Built by People Leaders

#9 Business First, People Thrive: A Modern Playbook for HR Leaders with Shayna Cooke's

In this episode of Build by People Leaders, Daria Rudnik speaks with Dr. Shayna Cook, Chief People Officer at Dominion Payroll, about what it really takes to build modern organizations where people and performance thrive together.
Shayna shares her nonlinear journey from science teacher to HR executive, why HR must think like a business owner, and how to move from “accidental organizations” to intentionally designed systems. She also walks through her practical AI transformation playbook — including governance, human oversight, and the three pillars guiding adoption — and tells the surprising story of how one employee built internal AI agents that saved the company hundreds of thousands of dollars.
 
A grounded, practical conversation for HR leaders navigating growth, AI, and real business impact.
 
Company website: www.dominionpayroll.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaynacooke/
 
Takeaways
• From science teacher to Chief People Officer — a nonlinear path that reshaped modern HR leadership.
• Why HR must think like a business owner before advocating for people.
• The 3-pillar AI playbook that turns transformation into measurable impact.
• How building a culture of innovation unlocks unexpected employee growth and engagement.
• Stop running “accidental organizations” — start designing systems where people and performance thrive.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to HR and AI Transformation
04:50 Shayna's Nonlinear Career Path
09:54 The Role of HR in Organizational Systems
14:44 AI Integration in HR
19:57 Building a Culture of AI Engagement
24:38 Advice for HR Leaders
29:30 Unexpected Outcomes of AI Implementation

#8 Breaking the Cycle of Decision Loops with Roshan Chander

In this high-impact episode, executive coach Roshan Chander breaks down why leaders and executives get stuck in invisible decision loops that quietly limit growth, authority, and performance.
Roshan explains how autopilot decision-making forms mental loops that affect leadership effectiveness, productivity, and long-term business strategy. He introduces the concept of a personal decision audit and shares practical steps leaders can take to identify patterns, build self-awareness, and move from reaction to intentional response.
Through real client stories and clear frameworks, this conversation highlights how cutting decision loops can unlock clarity, confidence, and measurable business results.
This episode is ideal for founders, executives, and professionals focused on leadership development, career growth, and better decision-making.
Key Topics Covered:
Decision-making patterns and mental loops
Leadership self-awareness and personal audits
Breaking autopilot behavior
Executive coaching insights
Productivity and performance improvement
Strategic thinking and career growth
Keywords:decision making, leadership, mental loops, self-awareness, personal audit, business strategy, executive coaching, productivity, decision patterns, career growth
 
Chapters:00:00 Understanding Decision Loops06:18 Identifying Personal Patterns12:08 The Importance of Auditing Decisions18:09 Breaking Free from Autopilot20:27 Transformative Client Stories22:24 Practical Steps to Cut Loops
 
#DecisionMaking #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #SelfAwareness #BusinessStrategy #Productivity #CareerGrowth #HighPerformance #LeadershipMindset

#7 The Power of Followership in Leadership with Dr. David Leitner

In this insightful episode, Dr. David Leitner explores a concept often overlooked in leadership conversations: followership. He challenges the traditional belief that leadership alone drives success and explains why followership is an active, intentional choice that plays an equally powerful role in organizational performance.
Dr. Leitner breaks down the dynamic relationship between leaders and followers, emphasizing trust, mutual vision, and shared responsibility. He explains how strategic followership strengthens teamwork, improves organizational culture, and drives performance excellence.
This conversation also addresses cultural biases that glorify leadership while undervaluing followership and highlights how choosing to be a follower can lead to personal fulfillment, professional growth, and long-term impact.
This episode is essential listening for leaders, team members, managers, and anyone interested in personal development, servant leadership, and high-performing teams.
Key Topics Covered:
Leadership and followership dynamics
Strategic followership in organizations
Teamwork and organizational culture
Mutual vision and trust building
Servant leadership and energy management
Personal development through followership
Performance excellence and team effectiveness
Keywords:leadership, followership, strategy, teamwork, organizational culture, personal development, servant leadership, energy management, mutual vision, performance excellence
 
Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Followership05:05 The Dynamics of Leadership and Followership10:07 Growing Followership in Organizations15:01 The Importance of Followership20:04 Cultural Perspectives on Leadership and Followership24:54 Strategic Followership and Team Dynamics29:57 Practical Applications of Followership35:06 Personal Insights on Followership and Energy Management40:07 Conclusion: The Choice of Followership
 
#LeadershipDevelopment #Followership #Teamwork #OrganizationalCulture #ServantLeadership #PersonalGrowth #PerformanceExcellence #StrategicLeadership #WorkplaceCulture

#6 From Corporate Executive to Entrepreneur: Pavel Kovsharov's Journey in Building a Family Entertainment Empire

In this powerful episode, Pavel Kovsharov shares his inspiring business journey from a corporate executive to a successful entrepreneur in the family entertainment industry. Starting his first business at just 16, Pavel reveals how entrepreneurship became his life’s calling and what led him to leave corporate life after a pivotal vacation.
Pavel dives deep into the realities of building and scaling a family entertainment business, navigating global challenges like the pandemic and war, and leading teams through uncertainty. He highlights the critical role of company culture, leadership principles, and adaptability in long-term business success.
This conversation also explores international expansion, market analysis, brand reputation, and personal growth as essential pillars for sustainable entrepreneurship.
Whether you are a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or business leader, this episode offers practical insights on resilience, leadership, and building businesses that last.
Key Topics Covered:
Entrepreneurship and early business mindset
Transition from corporate executive to entrepreneur
Building and scaling a family entertainment business
Overcoming business challenges and global crises
Leadership principles and company culture
International expansion and market adaptability
Brand building and long-term personal growth
Keywords:entrepreneurship, business journey, family entertainment, company culture, leadership principles, international expansion, overcoming challenges, personal growth, market analysis, adaptability
Chapters:00:00 Pavel’s Entrepreneurial Journey Begins07:33 Building a Family Entertainment Empire11:08 Overcoming Challenges in Business15:56 Expanding Internationally23:52 Creating a Positive Company Culture30:26 Leadership Principles and Lessons35:54 Adapting to Change in a Dynamic World
 
#Entrepreneurship #BusinessJourney #FamilyEntertainment #LeadershipDevelopment #CompanyCulture #InternationalBusiness #StartupLife #BusinessGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #FounderStories

#5 Revolutionizing Developer Experience and Productivity with Sebastian Gerhardt, Founder of Flee

In this episode, Sebastian Gerhardt, founder of Flee, shares his entrepreneurial journey and deep insights into improving developer experience in modern software organizations. He explains why developer productivity cannot be measured by output alone and how organizational structure, team culture, and feedback systems play a critical role in engineering success.
The conversation explores how CTOs and engineering leaders can identify friction points, foster open communication, and build high performing teams, especially in remote and distributed work environments. Sebastian Gerhardt also shares practical advice for adapting engineering management practices to the future of work.
Key Topics Covered
Developer experience and productivity in software teams
Why output based metrics fail engineering teams
Team culture and psychological safety
Feedback systems and survey driven insights
Organizational structure and engineering management
Remote work and the future of software development
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastiangerhardt/
helloflea.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/helloflea
#DeveloperExperience #EngineeringLeadership #CTO #SoftwareDevelopment #TeamCulture #RemoteWork #EngineeringManagement #Productivity #FutureOfWork

#4 Navigating Startup Challenges: Practical Insights for First-Time CEOs with Davidson Oturu

In this powerful episode, Davidson Oturu shares hard-earned insights from years of working with startups and first-time CEOs. He breaks down why having a great idea is not enough to run a successful business and highlights the most common mistakes new CEOs make in execution, operations, and financial management.
David emphasizes the importance of understanding core business principles, building a leadership team with complementary skills, and defining company culture from day one. He also explores the critical relationship between CEOs and boards, the importance of aligning vision with stakeholder expectations, and why leadership must be treated as a continuous learning journey.
This episode is essential listening for founders, first-time CEOs, and startup leaders aiming to build sustainable, high-performing companies.
Key Topics Covered
Common mistakes made by first-time CEOs
Why ideas alone do not build successful businesses
Business strategy and execution fundamentals
Team building and leadership composition
Company culture and long-term success
CEO and board alignment
Leadership development in startups
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsonoturu/
#StartupAdvice #FirstTimeCEO #LeadershipDevelopment #CompanyCulture #StartupSuccess #BusinessStrategy #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #FounderLeadership

#3 HR Leadership, Scale-Ups, and the Future of Work with Simon Mulder

In this insightful episode, Simon Mulder shares his journey from software engineering to becoming a global HR leader. He explores how leadership styles evolve across large corporations and fast growing scale-ups, the real challenges behind mergers and acquisitions, and why many organizations struggle with integration and alignment.
Simon Mulder also draws powerful parallels between parenting and leadership, emphasizing transparency, adaptability, and long-term thinking. From corporate culture to continuous learning and strategic decision-making, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders navigating the future of work.
Key Topics Covered
HR leadership and organizational development
Corporate culture in scale-ups vs large enterprises
Leadership styles across growth stages
Mergers and acquisitions challenges
Parenting principles applied to leadership
Continuous learning and future-ready organizations
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonmulder/?originalSubdomain=nl
#HRLeadership #CorporateCulture #FutureOfWork #LeadershipDevelopment #ScaleUps #MergersAndAcquisitions #OrganizationalDevelopment #ContinuousLearning #StrategicLeadership #PeopleLeadership

#2 The Future of Work: Self-Managed Organizations and Team Empowerment with Veiko Valkiainen

In this episode, Veiko Valkiainen explores the concept of self-managed organizations and how they are reshaping leadership, decision-making, and workplace culture. The conversation breaks down the principles of self-management, the role of Holacracy, and why clear role boundaries are critical for success.
We dive deep into decentralized decision-making, team dynamics, and the challenges organizations face when shifting away from traditional hierarchies. Veiko also shares why autonomy and empowerment are becoming essential skills for the modern workforce and how organizations can adapt responsibly.
This episode is a must-listen for leaders, founders, HR professionals, and anyone curious about organizational design and the future of work.
Key Topics Covered  
What self-managed organizations really mean
How authority is distributed across roles
The fundamentals of Holacracy
Decision-making without traditional hierarchy
Team alignment and resolving tensions
Risks and challenges of self-management
Empowerment, autonomy, and workplace culture
Preparing organizations for the future of work
Key Takeaways  
Self-managed organizations distribute authority among role holders
Clear role boundaries are essential for effective self-management
Holacracy is a structured model for radical decentralization
Decision-making happens at the role level, not the top
Tensions are addressed through structured meetings
Autonomy requires high ownership and accountability
Empowerment is central to the future of work
Resistance to change is a common challenge
Meaningful contribution is replacing rigid job titles
Strong team dynamics fuel collaboration and independence
Chapters  
00:00 Exploring Self-Managed Organizations
04:42 Understanding Self-Management
08:06 Practical Applications of Self-Management
11:28 Holacracy: A Model for Self-Management
19:45 Decision-Making in Self-Managed Organizations
25:19 Team Dynamics in Self-Management
32:46 Challenges and Risks of Self-Management
36:36 Preparing for the Future of Work
 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veiko-valkiainen/
 
#FutureOfWork #SelfManagement #Holacracy #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalDesign #WorkplaceCulture #TeamEmpowerment #DecentralizedLeadership #ModernWorkplace #PeopleFirst

#1 From Support to Strategy: Claiming the Table as a People Leader With Daria Rudnik

In this episode of Build by People Leaders, we’re talking about the seat at the table — and why it’s built, not given.
For years, HR leaders have worked to be recognized as true business partners, not just support or administrative functions. While progress is happening, there’s still a critical gap — especially when it comes to AI.
According to IBM’s 2025 CEO Report, only 1% of CEOs expect HR to support their company’s AI transformation. That number should stop us.
AI is already reshaping how we work, how we lead, and how organizations build capability. If HR and People leaders are not at the core of this shift — preparing leaders, designing systems, and shaping new ways of working — then who is?
This episode sets the tone for why Build by People Leaders exists:to elevate those internal leaders who are earning trust, building capability, and turning people strategy into business strategy.
Because the seat at the table isn’t given.It’s built — by People Leaders.

#0 Welcome to Build by People Leaders with Daria Rudnik

Welcome to Build by People Leaders, a podcast brought to you by Aidra.AI, an AI coach for leaders in tech, and hosted by Darya Rudnik, team architect and executive leadership coach.
This podcast is created for in-house HR leaders, people partners, founders, and executives who are building the people side of fast-growing organizations.
On this show, you’ll hear real stories — not just frameworks — from internal leaders shaping culture, scaling leadership, and aligning people strategy with business impact.
Our guests work in tech, fintech, SaaS, and other growth-focused sectors, sharing how they earn trust, drive change, and build teams that fuel performance.
If you care about leading from within and shaping how organizations are built, you’ll feel at home here.
This is Build by People Leaders.