Board Seats and Beyond, with Asana's Head of People Anna Binder

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Board Seats and Beyond, with Asana's Head of People Anna Binder

Plus: "Your values live in your calendar."

HR Heretics

Feb 18, 2025

Transcript

Anna Binder, Head of People at Asana, shares her journey as an HR leader, her approach to board membership at CultureAmp, and her philosophy on talent management. The discussion covers the nitty gritty of preparing and contributing in board meetings, long-term DEI initiatives, and the importance of authentic leadership in HR, particularly highlighting the value of playing the long game in organizational development.

*Email us your ‘Dear Heretics’ questions: hrheretics@turpentine.co

**For coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/

HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.

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LINK/S:

Asana: https://asana.com/

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KEEP UP WITH ANNA, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

Anna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabinder/

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

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

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro
(01:47) Becoming a Board Member at Culture Amp
(05:33) The Importance of Taking Calls and Building Relationships
(07:10) How to Prepare for and Participate Effectively on a Board
(11:48) Examples of "Operating" vs. Asking the Right Questions as a Board Member
(14:57) Sponsor: Metaview
(16:57) Anna's Experience Building MuleSoft
(19:00) Navigating Disagreements and Being "Invited to Exit"
(21:12) Sharing the News and the Importance of Transparency
(22:50) Finding the Right Fit and the Role of Values
(25:57) Joining Asana
(26:26) Ensuring Alignment During the Interview Process
(29:35) How to Maintain Stamina and Interest Over a Long Tenure
(31:14) Examples of Attention to Detail and Values Alignment at Asana
(31:46) Examining the CEO's Calendar During Interviews
(33:05) Anna's Controversial Recruiting Philosophy
(33:16) Recruiting Top Talent
(35:42) DEI at Asana: Long-Term Vision and Business Outcomes
(39:38) The Importance of Being in the Right Room
(40:09) Playing the Long Game on DEI
(41:59) Encouraging People to Enter the Field
(44:31) Outro

Discussion about this video

“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.

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