CPO PLAYBOOK with Felicia Shakiba
Episodes
92 How a CEO Biotech Founder Scaled to IPO Without Silicon Valley
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to build a biotech company without burning billions—or losing your conviction? In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, Felicia Shakiba...
91 From Athlete to Investor: How to Build Wealth & Scales Startups
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can financial education turn athletes into powerful investors? In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, Danny Cortenraede shares his journey from entrepren...
90 What Makes a Great CEO in Healthcare Entrepreneurship Today?
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you take a healthcare innovation from lab to market—without losing your shot at impact? In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, Sasha Schrode, CE...
89 Leadership Training: Unlocking Explosive Business Growth Through Culture and Performance
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you bet on people instead of acquisitions? In this insightful episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, Pia Ostos, EVP and Chief Performance Officer ...
88 How Private Equity Shares Equity to Motivate Employees
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When private equity enters the picture, alignment becomes everything. But how do you keep employees motivated through uncertainty? Start with equity. ...
87 Mastering M&A Culture: How 10 Companies Operate as One
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Tim Ringel, CEO of Meet, as he shares his unique experience of having 10 companies work together under one roof. In this insightful video, Tim re...
86 Raising Capital with Vision: $290M to See the Future
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Roman Axelrod, founder and CEO of Xpanceo, shares the bold vision behind raising capital - $290M to create smart contact lenses desig...
Bonus The Journey of Leadership: Celebrating Milestones
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Felicia Shakiba looks back at how far the podcast has come—and sets the stage for an even bolder season ahead. In this special episode, she teases t...
85 From Pharma to Future: How Bold Leadership Transformed Pluri
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the Season 3 finale, Pluri CEO Yaky Yanay joins Felicia Shakiba for a powerful conversation on leading transformation through trust, transparency, ...
84 Leaders Navigate Generative AI in Product Development
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Generative AI may be rewriting the rules, but Felicia Shakiba and Claurelle Rakipovic, Chief Product Officer at Pipe, break down what real product lea...
83 How to Navigate M&A with Effective Leadership Integrations
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the world of private equity and high-stakes M&A, financials are only half the story. The real differentiator? Leadership. This episode explores wha...
82 AI Transformation: When AI Takes Our Jobs
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Lewis unpacks the realities of AI transformation inside organizations — and what happens when AI takes our jobs. He shares stories of employees...
81 How Change Management Can Save Millions
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really take to lead lasting change inside an organization? Lyon Kassab, Managing General Partner at BoCG Ventures, breaks it down in this...
80 Leadership Evaluation in Private Equity Due Diligence
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Felicia Shakiba and Vikash Jha pull back the curtain on how private equity really sizes up leadership during acquisitions for business growth. From re...
79 How to Be More Confident
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can executives build authentic confidence and overcome self-doubt? Kip Knippel, President & CEO of KIP Search, shares actionable strategies for na...
78 Leadership Tips on the Employee Experience
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can HR leaders move beyond surveys to drive real business outcomes? Scott Leuchter, Global Chief People Officer at Ideal Tridon Group, shares how ...
77 The ROI of Alignment in Private Equity
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can private equity leaders align fast growth with long-term mission? Manna Tree’s Co-Founder Ross Iverson shares how founder-investor alignment ...
76 How PepsiCo Uses Responsible AI to Boost Employee Productivity
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can companies harness Responsible AI without losing the human touch? PepsiCo’s VP of People Solutions, Mark Sankarsingh, shares how the company ...
75 Transformational Leadership with Former Citigroup Divisional CFO Roman Labutin
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to be a transformational CFO today? Former Citigroup Divisional CFO Roman Labutin shares how the role is evolving—blending data-dr...
74 CFO-CPO Collaboration: Transforming Workforce Planning through Incentive Compensation
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can CFOs and CPOs drive better results—together? Robert Bendetti shares how finance-HR collaboration transforms workforce planning and performan...
75 AI in the Workplace
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is AI expertise more valuable than industry experience? Andrea Iorio explores how AI is reshaping hiring, leadership, and talent development. Learn wh...
72 How to Build Wealth from Nothing: Building Online Communities
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can online communities turn connection into capital? Maayan, TikTok superstar with over 1 billion views, shares how authentic engagement, content ...
71 Decoding Visa's Hasan Kazmi's "Global Expansion, Local Execution" Approach
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can companies scale globally without losing local relevance? Hasan Kazmi of Visa shares how global strategy meets local execution—balancing trus...
70 Enrique Rubio on AI in Leadership, Digital Transformation and More
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How is AI redefining leadership and the future of work? Enrique Rubio, founder of Hacking HR, explores how AI is reshaping workforce dynamics, leaders...
69 Angela Cheng-Cimini on Fostering Leadership Trust and Courage at Work
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can leaders build trust and courage across their teams? Angela Cheng-Cimini shares how psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and assumed t...
68 Acing Cultural Transitions Post Private Equity Acquisition with MCM's Kingsbury
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What really happens to culture after a company is acquired? Bobby Kingsbury of MCM Capital Partners reveals what most leaders overlook during post-acq...
67 Leadership's Role in Employee Engagement: Insights from NitroFix
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can leaders build a workplace where people feel truly valued? Ophira Melamed, CEO of Nitrofix, shares strategies grounded in transparency, purpose...
66 BuzzFeed's Chandler Bondan Reveals Secrets to Human and Organizational Development
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can companies achieve operational excellence in a hybrid world? BuzzFeed’s CPO Chandler Bondan shares how to lead with clarity, boost engagement...
65 CEO of Salva Health, Winner of TechCrunch Disrupt Winner in Live Executive Coaching
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you scale a startup while managing distributed teams? Valentina Agudelo Vargas, CEO of Salva Health and TechCrunch Disrupt winner, shares how t...
64 Building Your Empire: Serial Entrepreneurship in San Francisco
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What drives startup success from idea to exit? Stan Garber and Alex Yakubovich, founders of Scout RFP and LevelPath, share how solving real customer p...
63 Navigating Analysis Paralysis, AI, and Decision Making with William Tincup
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can organizations build AI literacy and drive innovation? William Tincup shares how “AI show and tell” sessions, business-focused adoption, an...
62 Attracting Cyber Talent to the Government
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can we solve the cybersecurity talent crisis in government? Katie Roberts, CEO of RPR Strategies, joins Felicia Shakiba to explore why over 30,000...
61 The Bra: A Case Study in Leadership and Innovation
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to lead innovation in lingerie manufacturing? Amir Moghadam shares how his team balances precision, collaboration, and technology to...
60 Women Leadership in the New Year
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What unique strengths do women bring to leadership? Jan Rutherford, founder of Crucible Expeditions, reflects on lessons from an all-women’s leaders...
59 Killers of the Flower Moon Producer on Authentic Leadership with Niels Juul
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What drives iconic brand success—and what threatens it? Niels Juul, founding member of Von Dutch and CEO of No Fat Ego Productions, shares how authe...
58 Reddit's Creative Head on Women's Wellness: Perimenopause
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How does perimenopause impact career trajectories? Marie Kare, Head of Creative at Reddit, opens up about her personal journey—sharing how she navig...
57 Ashaki Rucker from NBC Universal on Tackling Business Silos in the Workplace
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can HR leaders break down silos in fast-paced industries? Ashaki Rucker, SVP at NBCUniversal Telemundo and former HR leader at Disney and Time War...
56 Unicorn India Ventures on Leadership
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really take for founders to go the distance? Anil Joshi, founder of Unicorn India Ventures, reveals the hard truths of startup life—fro...
55 Planful CEO Grant Halloran on Work Culture
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can intentional culture drive performance through adversity? Grant Halloran, CEO of Planful, shares how values-led leadership, a culture book, and...
54 Teacher Retention Tips Amid High Turnover
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s driving high teacher turnover in early education? Jen Shpall, Director of Piper Preschool, reveals how burnout—not just pay or union gaps—...
53 Experian's CEO Jochen Werne on Post Acquisition Transformation and Cultural Integration
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How does culture make or break M&A success? Jochen Werne, CEO of Experian DACH, shares lessons from pandemic-era acquisitions—and why cultural manag...
52 John Radford on Workforce Future Needs
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can companies close pay gaps in a shifting talent market? John Radford, founder of Radford Surveys, unpacks total reward strategies—exploring pa...
51 Refreshing Vision and Mission Statements
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can redefining culture fuel business growth? Pat Walsh, CPO at Potbelly Sandwich Works, shares how reshaping the company’s mission, vision, and ...
50 Building a Global Brand with Nityo's CEO Naveen Kumar
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to lead successful global expansion? Naveen Kumar, CEO of Nityo Corporation, shares how he navigated cultural complexity, resource m...
49 CEO Rob Gardner on Solving Toxic Talent
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when top talent turns toxic? Robert Gardner, CEO of Rebalance Earth, explores how even high performers can damage team dynamics—and sha...
48 Tesla's People Analytics: Insights from Hoover
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can people analytics drive real impact in your organization? Bryce Hoover, former Head of People Analytics at Tesla, shares why purpose, structure...
47 Adidas Presidential Succession Plan Unveiled
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can effective succession planning boost performance and investor returns? Alim Dhanji and Michael Rossi share how they executed a smooth leadershi...
46 Portillo's CPO on Leadership Transformation
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can leadership development fuel retention and growth? Jill Waite, CPO at Portillo’s, shares how the Ignite Program builds internal talent, stren...
45 Accor CEO Duncan O'Rourke on Top Exec Teams
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes an executive team truly high-performing? Duncan O’Rourke, CEO of Accor, shares how results-driven leadership, values alignment, and strat...
44 HR Leadership with Virgin Money's Syreeta Brown
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can HR strategy become a true driver of business success? Syreeta Brown, Group CPO at Virgin Money, shares how aligning HR with business goals, le...
43 Googler Jennie Ibrahim on Inclusivity of Women in Tech
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s holding women back in engineering—and how do we fix it? Jennie Ibrahim, Engineering Manager at Google, unpacks the barriers women face in t...
42 SoftBank's CISO Role with Gary Hayslip
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How is the role of the CISO evolving in today’s threat landscape? Gary Hayslip shares how cybersecurity leaders are stepping beyond IT—shaping str...
41 Global Talent Recruiting Strategies
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to build a successful global recruitment strategy? James Ayres of Archlynk shares how to navigate cross-cultural hiring, align recru...
40 Performance Management with Kyle Lagunas
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can AI and data transform performance management? Kyle Lagunas of Aptitude Research shares how aligning stakeholders and prioritizing data quality...
39 Reducing Risk with NSU's Entrepreneur Framework
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can entrepreneurs face failure—and come out stronger? John Wensveen, Chief Innovation Officer at Nova Southeastern University, shares bold solut...
38 Sales Training on Social Selling with Tim Hughes
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can social selling transform your sales strategy? Tim Hughes, CEO of DLA Ignite, shares how a buyer-first approach on LinkedIn—powered by authen...
37 ColdCart CEO Jason Park on Achieving an Entrepreneurial Mindset
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What leadership traits set successful entrepreneurs apart? Jason Park, CEO and Co-founder of ColdCart, shares how focusing on the “why,” embracing...
36 Snapping Up Executives at Snap
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do so many executive hires fail—and how can you prevent it? Tony Bush, Head of Executive Search at Snap, reveals why cultural misalignment and p...
35 Is College Worth It? with Extern CEO Matt Wilkerson
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can externships solve the confidence crisis in higher education? Matt Wilkerson, CEO of Extern, shares how real-world, remote projects help students b...
34 How to Start People Analytics with Richard Rosenow
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do strong data foundations elevate people analytics? Richard Rosenow, VP at OneModel, shares why data governance, structure, and quality are non-n...
33 Leadership & ChatGPT with Chief HR Scientist Dr. Veldsman
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the real potential of AI in shaping the future of HR and leadership? Dr. Dieter Veldsman, Chief HR Scientist at AIHR, explores how tools like...
32 How to Set OKRs with ChatGPT with Enrique Rubio
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can AI tools like ChatGPT transform HR strategy? Enrique Rubio of Hacking HR shares how AI supports OKR design, goal setting, and performance mana...
31 Becoming the Boss at Valentino
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to become the boss? Alessandro Patruno of Valentino shares his inspiring leadership journey—revealing how he built trust, embraced...
30 HBR on Career Pathing with SVP Angela Cheng-Cimini
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can career path design unlock talent and boost mobility? Angela Cheng-Cimini of Harvard Business Publishing shares how a strategic career framewor...
29 Well-being's Impact on Company Culture with Laurie Ruettimann
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is burnout inevitable—or is it a signal to lead yourself differently? Former HR exec Laurie Ruettimann shares how her own career burnout sparked a j...
28 ChatGPT and the Chief AI Officer
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can AI drive smarter decisions—and real ROI—in life sciences? Matt Lewis, Global Chief AI Officer at Inizio Medical, unpacks the evolving role...
27 CEO & Chief People Officer (CPO) Relationship Dynamics
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes the CEO-CPO partnership truly effective? Former Chief People Officer Alex Seiler shares how CEOs and CPOs can build trust, align on strateg...
26 Creativity with Cirque du Soleil Executive Daniel Lamarre
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when creativity becomes a company’s greatest asset? Daniel Lamarre of Cirque du Soleil shares how embracing risk, learning from failure...
25 Performance Management Best Practices with Felicia Shakiba
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the secret behind building high-performance teams? Felicia Shakiba shares her personal journey and the real-world insights that led to the cr...
24 Best Leadership Skills 2023 Part 2
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do top leaders say about the future of HR, analytics, and leadership? In Part 2 of our highlights series, hear from Dr. Daisy Grewal on people an...
23 Best Leadership Insights 2023 (Part 1)
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What are the biggest leadership lessons from our top guests? This special episode revisits standout moments from CPO PLAYBOOK—featuring insights on ...
22 HR Work Burnout: Causes & Solutions
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is HR burnout putting your entire organization at risk? Julie Turney, CEO of HR@Heart, joins Felicia Shakiba to unpack the hidden costs of HR fatigue—...
21 Build Trust from the Courtroom to the Boardroom
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you build trust across a multi-generational workforce? With high-trust companies outperforming others by 286%, this episode explores how leader...
20 International Downsizing
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can leaders navigate international restructuring across cultures? Liu Liu of Tearfund shares lessons from work in 50+ countries—offering practic...
19 Leadership Skills in Mergers and Acquisitions
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to build a high-performing executive team during M&A? Matteo Turi, Chairman of Letoon Holding, shares proven strategies from the fro...
18 Talent Acquisition Refined by Q Hamirani
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What people strategies fueled Airbnb’s explosive growth and IPO? Q Hamirani, former Global Head of People Ops at Airbnb, shares how the company scal...
17 The Path to Promotion at Work
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the secret to building a strong leadership pipeline? Marc Effron, President of The Talent Strategy Group, shares his “Talent Production Lin...
16 Workplace Communication with Stanford Professor Matt Abrahams
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can leaders communicate clearly under pressure—and across cultures? Stanford lecturer Matt Abrahams joins CPO PLAYBOOK to share powerful communi...
15 HR Technology Conference on AI and More Part 2
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How are fairness, benefits, and HR tech evolving in today’s HR landscape? In Part 2 of our series, we explore how leaders like IBM and Workday—and...
14 HR Technology Conference on AI and More Part 1
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What’s next for HR tech—and how will it reshape your workforce? Live from the HR Technology Conference in Las Vegas, this episode covers the lates...
13 Fortune 100 Leadership Buy-In Strategies
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you win leadership buy-in? Brad Williams of Northwestern Mutual shares real-world strategies for securing executive buy-in, implementing data-d...
12 BuzzFeed Employee Engagement Strategies
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really take to create an exceptional employee experience? Chandler Bondan of BuzzFeed shares how thoughtful L&D, smart engagement surveys...
11 New Management Training Techniques
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do new managers need to succeed—and what usually gets in their way? Leadership expert Eric Girard shares practical strategies for first-time ma...
10 AI-Powered Job Skills Inventory
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can AI-powered skills taxonomies transform talent management? Brian Ray shares how to design effective, data-rich taxonomies that support both tal...
09 AI Potential in Workforce Management
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How is the potential for AI transforming the future of workforce planning? Ali Nawab, CEO of Agentoon, shares how data-driven strategies and the pote...
08 Value-Driven Culture: AKQA São Paulo's Success with Google, Netflix, and Usher featuring Co-Chief Creative Officers Hugo Veiga and Diego Machado
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can values fuel creativity and attract top-tier clients? Hugo Veiga and Diego Machado of AKQA São Paulo share how a values-driven culture shapes ...
07 Intuit Debunks Myth on Organizational Design
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are middle managers the unsung heroes of organizational success? Dr. Daisy Grewal, Senior Manager of People Analytics at Intuit, unpacks the overlooke...
06 Leadership Skills in the African Renewable Energy Industry
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to lead Africa’s renewable energy revolution? Stephan LeCam shares the three leadership traits driving impact across the continent...
05 DEI Challenges & Solutions with Dr. Greg Pennington
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does effective DEI leadership really look like? Dr. Greg Pennington, former VP of HR at Johnson Controls, shares practical DEI strategies and com...
04 Harvard Fellow on Organizational Culture & Transformation
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you transform culture when no one wants to talk about it? Harvard Fellow Ann Le Cam joins Felicia Shakiba to unpack how leaders can overcome re...
02 What is Diversity? with Todd Kashdan
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does DEIB actually impact business performance? DEIB expert Todd Kashdan joins Felicia Shakiba to break down the true meaning behind DEI terms, ho...
03 How To Determine CEO Salary
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why is executive compensation so controversial—and what should leaders do about it? Shelly Carlin joins Felicia Shakiba to unpack the structure of e...
01 Colleen McCreary on the Future of HR Leadership
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How is the Chief People Officer role evolving in today’s workplace? Colleen McCreary, former Chief People, Place, and Publicity Officer at Credit Ka...
CPO PLAYBOOK with Felicia Shakiba Trailer
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for one of the best business podcasts out there? Check out CPO PLAYBOOK with Korn Ferry executive coach Felicia Shakiba. Each episode tackles...