The 3AM People Leader: Donald Knight of Warner Brothers Discovery

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The 3AM People Leader: Donald Knight of Warner Brothers Discovery

HR Heretics

Nov 26, 2024

Transcript

From pioneering parental leave strategies to 3 AM workout sessions, Warner Bros Discovery's SVP of People Donald Knight reveals how vulnerability, authenticity, and physical discipline shape exceptional leadership.

Donald joins Kelli and Nolan in a candid conversation about evolving HR, squandered DEI opportunities, and building lasting relationships in hyper-growth environments.

*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: hrheretics@turpentine.co

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

HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.

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KEEP UP WITH DIDIER, NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

Donald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldfknight/

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

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

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:39) Donald's initial reluctance to join HR and his perspective shift

(02:32) Evolution of the HR profession

(04:06) Pushback against employee-centric HR practices

(07:22) The "war for talent" and its aftermath

(10:53) The focus on immutable traits in diversity initiatives

(14:05) Sponsor: Metaview

(15:17) Importance of company stances and differentiation

(19:15) Donald's paternity leave plan and its impact

(25:35) The recruiting process and its unexpected outcomes

(32:45) Donald's experience working with founders

(39:50) Donald's favorite interview questions and their rationale

(44:30) Donald's fitness journey and its importance

(49:20) Wrap

Discussion about this podcast

“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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