Episode SummaryWhat can an engineer-turned-submarine-officer teach us about the future of HR? In this episode of Built by People, host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Cary Sparrow, Founder and CEO of WageScape, to explore a career path that defies convention—and unlocks powerful leadership lessons. From leading teams on nuclear-powered submarines to building cutting-edge HR technology, Cary brings a unique lens to workforce innovation, people leadership, and navigating change.

Cary shares pivotal moments from his journey, including a confidence-boosting lesson from his early Navy days, and a career-defining conversation that helped one of his team members pivot into a general management role. He also dives into the entrepreneurial leap from corporate HR to launching WageScape, the mindset shift required for startup leadership, and why data—not process or technology—is often the biggest bottleneck in HR transformation.

Plus, Cary offers candid advice to HR leaders on embracing AI’s accelerating impact on the world of work—and why staying passive isn’t an option.

Key Timestamps

• [00:10] – Cary’s unconventional journey from submarines to HR tech

• [02:11] – A mentor’s advice that shaped Cary’s career confidence

• [03:40] – Helping others grow: a story of transformational feedback

• [04:34] – Lessons from entrepreneurship: Why speed beats perfection

• [06:23] – What pushed Cary to leave corporate life and build WageScape

• [07:15] – Why messy data—not process—is HR’s biggest challenge

• [09:04] – Cary’s evolving leadership legacy: from systems to people

• [10:31] – Urgent advice for HR leaders on navigating AI disruption

Takeaways

• Build confidence early and trust your potential—even before you see the full picture

• Act fast and iterate: Speed is essential when launching a business

• Look beyond your current role—many career paths are broader than they seem

• Data quality is often the hidden obstacle in HR transformation

• Leadership impact is measured in people, not just performance

• Understanding AI’s implications is now a must for every HR professional

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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

Our Sponsor
Previ is an employer network that provides private pricing for employees. Joining the Previ network allows employees to save on necessities they already pay for, such as cell phone service and insurance. Previ saves the average employee $2,200/year. ⁠Join at no cost to the company.⁠

Episode SummaryWhat does it take to lead HR with adaptability, resilience, and impact in today’s fast-changing world of work?

In this episode of Built By People, host Dave D’Angelo welcomes Damond Fauconier, Chief Human Resources Officer at a leading credit union, for an insightful conversation on his multifaceted journey through the HR field—from training and development to navigating union negotiations and executive politics. Damond shares how an unexpected layoff early in his career became a defining moment, pushing him to embrace curiosity and adopt a broader, more strategic view of HR.

Listeners will gain a behind-the-scenes look at how Damond handled complex organizational dynamics, built trust with leadership, and positioned HR as a business-critical function. He also shares his vision for empowering future people leaders—and why curiosity might be your most important leadership tool.

Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned HR pro, this episode is packed with practical wisdom on career resilience, navigating change, and leading with intention.

Key Timestamps

• [00:42] – Damond’s early career path and shift from training to generalist HR

• [03:50] – Career-defining moment: learning from being part of a layoff

• [04:32] – Transitioning from mission-driven nonprofits to bottom-line-focused business

• [06:19] – How curiosity became Damond’s key to adapting and thriving

• [08:14] – Managing executive conflict and navigating board-level politics

• [10:09] – The legacy Damond hopes to leave as an HR leader

• [11:13] – Parting advice to the HR community: stay curious, be a steward

Takeaways

• Embrace unexpected change as a chance to widen your scope and strengthen your skill set

• Lead with curiosity to better understand your business and anticipate future challenges

• Understand the politics of leadership and how HR can act as a bridge

• Develop your own relationships across all levels—including the board

• See yourself as a steward, not just a function—HR drives culture, clarity, and growth

• Empower others to lead, especially people managers who shape day-to-day experiences

Our Sponsor
Previ is an employer network that provides private pricing for employees. Joining the Previ network allows employees to save on necessities they already pay for, such as cell phone service and insurance. Previ saves the average employee $2,200/year. ⁠Join at no cost to the company.⁠

Episode SummaryWhat happens when a burned-out social worker becomes a people-first HR leader at a fast-scaling tech company? In this episode of Built By People, host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Kristin Lewandowski, VP of Talent and Recruiting at Quantum Metric, to explore her unconventional journey from clinical psychology to building a talent strategy that helped scale a company from 40 employees to over 200 — and become a unicorn.

Kristin opens up about her early career in Medicaid services, her exploration through entrepreneurship and wine sales, and how those diverse experiences led her to find her true calling in recruiting. She shares a powerful career-defining moment that shifted her perspective on leadership, as well as the challenges of serving as interim Chief People Officer during a pivotal time for the company.

Whether you're navigating burnout, leading through hypergrowth, or wondering how to leave a meaningful legacy in HR, this episode offers real, reflective insights from someone who's been in the trenches — and is still building.

Key Timestamps

• [00:52] – Kristin's career journey: from clinical psychology to tech recruiting

• [01:49] – Landing at Quantum Metric and scaling the team during hypergrowth

• [04:17] – A defining moment at a company kickoff that changed everything

• [06:36] – Expanding her role: building culture beyond hiring

• [07:27] – Serving as interim Chief People Officer and the lessons learned

• [09:16] – The legacy she hopes to leave and what it means to be seen

• [10:23] – Why emotional resilience is key for HR professionals

Takeaways

• Follow curiosity, not just credentials — your “career tour” can lead to surprising clarity

• Recognize when a stretch role is a growth opportunity—and when it's time to realign

• Authenticity and empathy are leadership superpowers in talent and recruiting

• People-first HR starts with taking care of your own emotional bandwidth

• The best recruiters are believers — stay where you truly believe in the mission

Our Sponsor
Previ is an employer network that provides private pricing for employees. Joining the Previ network allows employees to save on necessities they already pay for, such as cell phone service and insurance. Previ saves the average employee $2,200/year. ⁠Join at no cost to the company.⁠

Episode Summary
What happens when a mental health expert leads your people strategy? In this episode of Built by People, host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Dr. Amy Campbell, Chief People Officer with a PhD in Counseling and Clinical Supervision, to explore how psychology—not business buzzwords—can be the foundation for thriving, resilient workplaces.

Amy shares her unique journey from clinician and educator to CPO in the tech world, and how her background in human development helped her build a cultural framework that supports engagement, growth, and well-being at scale. She discusses the importance of values-based leadership, strength-based team building, and the hard lessons she learned from burnout while scaling a company through rapid growth, geopolitical upheaval, and a global pandemic.

Whether you're in HR, leadership, or simply trying to lead yourself better—this episode will leave you rethinking what truly powers high-performing companies.

Key Timestamps

• [00:46] – Amy’s career journey from clinical psychology to corporate leadership

• [02:03] – Why building a people-first culture was a defining moment

• [03:47] – How positive psychology drives engagement and profitability

• [06:28] – The reality of burnout—even for mental health professionals

• [08:58] – Amy’s legacy: Making psychology a business imperative

• [09:59] – The most important leadership role: leading your own life

Takeaways

• Ground your people strategy in real psychology, not just corporate speak

• Use strength-based frameworks to improve performance and well-being

• Burnout can hit even the experts—prioritize self-leadership daily

• Company culture is lived, not laminated—embed values into actions

• Pause before reacting: micro-moments of mindfulness build resilience

Our Sponsor
Previ is an employer network that provides private pricing for employees. Joining the Previ network allows employees to save on necessities they already pay for, such as cell phone service and insurance. Previ saves the average employee $2,200/year. ⁠Join at no cost to the company.⁠

Episode SummaryHow do we keep humanity at the heart of work as technology rapidly evolves? In this episode of Built by People, host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Yutaka Takagi, a 30-year veteran in HR and payroll technology, to explore the evolving role of tech in shaping people-centric workplaces. From early days coding DOS systems to advising global organizations on digital transformation, Yutaka brings a rare perspective that blends technical expertise with deep human empathy.

He shares pivotal career moments—from volunteering at a computer learning center to uncovering the surprising importance of analog office rituals—that shaped his approach to leadership. Yutaka also discusses how communication and empathy remain irreplaceable skills, even in an AI-driven future. Tune in to learn how thoughtful leaders can balance automation with humanity to build organizations that truly serve people.

Key Timestamps

• [00:53] – Yutaka’s unconventional entry into HR tech through early IT systems

• [02:17] – The intersection of people, business, and technology

• [03:06] – Career-defining insights from the analog-to-digital shift

• [06:37] – Learning resilience and adaptability from a tech failure

• [08:51] – Yutaka’s vision for a human-centered legacy in tech

• [10:34] – Why empathy and communication are our irreplaceable superpowers

Takeaways

• Recognize the hidden value in human processes before automating them

• Stay adaptable—tech will fail, but your ability to communicate must not

• Keep people at the center of all digital transformation initiatives

• Empathy and communication remain our most vital leadership skills

• Prepare for AI, but don’t delegate the human impact to machines

Our Sponsor
Previ is an employer network that provides private pricing for employees. Joining the Previ network allows employees to save on necessities they already pay for, such as cell phone service and insurance. Previ saves the average employee $2,200/year. ⁠Join at no cost to the company.⁠

Episode SummaryWhat does it mean to lead with both empathy and decisiveness in today’s ever-evolving business environment? In this episode of Built by People, host Dave D’Angelo welcomes Brian Baker, Chief People Officer at Teneo, a global CEO and board advisory firm, for a compelling conversation on modern leadership, digital transformation, and building cultures that scale.

Brian shares his unique career path across corporate transformation and client advisory roles, and introduces the concept of the “lifeguard mindset”—a leadership approach rooted in watchfulness, care, and timely intervention. He unpacks how leaders can balance human connection with disruption, and how AI and automation are reshaping the future of inclusion. With experience at IBM, Walmart, Accenture, and now Teneo, Brian offers tangible strategies for cultivating people-first organizations that thrive amid constant change.

Tune in to hear insights on inclusion beyond DE&I, intentional network-building, and how growing your culture and people is the most powerful growth strategy of all.

Key Timestamps

• [00:42] – Brian’s career journey across transformation roles and client service

• [01:45] – The "lifeguard mindset" and what it means for today’s leaders

• [04:18] – Redefining inclusion in the age of AI and automation

• [06:52] – How HR leaders can build purpose-driven, global networks

• [08:22] – Teneo’s approach to growing people, culture, and leadership at scale

• [11:16] – Disruptor vs. diplomat: Brian’s parting leadership advice

Takeaways

• Adopt a lifeguard mindset to lead with empathy, vigilance, and timely intervention

• Redefine inclusion to include collaboration between humans and machines

• Build intentional networks to stay sharp, inspired, and globally connected

• Invest in your people and culture as core business growth drivers

• Develop dual leadership skills—knowing when to disrupt and when to diplomatically unite teams

Our Sponsor
Previ is an employer network that provides private pricing for employees. Joining the Previ network allows employees to save on necessities they already pay for, such as cell phone service and insurance. Previ saves the average employee $2,200/year. ⁠Join at no cost to the company.⁠

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

Our SponsorPrevi is an employer network that provides private pricing for employees. Joining the Previ network allows employees to save on necessities they already pay for, such as cell phone service and insurance. Previ saves the average employee $2,200/year. ⁠Join at no cost to the company.⁠