The Talent Economy Podcast

Branch is a deep-linking and mobile-attribution platform that helps companies build and measure user journeys. In 2014, Mada Seghete co-founded Branch on the fundamental principle that breaking down silos on the internet is critical to a brand’s ability to build engaging and relevant end-user experiences. Branch initially focused on delivering a deep-linking solution to navigate the complex mobile ecosystem and get users to the right destination. Its platform now also powers mobile attribution for 50,000+ of the world’s most advanced apps, helping companies like Airbnb, Pinterest, Slack, Ticketmaster, Tinder, Starbucks, and Yelp measure their users’ journeys. While attending Web Summit in Lisbon, Seghete, Branch’s current Managing Director and VP of Marketing, joined Toptal’s Chief People Officer Michelle Labbe to discuss creating Branch, women in tech, the future of work, and her Web Summit experience. Some Questions Asked:How does Branch differentiate itself from its competitors?Why do you think so many people who left their jobs during the Great Resignation are deciding to return? How do you see the future of work evolving in the next few years? In This Episode, You Will Learn:What inspired the founding of Branch. What the culture is like at Branch and how the company upholds its mantra of “Build, Grow, Win.”Advice for women who want  to launch their own tech startup.Links:Mada Seghete - LinkedInMichelle Labbe - LinkedInToptal - LinkedInThe Talent Economy podcast

Toptal is a network of the world’s top talent in business, design, and technology that enables companies to scale their teams on demand. Founded in 2010 and now the world’s largest fully remote company, Toptal has served more than 21,000 clients and has a global network of talent in 140+ countries.Kimberly Hall, Toptal’s VP of Revenue Operations, sat down with Toptal’s CEO Taso Du Val at Toptal’s Women in Tech Lounge at Web Summit 2022 in Lisbon. Du Val shares insights into the future of work, Web3, the financial benefits of implementing a remote workforce, and more.Some Questions Asked:Why was this a key year for Toptal to take part in the Web Summit conference?What was the inspiration behind the creation of Toptal’s Women in Tech Lounge? Will Toptal continue to lean into the Web3 space? In This Episode, You Will Learn:What companies should be thinking about as the workplace evolves.What the future of the talent economy looks like.The financial benefits of implementing a remote workforce.Links:Taso Du Val - LinkedInKimberly Hall - LinkedInToptal - LinkedInThe Talent Economy podcast

Suzy is a leading global consumer insights platform that integrates quantitative and qualitative research with high-quality audience insights into a single connected research cloud. In this episode of The Talent Economy podcast, Anthony Onesto, Suzy’s Chief People Officer, speaks with Toptal’s Chief People Officer, Michelle Labbe.Some Questions Asked:How do you incorporate the book Radical Candor into Suzy’s cultural philosophy? 6:42What is the importance in challenging directly and allowing for contrarian ideas? 10:21How does Suzy support employees who have a side hustle? 15:45 In This Episode, You Will Learn:How Onesto decided to implement Radical Candor into Suzy’s culture.How Onesto came up with the idea for his comic series, “Ella the Engineer.”How Suzy is using data and analytics in the benefits space. Links:Anthony Onesto - LinkedInMichelle Labbe - LinkedInToptal - LinkedInThe Talent Economy podcast

Chegg is a connected platform enabling students to learn more in less time—and at reduced costs. The company offers discounted textbooks, online tutoring, and other student services, while providing diverse employee upskilling and development opportunities. Debra Thompson is Chegg’s Chief People Officer, infusing the brand’s culture of innovation, transparency, wellness, and work/life balance throughout the company. Previously, she served as Director of Compensation, Benefits, and HR Operations at Amyris and held directorial and managerial roles at RMS, CNET Networks, and Lucent Technologies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and personnel administration/industrial relations from California State University, East Bay.Some Questions Asked:What is Chegg’s approach to the upskilling, learning, and development of internal teams? 5:17What is the culture like at Chegg, and how do you maintain it? 11:53Can you tell us about Chegg’s partnership with the Tides Foundation? 21:54 In This Episode, You Will Learn:How Chegg offers learning opportunities for all employees, such as its Level Up initiative that includes seven different flagship management trainings, like giving and receiving feedback and behavioral interviewing, as well as its EDU for You program that gives staff money to pursue education in their personal fields of interest.That the culture at Chegg is built on openness, assumptions of positive intent from everyone, and optimal work/life balance—and that the company holds an annual culture, belonging, and diversity summit.How the brand’s philanthropic arm, Chegg.org, partners with groups to combat hunger, promote good health and well-being, deliver access to quality education and decent work opportunities, and reduce inequalities throughout the world. Links:Debra Thompson - LinkedInMichelle Labbe - LinkedInToptal - LinkedInThe Talent Economy podcast

Users depend on Yelp for great customer reviews but how do its remote team members depend on one another? CPO Carmen Orr talks about the company’s recent transition to remote work, how the company invests in employee well-being, and what a thriving culture looks like. Carmen Orr joined Yelp earlier this year with 20 years of HR experience. Her main focus has been on transitioning the company into a remote environment.  Some Questions Asked:What attracted Orr to Yelp? 4:17How does Orr guide her team to support Yelp’s employees? 12:52How does Orr manage her self-care and model that standard for her employees? 21:24In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the company’s plans to invest in their employee experience.How Orr maintains a thriving, remote work culture.What Yelp does to manage authenticity on its platform.Links:Carmen Orr - LinkedInYelp - LinkedInMichelle Labbe - LinkedInToptal - LinkedInThe Talent Economy podcast

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? 17:33What is the MusiCares program and how did it help artists thrive in 2020? 20:39How 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 - LinkedInThe Recording Academy® - LinkedInMichelle Labbe - LinkedInToptal - LinkedInThe Talent Economy podcast

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? 6:25How has being an all-remote company factored into GitLab’s ability to attract and retain talent, especially over the last two years? 11:24How 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 - GitLabWendy Barnes - LinkedInGitLab - LinkedInMichelle Labbe - LinkedInToptal - LinkedInThe Talent Economy podcast

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? 6:33How does MarketWise blend its culture with that of newly acquired companies? 16:26What 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 - MarketWiseCynthia Cherry - LinkedInMarketWise - LinkedInMichelle Labbe - LinkedInToptal - LinkedInThe Talent Economy podcast

At Omni Hotels & Resorts, individual employees are empowered to make decisions that can have a big impact on the guest experience and the company. Joy Rothschild, CHRO of Omni, discusses the “power of one” concept, the importance of workplace culture, and why connecting authentically with talent matters in today’s job environment. Some Questions Asked:How does Omni attract talent for its hotel positions? 10:53What has kept Rothschild at Omni for more than 40 years? 6:03Where did the “power of one” idea originate? 19:43 In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Omni’s unique culture and community. How the “power of one” appeals to both employees and customers. Why and how companies should listen to their employees. Links:Joy Rothschild - LinkedInOmni Hotels & Resorts - LinkedInMichelle Labbe - LinkedInToptal - LinkedInThe Talent Economy podcast