Episode Summary
How do you transform HR from the "policy police" to a trusted strategic partner—especially in a startup environment? In this episode of Built by People, Dave D’Angelo sits down with Angela Deputy, Chief Human Resources Officer and former HR leader at Walgreens, Volkswagen, and Roche Diagnostics, to explore how she’s helped scale HR from a team of three to a team of 37 while reshaping its role across the business.

Angela shares how she laid the groundwork for a modern HR function, the missteps she made when moving too fast, and the leadership lessons she’s carried from Fortune 100 companies into nimble startup cultures. She unpacks how HR can earn credibility through actionable data, listening tours, and embedding itself into business operations—not just policies. Plus, Angela offers honest advice on what she’d do differently if she could start over.

Whether you’re an HR leader, startup founder, or operations executive, this episode is packed with practical insights on building people-first cultures that drive business growth.

Key Timestamps

• [00:52] – Angela’s career journey from Fortune 100 companies to startup CHRO

• [01:49] – How she shifted HR from compliance to strategic partnership

• [05:48] – Lessons learned from transitioning into startup HR

• [07:52] – Using data and approachability to change HR perceptions

• [11:12] – Comparing HR functions in startups vs. large enterprises

• [13:32] – Angela’s parting advice for HR leaders and operators

Takeaways

• Map a long-term HR vision, but root it in business realities from day one

• Earn credibility by focusing first on compliance infrastructure, then expanding into strategy

• Use data storytelling to build trust and show ROI on HR initiatives

• Embed HR into development and training programs to shift perception

• Balance strategy with execution—especially in startup environments

• Lead HR with humility, care, and an operator-first mindset

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