In this captivating episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, Felicia Shakiba interviews Niels Juul, the founding member of Von Dutch and CEO of No Fat Ego Productions. Dive into Niels’ extraordinary journey, from his beginnings in Copenhagen's advertising scene to shaping a globally iconic fashion brand. Explore the Von Dutch success story and the pivotal role of authenticity in its rise. Niels shares valuable business insights on leadership communication, the challenges of brand misalignment, and how to...

In this eye-opening episode, Marie Kare, Head of Creative at Global Business Brand at Reddit, bravely shares her personal journey through perimenopause and the profound impact it has had on her career dynamics. Marie delves into the challenges and changes she faced, offering practical advice on navigating perimenopause and career challenges with resilience. She emphasizes the importance of fostering open conversations about women's health in the workplace and how this transitional period can...

In this eye-opening episode, Marie Kare, Head of Creative at Global Business Brand at Reddit, bravely shares her personal journey through perimenopause and the profound impact it has had on her career dynamics. Marie delves into the challenges and changes she faced, offering practical advice on navigating perimenopause and career challenges with resilience. She emphasizes the importance of fostering open conversations about women's health in the workplace and how this transitional period can...

Even if you don’t recognize Anil Joshi by name, his insights on startup success have undoubtedly shaped how many founders navigate the tumultuous waters of entrepreneurship. As the founder of Unicorn India Ventures, Anil dives deep into the realities of startup life, revealing that only a small percentage of founders actually remain as CEOs through critical milestones, with only 25% making it to an IPO.   He argues that the essential founder qualities extend beyond just a good idea; they...

In this CPO PLAYBOOK episode, we sit down with Grant Halloran, CEO of Planful, to explore the vital role of workplace culture in achieving organizational success. Grant passionately discusses how a strong culture, built and sustained with intention, can keep performance high even through tough times. He shares the key actions Planful has taken, such as recruiting leaders who are aligned with the company’s vision, creating a culture book to guide employee behavior, and embedding values into...

Today we’re diving into something that might not be discussed as usual—though it’s still a growing concern! We’re talking about teacher turnover in early education, and how it’s bothering preschools and daycares everywhere. In this episode, Jen Shpall, Director of Piper Preschool, explains why turnover rates are so high in early childhood education. Spoiler alert: it’s not just the low pay or lack of union support—it’s also the burnout that is not taken care of somehow.   But Jen doesn’t...

You’ve heard plenty about mergers and acquisitions, but do you understand the pivotal role of cultural management in driving their success? In this CPO PLAYBOOK episode, we welcome Jochen Werne, CEO of Experian DACH, who shares insights from his experience leading acquisitions during the COVID pandemic. Drawing from a McKinsey article by Ignacio Fantaguzzi and Christopher Handscomb, Jochen emphasizes how M&A deals with strong cultural management significantly outperform others.  He...

When it comes to navigating the complexities of today’s talent landscape, one pressing question arises: how can companies effectively implement total reward strategies? In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, we delve into the intricacies of total reward strategies with John Radford, founder of Radford Surveys. As we explore the challenges of pay equity and pay transparency, John sheds light on the growing trend where new hires often command higher salaries than existing employees, showing pay gaps....

When you hear "Chief People Officer," you might not think of the intricate dance of leadership alignment and company growth, but that's exactly the journey Pat Walsh undertook at Potbelly Sandwich Works. In this episode, we welcome Pat, who shares how he helped transform Potbelly's mission, vision, and values to lay a robust foundation for the company’s ambitious growth plans. As Potbelly transitions from a smaller to a larger organization, Pat emphasizes the importance of refining these...

Naveen Kumar didn’t initially set out to lead a global enterprise. He found himself at the helm of Nityo Corporation, navigating the intricacies of global business expansion. In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, we dive into the multifaceted challenges of global expansion. Naveen shares his insights on overcoming cultural differences, effective resource management, and achieving internal alignment across diverse markets. He emphasizes the necessity of aligning vision and strategy and champions...

Let's delve into the complex issue of toxic talent in the workplace with Robert Gardner, CEO of Rebalance Earth. Robert sheds light on how highly skilled individuals can undermine team dynamics through negative behaviors, despite their competence. He emphasizes the importance of early recognition and setting clear expectations to combat this challenge effectively.  Tune in as he shares practical strategies for identifying and addressing toxic talent, including using the nine-box grid to...

In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, we welcome Bryce Hoover, the former Head of People Analytics at Tesla, to discuss the vital role of people analytics in driving organizational success. Bryce emphasizes the importance of having a clear purpose and well-defined organizational structure within analytics teams, advocating for direct reporting to HR leadership.  He highlights the need to prioritize HR leader success and cultivate a strong data-driven culture. Tune in as he delves into the...

That's why it is important to consider your succession planning strategy. According to the Harvard Business Review, efficient succession planning could elevate company valuations and investor returns by 20 to 25%.  Join us as Alim Dhanji and Michael Rossi share their insights on executing successful transitions and leadership transitions at Adidas Canada. In 2021, Alim seamlessly succeeded Michael as President, and together they discuss their strategies for navigating this pivotal moment....

Ever heard of the Ignite Program? It's a leadership development initiative launched  by Portillo's Chief People Officer Jill Waite. The program tackles managerial retention and addresses skill gap by promoting internal talent for leadership roles and fostering critical leadership skills like communication, relationship building, and accountability.  Designed to preserve Portillo’s company culture across all locations, Ignite has significantly boosted employee retention, increased engagement...

In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, Felicia Shakiba welcomes Duncan O'Rourke, CEO of Accor, to discuss the pivotal role of executive teams in driving organizational success. Duncan shares his expertise on building a high-performing executive team, emphasizing results-focused leadership and the importance of values alignment in leadership. He highlights the critical traits of effective executive leaders, such as subject matter expertise and strategic thinking.  Duncan also delves into the...

HR strategy and business strategy should go hand in hand. This is what believed by Syreeta Brown, Group Chief People Officer (CPO) at Virgin Money. On this podcast with CPO PLAYBOOK, she explore how HR strategy can align seamlessly with business strategy for impactful results. Syreeta shares how HR initiatives can become powerful drivers of success by aligning HR strategy with company goals, using data analytics to influence decisions, and building trust between HR and business leaders.  We...

Let's address the pressing challenges faced by women in engineering and explore actionable solutions to promote diversity and inclusion in technical roles.  For this purpose, we have Jennie Ibrahim, Software Engineering Manager at Google, on this podcast. She sheds light on the low retention rates attributed to hostile environments and biases. Jennie highlights the importance of addressing insecurities like impostor syndrome and emphasizes the value of sponsorship over mentorship for career...

A  seemingly harmless email can steal your data or even lock you out of your computer.  So why take that chance?  Join us as Gary Hayslip, a seasoned Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), reveals the critical role of cybersecurity leadership in combating cyber threats.  In this episode, Gary emphasizes the transformation of CISOs from technical experts to strategic leaders within the executive team. He discusses the importance of integrating CISOs into organizational strategy, as well as...

In this enlightening episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, we turn to James Ayres, Global Talent Acquisition Leader at Archlynk. Together, we explore the dynamic landscape of remote work and its impact on talent acquisition . James highlights how the shift to remote work has opened up a global talent pool, allowing organizations to access talent from diverse cultures. He emphasizes the necessity of aligning mindsets within recruitment teams and leadership to successfully navigate the complexities of...

In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, join host Felicia Shakiba as she welcomes Kyle Lagunas, Head of Strategy & Principal Analyst at Aptitude Research. Kyle dives into the intricate world of performance management, illuminating how organizations can elevate their performance management programs by prioritizing data quality and stakeholder alignment. Discover the transformative power of leveraging AI for performance management and how it can streamline HR best practices for talent management....

Failure is the ghost that haunts every entrepreneur.  In this episode of the CPO PLAYBOOK, we figure out how to deal with that very ghost with John Wensveen! A Chief Innovation Officer at Nova Southeastern University, John discusses the myriad challenges facing early-stage entrepreneurs, including those daunting high failure rates. He introduces his visionary initiative—a theme park for entrepreneurs—designed to support and empower budding innovators. He emphasizes the critical need to bridge...

Join Tim Hughes, a trailblazer in social selling, as he reveals how to harness the power of social media for sales success! In this episode, Tim, Co-Founder and CEO of DLA Ignite, emphasizes the importance of a buyer-centric approach on platforms like LinkedIn, where engaging content and authentic interactions reign supreme. He shares invaluable sales strategies for building an impactful online presence and networking effectively on social media. With practical tips for creating compelling...

Jason Park leads with a twist! For example, he often encourages his team to focus on the "why" rather than "what".  In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, Felicia Shakiba dive into Jason’s treasure trove of leadership lessons as the CEO and Co-founder of ColdCart.  Together, they discuss the key traits of a successful entrepreneur, including being solutions-oriented, adaptable, and embracing ambiguity as a path to growth. Jason also reflects on hiring challenges for startups and the journey of...

In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, we delve into the challenges of executive recruitment, especially at Snap. Tony Bush, Head of Executive Search at Snap, reveals the high executive failure rate driven by pressure for immediate results and misalignment with organizational culture. He emphasizes the crucial need for assessing executives for mindset and cultural fit and highlights essential traits like dealing with ambiguity. Successful hires at Snap adopt a   and embody the company's core values...