On today’s Dear Heretics segment, Kelli and Nolan deliver candid, practical advice for Chief People Officers navigating their critical first 90 days, featuring real-world insights on building stakeholder trust, executing quick wins, and establishing strategic organizational influence.

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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

(01:13) Three Core Goals for New CPOs

(01:41) Common Fail States to Avoid

(02:03) Over-Communicating with Your CEO

(02:23) Building Executive Relationships Beyond One-on-Ones

(02:58) Getting to the Ground Floor: The Modern Executive Approach

(03:19) The Colleen McCreary Method: 100 One-on-Ones in 90 Days

(04:26) Quick Wins and Board Relationship Strategy

(04:44) Four-Pillar Framework in Action

(05:34) Pre-Start Transparency: Setting Expectations Early

(06:40) The Four Pillars: Listen, Execute, Strategize, Build

(08:18) The Brutal Reality: 3X Speed for Three Months

(09:15) Sprint vs Marathon: Managing Energy and Family Expectations

(09:58) Reframing “S**t Shows” as Solvable Problems

(11:22) The Critical Importance of In-Person Time

(12:13) Sponsors: Ethena | Planful

(15:22) Building on Company Strengths vs Starting from Scratch

(16:31) Team Building Strategy: Know Before You Walk In

(17:47) Making “Unnatural” Efforts for Face-Time

(18:33) Build Your Scaffolding or Die: The Team Priority

(20:14) Ditch HR Speak: Talking Business, Not Corporate Vernacular

(21:47) CEO Shadowing: What It Really Means

(23:00) Real Partnership: Daily Communication and Quick Feedback Loops

(23:59) Sponsor: Metaview

(25:18) The Bait-and-Switch Problem in Executive Hiring

(27:10) Market Reality: Nine-Month Average Tenure Crisis

(29:21) Board Relationships and Air Cover Strategy

(30:10) Building Your Narrative: Board Meeting Preparation

(31:41) Documentation Strategy: Journaling and Whiteboarding

(32:09) Wrap

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

A CPO's First 90 Days

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

A CPO's First 90 Days