From CPO to CEO: Michelle Wagner Tells All

In this episode of HR Heretics, Kelli and Nolan sit with Michelle Wagner as she shares her journey from Chief People Officer at AOL and Evernote to becoming the CEO of MindStrong, a healthech company.

Michelle, who may be “N of 1” in the CPO to CEO company trajectory, discusses her early career, the challenges she faced in different leadership roles, and the strategic decisions she made during her tenure as CEO of MindStrong.

This candid conversation offers valuable insights for HR professionals and aspiring leaders, highlighting the multifaceted responsibilities and realities of executive leadership — plus what the job search looks like after you’ve been a CPO and a CEO.

*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: hrheretics@turpentine.co

HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.

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This episode is brought to you by Warp. Don’t let payroll and compliance hold your startup back: visit https://joinwarp.com/peel to get started and receive a $1000 gift card when your first run payroll.

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KEEP UP WITH MICHELLE, NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

Michelle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelledwk/

Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/

Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:52) Nostalgia and Beginnings at AOL

(04:43) Evernote: Peaks and Challenges

(08:46) The Unexpected CEO Transition at MindStrong

(12:50) Navigating Chaos and Rebuilding: The First Year as CEO

(15:00) The Tension of a CEO Transition: Navigating Dynamics and Loyalty

(16:42) Sponsors: Planful | Workvivo

(19:23) The Tension of a CEO Transition: Navigating Dynamics and Loyalty (continued)

(29:06) The CEO Learning Curve: Mastering Business Acumen and Facing Vulnerability

(33:03) Heartbreak and Determination

(33:44) Sponsors: Metaview | Warp

(35:49) The Acquisition Process: Balancing Patient Care, Investor Expectations, and Team Stability

(40:30) Finding the Next Chapter and Overcoming Preconceived Notions

(41:52) Career Reflections and Future Plans

(47:00) The Unfairness of Expectations on CPOs

(55:26) The Power of Transparency: A Case Study in Building Trust and Respect

(1:03:11) Wrap