Episode Summary
What does it take to go from entry-level HR roles to leading the function at the C-suite level—and beyond? In this episode of Built by People, host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Andrew Bartlow, a veteran HR executive with over 30 years of experience, including leadership roles at GE, Pepsi, and Wells Fargo. Now an advisor, author, and mentor, Andrew shares his journey from startup HR lead at age 22 to CHRO of a public company, and how each role shaped his approach to strategic people leadership.

Andrew offers candid insights into career-defining moments—like surviving the dot-com bust, navigating a merger during the mortgage crisis, and taking a company public. He also shares his framework for building a broad HR foundation, why discomfort is a key ingredient in career growth, and how he's now helping today’s HR leaders thrive in a post-growth-at-all-costs era.

Whether you're an HR leader planning your next move or a founder looking to build people-first teams, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom and hard-earned perspective.

Key Timestamps

• [00:52] – Andrew’s 30+ year career journey and early formative experiences

• [03:08] – Career highlights and the importance of high-caliber training vs. startup grit

• [04:23] – Navigating the Wachovia-Wells Fargo merger and surviving the 2007 crisis

• [06:49] – How Andrew prepared to become a CHRO and advice for aspiring HR leaders

• [08:14] – The legacy Andrew hopes to leave by mentoring the next generation of HR professionals

• [09:49] – Final advice: how to intentionally grow and push your learning edge

Takeaways

• Build a broad foundation to prepare for executive roles by gaining experience across key HR functions

• Stretch yourself early by working in both structured organizations and resource-constrained startups

• Learn through discomfort—growth often happens when you’re out of your comfort zone

• Lead strategically by truly understanding business needs—not just using HR buzzwords

• Support the next wave by mentoring and sharing real-world leadership lessons with others

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