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The Talent Economy Podcast - Upstart: Mission-driven Leadership

Upstart: Mission-driven Leadership

05/28/24 • 32 min

The Talent Economy Podcast

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.

Links:



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

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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.

Links:



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

Previous Episode

undefined - Comcast: Leading With Integrity

Comcast: Leading With Integrity

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.

Links:



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

Next Episode

undefined - Warner Music Group: Working in Harmony

Warner Music Group: Working in Harmony

HR leadership is the silent composer of a successful music industry. In this episode, Warner Music Group’s Masha Osherova discusses leading a company filled with creative ambition and shaping the future of music with HR.


One of the “big three” recording companies in the music industry, Warner Music Group operates in over 50 countries and represents major artists such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dua Lipa, and Ed Sheeran. In 2021, Warner Music Group won the Diversity in the Workplace accolade at the Women in Music Awards.


As Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Masha Osherova has been instrumental in crafting a culture that matches Warner Music Group’s creative aspirations. Since joining the company in 2006, Osherova has overseen all aspects of Warner Music Group’s people functions worldwide.


On the podcast, Osherova joins Toptal’s Michelle Labbe to discuss curating a creative ecosystem that supports artists from breakthrough to stardom.

Some Questions Asked:

  • How does Warner Music Group support flexible work arrangements while continuing to foster an in-person creative culture among its employees?
  • What innovative approaches has Warner Music Group taken to identify and attract top talent in a competitive industry?
  • What music-related perks does Warner Music Group offer to its staff?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

  • How a STEM education can provide the skills needed for success in HR.
  • What challenges arise when trying to align the needs of creative professionals with the business objectives of HR.
  • How to address employee mental health through proactive leadership.

Links:



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

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