In HRchat episode 503, we hear from an HR leader who was integral to designing and building the culture and people processes at LinkedIn. My guest today is Steve Cadigan. Steve is a highly sought-after talent advisor to leaders and organizations across the globe.
His work in helping shape the culture at LinkedIn led Stanford University to build a graduate-level class around this ground-breaking work. Steve is frequently asked to appear on global TV and is a frequent guest on Bloomberg West and CNBC.
Today, as the Founder of the Silicon Valley-based firm, Cadigan Talent Ventures, Steve advises a wide range of innovative organizations that include Twitter, Cisco, Intel, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Salesforce, and the BBC. He is also regularly retained by some leading Venture Capital and Consulting firms such as Andreesen Horowitz, McKinsey & Company, Sequoia, and Greylock Partners for his counsel on a wide range of talent topics. Steve speaks at conferences and teaches at major universities around the world.
Questions Include:
- You were the first CHRO hired at LinkedIn and led the company’s growth up to and through what is still considered one of the most successful IPOs in modern tech. You were responsible for laying the foundation of an amazing transformative culture that has been repeatedly recognized as the gold standard for how to build culture during hyper-growth LinkedIn culture to this day is still revered for its dynamic culture and many University Business Schools have built case studies on the topic. Talk about your role at LinkedIn, the challenges, and what you’re most proud of.
- What are the characteristics of the most successful HR leaders?
- You describe yourself as a “talent hacker” because you help create unique approaches to inspire success in individuals, teams, and organizations. Talk about work done at Cadigan Talent Ventures.
- You have been speaking a lot recently about the need for us to build a new language around work – can you share why you feel this way?
- Today we face one of the most dynamic moments in history when it comes to the role of HR and a changing world of work. What are you most excited about and what gives you hope that the future is bright?
More About Steve
Throughout his career, the teams, cultures, and organizations Steve has led and helped build have been recognized as exceptional, “world-class” performers by the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine.
Before launching his firm, Steve worked as an HR executive for over 25 years at a wide range of companies and industries including ESPRIT, Fireman’s Fund Insurance, Cisco Systems, PMC-Sierra, Electronic Arts, and capped by serving as the first CHRO for LinkedIn from 2009 through 2012, taking the company from a private firm of 400 employees, through an IPO and helping set it up to be the powerhouse that it has become today. In 2021 Steve received the high honor of being invited by both The University of San Francisco and Stanford University to deliver their commencement speeches.