In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Dr. Mary C. Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy commander and executive leadership advisor. They explore how HR leaders can earn a seat at the executive table, lead organizational transformation, and leverage AI while keeping people at the center. Mary shares insights from her extensive leadership experience, emphasizing problem-solving, mentorship, and proactive involvement in both business and technology initiatives. The conversation highlights how HR directors are uniquely positioned to develop leaders, drive engagement, and even prepare for executive roles like CEO.

Key Takeaways

- HR prevents problems before they escalate.Strategic HR is about creating solutions, not just managing issues.

- Small gestures drive engagement. Simple recognition and personal connection can dramatically boost motivation and productivity.

- HR leads the AI transformation. Technology is a tool—success comes from guiding people on how to use it effectively.

- HR experience prepares you for the CEO role. Understanding people, processes, regulations, and budgets builds the foundation for strategic leadership.

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarykelly

www.ProductiveLeaders.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to HR Leadership in Tech

02:42 The Importance of HR at the Executive Table

06:08 Earning a Seat at the Table

09:05 Transforming HR from a Reactive to a Proactive Role

11:38 The Role of HR in Employee Engagement

14:44 AI's Impact on HR and Organizational Dynamics

17:36 Leading AI Transformation in Organizations

20:42 The Skills of an HR Director as a CEO

23:45 Rapid Fire Questions and Personal Insights

In this episode of the Build by People Leaders podcast, host Daria Rudnik speaks with Elena Krutova, a seasoned HR and operations leader with over 20 years of experience. Elena shares her journey from recruiter to Chief Operations Officer, highlighting the importance of human-centric leadership, integrity, and delivering tangible results. She discusses strategies for HR professionals to be true business partners, the challenges of leading transformations in both fast-growing and struggling organizations, and the role of AI as an efficiency-enhancing tool rather than a replacement for human connection. Elena also shares her advice for sustaining a successful career after 40, emphasizing persistence, confidence, and continuous learning.

Takeaways

• HR earns a real seat at the table by delivering outcomes, not just “the right theory”.
• A sustainable career in fast-growing companies comes from clarity of purpose, strong values, and doing consistent “baby steps”.
• Moving from HR into broader operational leadership is possible when you understand how people work and can connect human, financial, legal, compliance, and process perspectives.
• The hardest transformations aren’t growth—they’re restoring health in struggling organizations, making fair but sometimes unpopular decisions with a “surgeon” mindset.
• AI should boost HR’s efficiency (policies, comms, materials) but never replace human connection.

Linkedin - https://cy.linkedin.com/in/elenakrutova

Company - www.voiso.com

HR, leadership, business partner, AI in HR, career growth, organizational transformation, employee engagement, human resources, operations, workplace dynamics

In this episode of Build by People Leaders, Daria Rudnik speaks with Dr. Shayna Cook, Chief People Officer at Dominion Payroll, about what it really takes to build modern organizations where people and performance thrive together.

Shayna shares her nonlinear journey from science teacher to HR executive, why HR must think like a business owner, and how to move from “accidental organizations” to intentionally designed systems. She also walks through her practical AI transformation playbook — including governance, human oversight, and the three pillars guiding adoption — and tells the surprising story of how one employee built internal AI agents that saved the company hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A grounded, practical conversation for HR leaders navigating growth, AI, and real business impact.

Company website: www.dominionpayroll.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaynacooke/

Takeaways

• From science teacher to Chief People Officer — a nonlinear path that reshaped modern HR leadership.

• Why HR must think like a business owner before advocating for people.

• The 3-pillar AI playbook that turns transformation into measurable impact.

• How building a culture of innovation unlocks unexpected employee growth and engagement.

• Stop running “accidental organizations” — start designing systems where people and performance thrive.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to HR and AI Transformation

04:50 Shayna's Nonlinear Career Path

09:54 The Role of HR in Organizational Systems

14:44 AI Integration in HR

19:57 Building a Culture of AI Engagement

24:38 Advice for HR Leaders

29:30 Unexpected Outcomes of AI Implementation

In this high-impact episode, executive coach Roshan Chander breaks down why leaders and executives get stuck in invisible decision loops that quietly limit growth, authority, and performance.

Roshan explains how autopilot decision-making forms mental loops that affect leadership effectiveness, productivity, and long-term business strategy. He introduces the concept of a personal decision audit and shares practical steps leaders can take to identify patterns, build self-awareness, and move from reaction to intentional response.

Through real client stories and clear frameworks, this conversation highlights how cutting decision loops can unlock clarity, confidence, and measurable business results.

This episode is ideal for founders, executives, and professionals focused on leadership development, career growth, and better decision-making.

Key Topics Covered:

• Decision-making patterns and mental loops

• Leadership self-awareness and personal audits

• Breaking autopilot behavior

• Executive coaching insights

• Productivity and performance improvement

• Strategic thinking and career growth

Keywords: decision making, leadership, mental loops, self-awareness, personal audit, business strategy, executive coaching, productivity, decision patterns, career growth

Chapters: 00:00 Understanding Decision Loops 06:18 Identifying Personal Patterns 12:08 The Importance of Auditing Decisions 18:09 Breaking Free from Autopilot 20:27 Transformative Client Stories 22:24 Practical Steps to Cut Loops

#DecisionMaking #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #SelfAwareness #BusinessStrategy #Productivity #CareerGrowth #HighPerformance #LeadershipMindset

In this insightful episode, Dr. David Leitner explores a concept often overlooked in leadership conversations: followership. He challenges the traditional belief that leadership alone drives success and explains why followership is an active, intentional choice that plays an equally powerful role in organizational performance.

Dr. Leitner breaks down the dynamic relationship between leaders and followers, emphasizing trust, mutual vision, and shared responsibility. He explains how strategic followership strengthens teamwork, improves organizational culture, and drives performance excellence.

This conversation also addresses cultural biases that glorify leadership while undervaluing followership and highlights how choosing to be a follower can lead to personal fulfillment, professional growth, and long-term impact.

This episode is essential listening for leaders, team members, managers, and anyone interested in personal development, servant leadership, and high-performing teams.

Key Topics Covered:

• Leadership and followership dynamics

• Strategic followership in organizations

• Teamwork and organizational culture

• Mutual vision and trust building

• Servant leadership and energy management

• Personal development through followership

• Performance excellence and team effectiveness

Keywords: leadership, followership, strategy, teamwork, organizational culture, personal development, servant leadership, energy management, mutual vision, performance excellence

Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Followership 05:05 The Dynamics of Leadership and Followership 10:07 Growing Followership in Organizations 15:01 The Importance of Followership 20:04 Cultural Perspectives on Leadership and Followership 24:54 Strategic Followership and Team Dynamics 29:57 Practical Applications of Followership 35:06 Personal Insights on Followership and Energy Management 40:07 Conclusion: The Choice of Followership

#LeadershipDevelopment #Followership #Teamwork #OrganizationalCulture #ServantLeadership #PersonalGrowth #PerformanceExcellence #StrategicLeadership #WorkplaceCulture

In this powerful episode, Pavel Kovsharov shares his inspiring business journey from a corporate executive to a successful entrepreneur in the family entertainment industry. Starting his first business at just 16, Pavel reveals how entrepreneurship became his life’s calling and what led him to leave corporate life after a pivotal vacation.

Pavel dives deep into the realities of building and scaling a family entertainment business, navigating global challenges like the pandemic and war, and leading teams through uncertainty. He highlights the critical role of company culture, leadership principles, and adaptability in long-term business success.

This conversation also explores international expansion, market analysis, brand reputation, and personal growth as essential pillars for sustainable entrepreneurship.

Whether you are a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or business leader, this episode offers practical insights on resilience, leadership, and building businesses that last.

Key Topics Covered:

• Entrepreneurship and early business mindset

• Transition from corporate executive to entrepreneur

• Building and scaling a family entertainment business

• Overcoming business challenges and global crises

• Leadership principles and company culture

• International expansion and market adaptability

• Brand building and long-term personal growth

Keywords: entrepreneurship, business journey, family entertainment, company culture, leadership principles, international expansion, overcoming challenges, personal growth, market analysis, adaptability

Chapters: 00:00 Pavel’s Entrepreneurial Journey Begins 07:33 Building a Family Entertainment Empire 11:08 Overcoming Challenges in Business 15:56 Expanding Internationally 23:52 Creating a Positive Company Culture 30:26 Leadership Principles and Lessons 35:54 Adapting to Change in a Dynamic World

#Entrepreneurship #BusinessJourney #FamilyEntertainment #LeadershipDevelopment #CompanyCulture #InternationalBusiness #StartupLife #BusinessGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #FounderStories

In this episode, Sebastian Gerhardt, founder of Flee, shares his entrepreneurial journey and deep insights into improving developer experience in modern software organizations. He explains why developer productivity cannot be measured by output alone and how organizational structure, team culture, and feedback systems play a critical role in engineering success.

The conversation explores how CTOs and engineering leaders can identify friction points, foster open communication, and build high performing teams, especially in remote and distributed work environments. Sebastian Gerhardt also shares practical advice for adapting engineering management practices to the future of work.

Key Topics Covered

• Developer experience and productivity in software teams

• Why output based metrics fail engineering teams

• Team culture and psychological safety

• Feedback systems and survey driven insights

• Organizational structure and engineering management

• Remote work and the future of software development

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastiangerhardt/

helloflea.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/helloflea

#DeveloperExperience #EngineeringLeadership #CTO #SoftwareDevelopment #TeamCulture #RemoteWork #EngineeringManagement #Productivity #FutureOfWork

In this powerful episode, Davidson Oturu shares hard-earned insights from years of working with startups and first-time CEOs. He breaks down why having a great idea is not enough to run a successful business and highlights the most common mistakes new CEOs make in execution, operations, and financial management.

David emphasizes the importance of understanding core business principles, building a leadership team with complementary skills, and defining company culture from day one. He also explores the critical relationship between CEOs and boards, the importance of aligning vision with stakeholder expectations, and why leadership must be treated as a continuous learning journey.

This episode is essential listening for founders, first-time CEOs, and startup leaders aiming to build sustainable, high-performing companies.

Key Topics Covered

• Common mistakes made by first-time CEOs

• Why ideas alone do not build successful businesses

• Business strategy and execution fundamentals

• Team building and leadership composition

• Company culture and long-term success

• CEO and board alignment

• Leadership development in startups

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsonoturu/

#StartupAdvice #FirstTimeCEO #LeadershipDevelopment #CompanyCulture #StartupSuccess #BusinessStrategy #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #FounderLeadership