Comcast: Leading With Integrity

05/07/24 • 32 min

Founded in 1963, Comcast has grown into a leading global media and technology company with hundreds of millions of customers and viewers across its range of products and services. With its blend of innovative technology and captivating entertainment, Comcast provides a collaborative, forward-thinking work environment, which achieved ninth place on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in 2023.

As Executive Vice President of Human Resources for the company’s connectivity and platforms division—including Comcast Xfinity, one of the largest Internet providers in the US—Bill Strahan has been at the forefront of delivering an ambitious employee benefits package and ensuring Comcast continues to innovate.

Drawing on his three decades of HR expertise, Strahan speaks to Toptal’s Chief People Officer Michelle Labbe about the universal truths of his profession and how to lead the way with integrity.

Some Questions Asked:

How does Comcast contribute to fostering an innovative corporate culture?
Why are Comcast jobs well suited for millennials and younger talent?
How will AI innovation impact the HR function?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Why the most critical element of HR is “allowing people to reinvent themselves.”
How Comcast’s Project UP aims to achieve digital equity across the US.
How Comcast chooses the employee benefits to include in its range of work perks, including tuition reimbursement, theme park tickets, pet insurance, and employee assistance programs.

Some Questions Asked:

How does Comcast contribute to fostering an innovative corporate culture?
Why are Comcast jobs well suited for millennials and younger talent?
How will AI innovation impact the HR function?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Why the most critical element of HR is “allowing people to reinvent themselves.”
How Comcast’s Project UP aims to achieve digital equity across the US.
How Comcast chooses the employee benefits to include in its range of work perks, including tuition reimbursement, theme park tickets, pet insurance, and employee assistance programs.

Links:

Bill Strahan - LinkedIn
Comcast - LinkedIn
Michelle Labbe - LinkedIn
Toptal - LinkedIn
Staffing.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

FedEx: People, Service, and Profit

Founded in 1973, the FedEx corporation has become one of the world’s largest transportation companies. Delivering in more than 220 countries and holding a valuation of $90 billion, FedEx attributes its success to a simple philosophy of “People, Service, Profit.” These three words embody a cycle: Employees deliver on services that generate profits, and FedEx reinvests these profits into the workforce.

Mike Lauderdale’s understanding of the company’s operations is invaluable. After 40 years at FedEx, he is currently serving as Vice President of Human Resources. In a conversation with Toptal Chief People Officer, Michelle Labbe, Lauderdale explains how the company culture has changed during his time with FedEx, and how it has maintained its people-centric mantra amid a rapidly changing industry.

Some Questions Asked:

How has FedEx’s culture evolved over the four decades that Mike Lauderdale has been with the company?
How is FedEx using AI and robotics to optimize its operations?
What strategies does FedEx employ to foster career mobility and development?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How corporate programs can improve staff retention.
How to communicate a people-first philosophy that engages talent.
How remote working can enhance connectivity across all company tiers.

Links:

Mike Lauderdale - LinkedIn
FedEx - LinkedIn
Michelle Labbe - LinkedIn
Toptal - LinkedIn
The Talent Economy Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Upstart: Mission-driven Leadership

HR leadership is evolving in the digital world. Upstart Chief People Officer, Becca Gelenberg, joins the podcast to discuss pioneering talent strategies that embrace AI, flexibility, and remote work.

Upstart launched its AI-based lending platform in 2012 with the ambitious goal to improve access to credit for all. Its advanced technology helped the company win the 2022 National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions Services Innovation Award and earn a market capitalization of over $2 billion as a public company.

With leadership experience from global tech companies including Google and HP, Gelenberg guides Upstart’s innovative approach to work and recruitment while ensuring her HR strategies align with the company’s business goals.

Speaking with Toptal’s Michelle Labbe, Gelenberg discusses her commitment to employee empowerment and how Upstart retains a competitive advantage as the AI marketplace grows increasingly competitive.

Some Questions Asked:

How do Upstart’s HR management and business strategies differ from tech giants like Google and HP?
Which AI tools does Upstart use for people operations and how does it impact the employee experience?
How does Upstart’s “digital-first” company culture differ from other hybrid models?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How a liberal arts background can help with HR management and analysis of employee performance.
What to consider in a strategic HR plan for scaling a company.
Why the shift to remote work may influence traditional workplace hierarchies and leadership perceptions.