Anderson
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we delve into the real-world challenges of building organisations that deliver sustained performance.
Our guest today is John K. Anderson, Managing Director at ZRG. With a career spanning more than two decades as a head of HR and now as a leading search partner for HR executives, John brings a unique perspective on both the
Episode 24: How Zapier Reached 97% AI Adoption and What HR and Business Leaders Can Learn - with Brandon Sammut
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Our guest today is Brandon Sammut, Chief People and AI Transformation Officer at Zapier. Brandon’s professional journey spans education, recruiting, HR leadership, and technology. He joined us to talk about what it takes to lead people teams at the intersection of automation, AI, and human potential, and how Zapier has become a m
Episode 23: Exploring Leadership Through the Lens of Workplace Fun (Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow in Conversation)
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
In this episode, we take a break from our traditional guest interviews and invite you into an informal conversation between us as hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow. Instead of sharing the spotlight with a guest, we dive into our own lived experiences and perspectives as people leaders, exploring what leadership, culture, and au
Episode 22: Our Thinking on HR Conferences and Communities (Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow in Conversation)
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Today, we’re taking a more informal approach as we (hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow) sit down together for a candid conversation about conferences, professional communities, and how people leaders choose where to invest their limited time and attention.
There’s no guest this episode - just real talk between two experienced le
Episode 21: From Consultant to Five-Time Chief People Officer - with Jevan Soo Lenox
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Our guest today is Jevan Soo Lenox, a seasoned Chief People Officer whose career spans industries from fintech and food & beverage to e-commerce and biotech, currently at an AI-first enterprise organization. Jevan joins us for an honest conversation on building longevity in the CPO role, navigating transitions, and developing
Episode 20: Lessons in International People Leadership and Organizational Change - with Kelli Koschmann
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Our guest today is Kelli Koschmann, an experienced Chief People Officer who has led global teams at organizations such as Center City, Showpad, and SRAM, and is now an executive coach and founder of the consultancy Walking Palm. Kelli joined us for a practical and honest conversation about leading complex HR transformations, navi
Episode 19: Leadership Lessons From a Tech Founder Turned Executive Coach - with Adam Weber
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Our guest today is Adam Weber, a tech founder, executive coach, and former Chief People Officer, who joins us for a thoughtful conversation on executive development, building high-performing teams, and navigating the emotional demands of people leadership. Adam’s career journey spans founding and selling tech startups, leading cu
Episode 18: Building a Strong People Function in an Early-Stage Startup - with Keshar Sheridan
Our guest today is Keshar Sheridan, a seasoned people leader with deep experience in the startup and health tech space. Keshar has spent more than a decade building HR foundations at organizations ranging from early-stage startups to high-growth companies like Hired, Oscar Health, Galileo, Headway, Growth Therapy, and now Tulea Health, where she serves as the first and only people leader at an 11-
Episode 17: How HR Leaders Use Storytelling to Build Alignment and Momentum - with Robin P. Zander
Our guest today is Robin P. Zander, founder of Zander Media, entrepreneur, and long-time contributor to the People Leader Accelerator’s early story and brand. With a diverse background ranging from the arts and business ownership to organizational storytelling, Robin Zander brings a unique perspective on the intersection of narrative, leadership, and HR.
In this episode, we explore how storytellin
Episode 16: A Non-Traditional Path to People Leadership - with Ryanmae McAvoy-Pepin
Our guest today is Ryanmae McAvoy-Pepin, Vice President of People Operations at Blackthorn, a SaaS company specializing in Salesforce-native event management software.
Ryanmae has built a career that crosses industries from veterinary practices to the ski slopes, before settling into the tech sector, where she’s now recognized for her transparency, candor, and practical approach to HR leadership
Episode 15: How HR Tech and AI Are Redefining Organizational Growth - with Eugene Lee
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Our guest today is Eugene Lee, who joins us for an insightful conversation on investing in HR technology, the evolving responsibilities of people leaders, and how AI is transforming organizations. Eugene’s background spans M&A investment banking, operational leadership at Yahoo, Google, and Pinterest, and his current work a
Episode 14: How to Build Power and Likability in Leadership - with Kate Mason
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Our guest today is Kate Mason, executive communications coach and author of the fascinating new book, Powerfully Likable.
Kate’s career has spanned global tech companies and high-stakes startup environments, supporting leaders to communicate with impact. She brings together expertise in communications, coaching, and competitive d
Episode 13: Cultural Psychology At Work And What It Takes To Build Trust Across Borders - with Debbie Ko
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Our guest today is Debbie Ko, a US-born cultural psychologist now based in Singapore, whose career journey has traversed academia and tech in global environments. Debbie’s expertise bridges social psychology, cultural dynamics, and real-world application for business and people leaders. She publishes the popular blog, PsykoBabb
Episode 12: Scaling People and Culture Across Borders In Hypergrowth Companies - with Daniel Illes
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Our guest today is Daniel Illes, who joined us for an in-depth discussion on career transitions, scaling high-growth organizations, and the realities of global people leadership. Daniel’s journey has taken him from New York-qualified lawyer to startup operator, people leader, and currently, a Venture Capital operator at Atomico,
Episode 11: The Journey From Operations To People Leadership In Hospitality - Jamie Thorpe
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Our guest today is Jamie Thorpe, SVP, People at Pursuit, joining hosts Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow for a candid conversation about leading people functions in hospitality and attraction-based organizations. Jamie brings over twelve years of HR experience covering restaurant operations, corporate HR, and high-growth environments,
Episode 10: Business First HR Meets AI for Modern People Leadership - with Q Hamirani
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast.
Our guest today is Q Hamirani, a seasoned Chief People Officer whose unconventional career journey - from electrical engineering and finance to leading HR at companies like Airbnb and High Level - has influenced how he thinks about building effective people teams and driving business outcomes. Hosted by executive coach Jess Yuen
Episode 9: The Lightspeed People Trends Report
Welcome to this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we sit down with industry leaders to uncover the real-life insights, strategies, and challenges that shape world-class organizations.
Our guest today is Luke Beseda, Talent Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, returning for a timely discussion about the annual Lightspeed People Trends Report.
With nearly 170 venture-backe
Episode 8: How Creativity and Curiosity Shape Better People Leaders - with Marie Szuts
Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we get practical about leadership, culture, and building organizations that work.
Our guest today is Marie Szuts: executive coach, consultant, and co-director of the People Leader Accelerator. Marie brings a unique, multifaceted background, including early career experience in food journalism, entrepreneurship in education
Episode 7: Transforming Talent Strategy in Venture Capital and Startup Ecosystems - with Luke Beseda
Welcome to this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we sit down with industry leaders to uncover the real-life insights, strategies, and challenges that shape world-class organizations.
Our guest today is Luke Beseda, longtime Talent Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, joining hosts Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow for an in-depth conversation about the evolving world of vent
Episode 6: Accelerating Leadership Impact and Career Growth - with Michelle Wagner
Welcome to this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we sit down with industry leaders to uncover the real-life insights, strategies, and challenges that shape world-class organizations.
Our guest today is Michelle Wagner, a seasoned executive and current Talent Partner at Playground Global. Hosted by executive coach Jess Yuen and People Leader Accelerator co-founder Andrew Bart
Episode 5: Unlocking High Performance in People, Process, & VC Partnerships - with Heather Doshay
Welcome to this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we sit down with industry leaders to uncover the real-life insights, strategies, and challenges that shape world-class organizations.
Our guest today is Heather Doshay, the founder of Waypoint Works. Heather joins our hosts, Jess Yuen and Andrew Bartlow, for a thoughtful conversation about her unique journey across tech, VC ta
Episode 4: The Power of Business Alignment in HR Career Success - with Melanie Naranjo
Welcome to this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we sit down with industry leaders to uncover the real-life insights, strategies, and challenges that shape world-class organizations.
Our guest today is Melanie Naranjo, Chief People Officer at Ethena, joining hosts Andrew Bartlow and Jess Yuen for a candid conversation about the real skills, mindset shifts, and strategies n
Episode 3: How Executive Search Is Evolving For HR Leaders In Startups & Scaleups - with Brad Warga and Ben Dewar
In this episode, host Jess Yuen and co-founder Andrew Bartlow are joined by executive search experts Brad Warga (Heidrick & Struggles) and Ben Dewar (NU Advisory Partners) for an in-depth conversation about executive search in human resources within tech companies.
Brad and Ben share their extensive insights into hiring Chief People Officers and senior HR talent, covering changes in candidat
Episode 2: Practical Strategies For Growing Your HR Career And Professional Network - with Kelli Dragovich
Welcome to this episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast, where we sit down with industry leaders to uncover the real-life insights, strategies, and challenges that shape world-class organizations.
Our guest today is Kelli Dragovich, a seasoned Chief People Officer and Bay Area native, whose 25-year journey through Silicon Valley’s tech scene includes roles at Yahoo, GitHub, Looker, Pend
Episode 1: Welcome to the People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Welcome to the very first episode of The People Leader Accelerator Podcast!
We’re thrilled to finally bring you this show, a space for honest, practical conversations about what it really takes to lead people and build high-performing organizations in today’s fast-changing world.
In this opening episode, we share why we created the podcast, what you can expect from future episodes, and some of the
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