The Modern People Leader

Listen to interviews with CHROs, Chief People Officers, and other work experts on how they're pioneering the way that we work

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Recent Episodes

Oct. 15, 2024

203 - The inverted org chart, CEO Alignment & the art & science of compensation: Ray Martinelli (Chief People Officer, Contentful)

Ray Martinelli, Chief People Officer at Contentful, joined us on The Modern People Leader . We talked about his career journey, the art & science that goes into compensation, and aligning HR goals with business strategy. ---…
Oct. 9, 2024

202 - VC on helping founders with talent strategy, exec searches, & people challenges (Sandra Schwarzer, Index Ventures)

Sandra Schwarzer, Board & Talent Insights leader at Index Ventures, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about Index Ventures’ experience helping founders “scale through chaos”, how much time founders spend on HR…
Oct. 5, 2024

201 - Live: Rethinking Performance & Compensation (David Hanrahan, Chief People Officer at Flare & Jessica Zwaan, Author of Built for People)

David Hanrahan, Chief People Officer at Flare, and Jessica Zwaan, Author of Built for People & COO at Talentful, joined us live in Austin, Texas. We talked about how performance management is stuck in the past, the idea of t…
Sept. 27, 2024

200 - MPL Live Austin: AI in HR & Election Year (Katie Burke, Former CPO at HubSpot & Gianna Driver, CPO at Lattice)

Katie Burke, CPO & Board Member at Paycor, and Gianna Driver, Chief People Officer at Lattice, joined us for our inaugural MPL Live in Austin, Texas. We talked about the current state of HR, generational differences in the w…
Sept. 17, 2024

199 - OKRs, Pancake Sprints, & The Power of a 30-60-90 Day Plan: Vanessa Monsequeira (VP of People, Gorilla)

Vanessa Monsequeira, VP of People at Gorilla, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We discussed Vanessa’s path to leadership, how to navigate hyper-growth in organizations, and the importance of mindset and unlearning for …
Sept. 10, 2024

198 - Jeff Schmitz (Chief People Officer, Zebra Technologies) on launching new purpose statement & values

Jeff Schmitz, Chief People Officer at Zebra Technologies, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about Jeff’s transition from marketing to HR, why Zebra is reinventing their purpose statement and values, and their …
Sept. 3, 2024

197 - Nicole Hughey (Former SVP, DEI at SiriusXM) on the shifting language of DEIB, the SHRM debate, & the heart of inclusion

Nicole Hughey, the former DEIB leader at SiriusXM, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about the evolution of DEIB language, the recent SHRM debate on equity, and the critical importance of heart in driving mean…
Aug. 27, 2024

196 - Why DEIB is the Key to Making Octillions: Michael C. Bush, CEO at Great Place To Work®

Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work®, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We discussed what the data reveals about the best leaders, why DEIB is the key to achieving massive success, and why Gen Z will choose jobs…
Aug. 20, 2024

195 - Qualities of high-performing founders: Polly Barnes (Operating Partner, Talent at EQT Ventures)

Polly Barnes, Operating Partner, Talent at EQT Ventures, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about the qualities of high-performing founders, the emerging founder profile, and why HR leaders need to have more fo…
Aug. 13, 2024

194 - Melanie Rosenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox): How Dropbox is setting employees up for success in a virtual first model

Melanie Rosenwasser, Chief People Officer at Dropbox, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We discussed Dropbox’s virtual-first model, how they measure its success, and the three types of in-person gatherings they organize…
Aug. 6, 2024

193 - Brené Brown: Every day is leg day as a leader

Brené Brown, professor, author, and podcast host, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We discussed her experience as a leader, the concept of metacognition, and the leadership skill of creating space between stimulus and …
July 30, 2024

192 - The Employee Feedback Journal: Tracy Letzerich (VP of People, Wheel)

Tracy Letzerich, Vice President of People at Wheel, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We discussed why feedback is the lifeblood of organizational progress, why Wheel is ditching the annual performance review, and why e…

Recent Blog Posts

10 HR Leaders on What it Means to Be a Modern People Leader

Hey there, folks! On the Modern People Leader podcast, we've had the incredible opportunity to talk with leading CHROs and Chief People Officers who are reshaping HR. Here are 10 quotes from these top-tier execs, exploring their take on what it tru…

The Future of HR Technology: Insights from SemperVirens Venture Capital

Explore the Future of HR Technology - Gain valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations in HR technology with our in-depth podcast summary. Learn how SemperVirens Venture Capital is shaping the future of work and discover expert advice f…

The Evolution of Work: Unpacking Hybrid Remote Work with Darren Murph

In the ever-evolving landscape of work, the term "hybrid remote work" has emerged as a pivotal concept. But what exactly does it entail, and how is it revolutionizing our approach to work? In this comprehensive exploration, we delve deep into the wo…

About the Hosts

Daniel Huerta Profile Photo

Daniel Huerta

Co-Host

Daniel’s all about the idea that the heart of every great company is its people. That's why he’s on a mission to learn what the leading orgs are doing to attract, develop, and retain their most important asset, their people.

He’s one of the voices behind the Modern People Leader podcast, diving deep into what’s new and what works in the HR world, chatting with top minds and sharing the kind of insights you can’t just Google.

Prior to going full-time on The Modern People Leader, he spent over 8 years driving marketing strategies for some of the most influential companies in the field, including Humu and Udacity.

When he’s not working, you can catch him on the golf course, shooting hoops, or just enjoying life as a devoted husband.

Stephen Huerta Profile Photo

Stephen Huerta

Co-Host

Stephen is an accomplished entrepreneur and former corporate HR executive, with a passion for making the world a better place to work.

Currently, he co-hosts the 'Modern People Leader' podcast, where the latest trends, insights, and best practices in the HR industry are explored.

He’s the co-founder of 'Workify', an employee feedback platform that was recently acquired. Prior to this, he spent five years at Goldman Sachs, serving as Vice President, Diversity Officer, and Director of HR Technology.

Outside of work, he's a proud dad of two daughters, fitness enthusiast, and pitmaster.