
GitLab: Leading in an Open-source World
09/09/22 • 30 min
Functioning as an all-remote company requires a unique set of skills, including flexibility, understanding, and streamlined communication. As Chief People Officer of the innovative DevOps platform GitLab, Wendy Barnes knows how to identify and promote these skills. In this episode of The Talent Economy, Barnes shares insight on remote work, recruitment, retention, and employee well-being.
Barnes brings more than 20 years of HR experience to GitLab. Prior to joining the tech company, she served as CHRO at Palo Alto Networks, helping scale processes as their employees grew in number from 750 to 5,000. With her keen problem-solving skills and experience with diverse, global companies, she cultivates a positive and inclusive work environment.
Some Questions Asked:
- What does it mean for GitLab to be open source? 6:25
- How has being an all-remote company factored into GitLab’s ability to attract and retain talent, especially over the last two years? 11:24
- How did GitLab choose their company values and communicate them to current and future employees? 17:40
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- About the Family and Friends program that improved productivity and morale.
- How GitLab supports the health and wellness of employees.
- Why GitLab uses informal communication to build culture.
Links:
- Wendy Barnes - GitLab
- Wendy Barnes - LinkedIn
- GitLab - LinkedIn
- Michelle Labbe - LinkedIn
- Toptal - LinkedIn
- The Talent Economy podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Functioning as an all-remote company requires a unique set of skills, including flexibility, understanding, and streamlined communication. As Chief People Officer of the innovative DevOps platform GitLab, Wendy Barnes knows how to identify and promote these skills. In this episode of The Talent Economy, Barnes shares insight on remote work, recruitment, retention, and employee well-being.
Barnes brings more than 20 years of HR experience to GitLab. Prior to joining the tech company, she served as CHRO at Palo Alto Networks, helping scale processes as their employees grew in number from 750 to 5,000. With her keen problem-solving skills and experience with diverse, global companies, she cultivates a positive and inclusive work environment.
Some Questions Asked:
- What does it mean for GitLab to be open source? 6:25
- How has being an all-remote company factored into GitLab’s ability to attract and retain talent, especially over the last two years? 11:24
- How did GitLab choose their company values and communicate them to current and future employees? 17:40
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- About the Family and Friends program that improved productivity and morale.
- How GitLab supports the health and wellness of employees.
- Why GitLab uses informal communication to build culture.
Links:
- Wendy Barnes - GitLab
- Wendy Barnes - LinkedIn
- GitLab - LinkedIn
- Michelle Labbe - LinkedIn
- Toptal - LinkedIn
- The Talent Economy podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode

MarketWise: The Future Is Flexible
The constant change in the financial market may be challenging to keep on top of, which is why MarketWise partners with researchers to better inform self-directed investors. Change also comes from within, as MarketWise’s mergers and acquisitions strategy has grown the company from just under 300 employees in 2017 to more than 800 currently. CHRO Cynthia Cherry talks about how MarketWise attracts and retains top talent and the importance of a healthy culture.
Cherry became the CHRO at MarketWise in 2018 and built its human resources function. Her HR strategy focuses on employee relations and talent acquisition.
Some Questions Asked:
- How does MarketWise approach mergers and acquisitions? 6:33
- How does MarketWise blend its culture with that of newly acquired companies? 16:26
- What does MarketWise do to recognize and listen to talent? 22:55
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- Why Cynthia remained at Ober Kaler for 18 years.
- How MarketWise engages talent in a competitive market.
- About the strategies MarketWise uses to express appreciation for employees.
Links:
- Cynthia Cherry - MarketWise
- Cynthia Cherry - LinkedIn
- MarketWise - LinkedIn
- Michelle Labbe - LinkedIn
- Toptal - LinkedIn
- The Talent Economy podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode

The Recording Academy®: Growth for the GRAMMYs®
The Recording Academy® goes beyond the GRAMMYs®, investing in its artists, community, and employees. Shonda Grant, Chief People & Culture Officer, recounts how the Recording Academy adapted to the pandemic, partnered with nonprofit organizations and artists, and invested in employee development and leadership training. Grant oversees the Recording Academy’s talent acquisition, organizational development, compensation, and employee safety and well-being; she also serves as the executive coach to the senior management team.
Some Questions Asked:
- What new skills did leadership adopt during the pandemic? 17:33
- What is the MusiCares program and how did it help artists thrive in 2020? 20:39
- How did the Recording Academy assess compensation for roles that became remote? 14:30
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- How the Recording Academy® attracts and retains employees.
- About the transparency that encourages internal hires.
- How the GRAMMY® Museum invests in potential industry talent.
Links:
- Shonda Grant - The Recording Academy®
- Shonda Grant - LinkedIn
- The Recording Academy® - LinkedIn
- Michelle Labbe - LinkedIn
- Toptal - LinkedIn
- The Talent Economy podcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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