HR Heretics Substack
“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies
Brett Queener Unfiltered: A Wake Up Call for Tech, 2024 Planning, and Driving High Performance
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Brett Queener Unfiltered: A Wake Up Call for Tech, 2024 Planning, and Driving High Performance

Brett Queener is a partner at Bonfire Ventures, with a background extending to nearly every function as an operator at Salesforce, Smart Recruiters, and more. Brett is well-versed in the mechanics of early-stage companies and this conversation covers the death rate of startups, the point of board meetings, getting people to work outrageously hard for you, and more.

Kelli and Nolan’s segment this week (54:00-01:09:30) discusses Jack Dorsey’s decision to eliminate PIPs and expands into a broader discussion of the right sized management layer, span of control, performance review systems and how businesses can change their approach towards feedback and evaluations

HR Heretics is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co

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RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

Check out Run The Numbers! Kelli and Nolan were guests on the most recent episode: a deep dive into FIRING CEOs and EXECS. This one's hilarious. Listen here, wherever you get your podcasts: https://link.chtbl.com/runthenumbers

KEEP UP WITH BRETT, NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

Brett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettqueener/

Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/

Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

LINKS:

Brett Queener’s exceptional (free) Guides and templates: https://www.bonfirevc.com/team/brett-queener

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00) Preview

(04:31) Insights on what's in store for investors, founders, and execs for 2024

(09:06) Making that pivot in 2024

(12:32) The economics of how a VC works

(16:34) Sponsor - Continuum | Metaview

(19:20 There's nothing that replaces the soul of a founder

(23:11) On talent planning at the executive level

(29:39) Sponsor - Lattice

(30:50) Signs that how a company has the right people leader

(35:50) Does Brett think HR leaders, founders, companies have gone a little soft?

(41:51) How to get people to love working hard and appreciate it and the negative connotations of the 40-hour work-week

(46:21) On the importance of the relationship between the CHRO and the founder for company health

(50:20) Brett's best hire who has transformed a company

(52:49) Brett's favorite interview question that gives the best signal on candidates?

(54:00) Kelli & Nolan's segment on PIPs, Performance Reviews, and Managers vs ICs

Discussion about this podcast

HR Heretics Substack
“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies
After a decade+ of “blitz-scaling” companies, HR, talent, and People leaders now face an uncertain economy that has already seen big booms and busts. What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact?    
Hosts Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich have been through it all, the highs and the lows – IPOs, layoffs, executive turnover, board meetings, culture changes, and more. With a lineup of industry vets and experts, Nolan and Kelli break down the nitty-gritty details, trade offs, and dynamics of constructing high performing companies. Through unfiltered conversations that can only happen between seasoned practitioners – Kelli and Nolan dive deep into the kind of leadership-level strategy that often happens behind closed doors.
This show is for those who are ready to ditch conventional wisdom and figure out from first principles what works for their culture, business model, and industry, with the goal of building a resilient and enduring company. You’ll come away with real guidance for seeing around corners, building enduring companies, and carving out an impactful career – plus a newly-honed bullshit detector.
Topics frequently touched on in this season include: building high performing cultures, compensation negotiation, performance reviews, company design, equity, M&As, recruiting the best talent, and how to manage your own psychology as a people leader.