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 truly means to be a Modern People Leader.
1. Crystal Boysen, Chief People Officer at Vimeo
“They are highly compassionate, with a deep level of empathy. They are impact driven and energy conscious. And what I mean by that is being able to manage their own energy and the energy of their team. Because I think right now with burnout and all that being so high, I think that we need to focus more on conserving our own energy and building the energy of others around us.”
👉 Takeaway: It’s not just about spreadsheets and policy manuals, y’all. A Modern People Leader needs a big dose of empathy and a focus on energy conservation, especially given the current burnout rates.
2. David Landman, Ph.D., Global Head of Talent Development at Goldman Sachs
"A modern people leader is somebody who is flexible. We are in such rapidly changing times and knowing that what worked last year or the last decade may not be the right approach for the future. I think that’s a really important mindset and orientation. It’s somebody who really cares about people and the people that they're serving and can really engage with a deep amount of empathy and gratitude. They’re also really connected to the business, understanding business needs and the diversity of needs across businesses."
👉 Takeaway: Flexibility and deep business acumen are essential ingredients for modern leadership.
3. Christine Song, Chief People Officer at Knix
"I think a modern people leader is someone who really thinks outside the box, takes the risks, is willing to try new things and is not creating that cookie cutter model that most HR people rely upon.”
👉 Takeaway: Forget the cookie-cutter approach! Innovation and risk-taking set modern leaders apart.
4. Nadia Vatalidis, Head of People & Culture at TestGorilla
"Someone that deeply cares about designing experiences for people. It's not just about the policies they need to create. It's not about a checklist. It's actually about designing that amazing experience and knowing they're going to impact someone's life probably for quite a short amount of time. But that impact is going to last. And that's so important.”
👉 Takeaway: We're not just HR folks; we're experience designers, crafting memorable moments for our teams.
5. Q Hamirani, Chief People Officer at Paper
“A leader that wants to understand the business first, and then tries to figure out what the right people strategy is versus the other way around.”
👉 Takeaway: Understand the business, then align your people strategy. It's not a one-size-fits-all game.
6. Kristy Lilas, VP of DIB at GoDaddy
"It's someone who leads with compassion, curiosity, and courage in all things all the time."
👉 Takeaway: The three Cs—compassion, curiosity, courage. If you’re lacking any, time to level up.
7. Kate Parente, Chief People Officer at Pegasystems
"The Modern People Leader must be a good storyteller. It's when someone else can see themselves in you, that they really start to gain some perspective, confidence, and clarity around what the future could be for them."
👉 Takeaway: Got a knack for storytelling? Great, because that’s how you inspire and connect with others.
8. Brandon Sammut, Chief People Officer at Zapier
“It’s a really dynamic environment for people leaders and things are constantly changing, so I think the skills that matter most are curiosity and rate of learning. However much I think I know today is not going to matter very much compared to how quickly I can listen and learn and be curious and be humble and pick up stuff in the years ahead.”
👉 Takeaway: The learning curve never ends. Stay curious and keep absorbing like a sponge.
9. Laura Robblee, CHRO at Zuora
"They treat themselves and their employees as corporate athletes."
👉 Takeaway: Think like an athlete. Prioritize wellness to keep the performance high, both for you and your team.
10. John Foster, Founder at Gamut Labs
"They're business partners, which is a word that's been around a long time, but they really are. They're helping run a business. They're also designers and they adapt, evolve, and create better outcomes every day. Lastly, modern people leaders are front and center and speak for the company in a lot of ways. They're not in the back shuffling paper."
👉 Takeaway: Modern People Leaders aren’t backstage; they're co-pilots steering the business.
That's a wrap! These HR pros dropped some serious wisdom.
Until next time, keep leading the modern way!
