For today’s essential Heretics 101 feature, Kelli and Nolan talk to Coinbase Chief People Officer LJ Brock reveals how the company’s mission-first philosophy, refusal to negotiate salaries, and rigorous talent density standards challenge conventional HR orthodoxy.

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KEEP UP WITH NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

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

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

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LINKS:

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

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:46) Banning Politics at Work

(02:29) Backlash and Reality: “You’ll Never Work Again”

(04:32) The Near-Death Moment

(05:22) How Coinbase Creates Radical Ideas

(06:34) Talent Density: The Future of Hiring Standards

(09:04) CEO Approval for Every Hire

(09:14) Real-Time Feedback: Eliminating Manager Bias

(11:33) Performance Systems That Don’t Suck

(13:34) Sponsors: Ethena | Planful

(16:43) Work Trials

(15:37) Sponsor: Metaview

(16:43) Work Trials: The 12-Week Internship Strategy

(19:49) Single Pay Target

(21:00)Executive Alignment on No Negotiation

(22:03) Stock Grants: From Four Years to One Year

(23:17) Building the Next Generation of CHROs

(26:40) Closing

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

Building Elite Teams at Coinbase with LJ Brock

“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies