Signal to Noise

Spiky Talent, Ruthless Performance, and the Future of Hiring with Nolan Church

What does it actually take to build world-class teams in a hypergrowth company? In this episode of the Signal to Noise Podcast, Michael Newcomer, CEO of Riviera Partners, sits down with Nolan Church, Founder of Mafia Talent, to discuss the hidden realities of hiring at scale, why the best companies obsess over recruiting long after product-market fit, and how leaders like DoorDash CEO Tony Xu built extraordinary talent density through rigorous hiring discipline. What You’ll Learn: * How to manage performance ruthlessly without corporate theater * Why spiky talent outperforms mediocrity during times of change * The founder's biggest hiring mistake * How to systematize trust during hypergrowth to avoid the ‘bad, stupid, lazy’ narrative trap * Why new grad hiring will disappear in the next five years Nolan Church is the Founder of Mafia Talent and Host of HR Heretics, bringing over 16 years of experience at the intersection of talent, recruiting, and organizational scaling. With a background as a recruiter at Google, Head of Recruiting at DoorDash during its hypergrowth phase, and Chief People Officer at Carta, Nolan has developed rare expertise in building high-performing teams and managing talent density at scale. Known for his contrarian takes on performance management, compensation transparency, and AI's impact on recruiting, Nolan challenges conventional HR wisdom to drive real business outcomes. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Episode Resources: * Nolan Church on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/] * Mafia Talent on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mafiatalent/] * Turpentine Website [https://www.turpentine.co/] * HR Heretics Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-heretics-how-cpos-chros-founders-and-boards-build/id1712407491] * Michael Newcomer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-n-3103a722/] * Riviera Partners Website [https://www.rivierapartners.com/] * Riviera Partners on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/riviera-partners/posts/?feedView=all] Signal to Noise is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

The Tech Leadership Compilation: Scaling Teams, Culture & AI with Leaders from Twitter, Sonos & Datadog

In this curated edition of the Signal to Noise Podcast, leaders from across technology, venture, cybersecurity, AI, and product share the real signals behind great leadership, talent, and company-building. From lessons on the rugby field to building hyperscale security teams, from AI-readiness at the board level to what separates good data scientists from great ones, this episode explores how top operators think when the stakes are high. What You’ll Learn: * How to leverage unexpected leadership laboratories * The reference-checking framework that reveals who candidates really are * Why humility and curiosity separate great leaders from competent ones * The bottom-up strategy approach that unlocks scaling at hyperscale companies * The non-negotiable requirement for AI readiness in organizations If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Episode Resources: * Tiama Hanson-Drury on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiamahd/] * Toufic Boubez on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tboubez/] * Jon Krohn on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkrohn/] * Bill Murphy on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamwmurphy/] * Emilio Escobar on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilioesc/] * Patrick Spence on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickspence/] * Mike Abbott on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelabbott/] * Riviera Partners Website [https://www.rivierapartners.com/] * Riviera Partners on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/riviera-partners/posts/?feedView=all] Signal to Noise is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

Why AGI Is Noise and Data Is the Signal in Healthcare Innovation with Laurent Bride

AI is everywhere in biotech right now. However, Laurent Bride's message is simple: the model is rarely the bottleneck; the data is. In this episode of the Signal to Noise Podcast, Laurent, Chief Digital Officer at Revolution Medicines, joins host Matt Skiba to discuss what it really takes to innovate responsibly in healthcare. What You’ll Learn: * Why data foundation beats AI capability * How to build hybrid teams that bridge tech and domain expertise * How to master trade-offs in compliance-heavy organizations * Why humans remain underrated in the AI era * The product mindset shift healthcare leaders must make Laurent Bride is a seasoned digital and technology leader with deep expertise in enterprise software, data platforms, and AI-native systems, now applying that experience to the healthcare sector. He currently serves as Chief Digital Officer at Revolution Medicines, where he leads digital strategy at the intersection of cutting-edge science, data, and patient impact. Previously, Laurent built and scaled high-performance product and engineering organizations across B2B enterprise environments, specializing in big data, cloud, API management, and analytics. He also advises Bain Capital Ventures as a CTO Advisory Board member and serves on the board of Wiiisdom, bringing a strong perspective on data governance, compliance, and building trusted platforms at scale. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Episode Resources: * Laurent Bride on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurent-bride-8b5353/] * Revolution Medicines Website [https://www.revmed.com/] * Matt Skiba on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewskiba/] * Riviera Partners Website [https://www.rivierapartners.com/] * Riviera Partners on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/riviera-partners/posts/?feedView=all] Signal to Noise is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

From Strategy to Execution: How Tiama Hanson-Drury Gets Teams Rowing Together Part-2

In part two of this episode of Signal to Noise, Glenn Murphy continues his conversation with Tiama Hanson-Drury, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Opus 2, diving into the mechanics of execution at scale. Tiama unpacks how she bridges strategy and execution through the “messy middle,” aligns teams around the metrics that truly matter, and leads product and technology without being a traditional technologist. From navigating U.S. vs. European tech cultures to driving focus through a single success metric, this episode offers a practical masterclass in modern, commercially minded leadership. What You’ll Learn: * Why most organizations fail in the “messy middle” between strategy and execution * How MECE thinking helps non-technical leaders effectively run product and technology teams * Key differences between U.S. and European tech cultures and how to lead across both * How to reframe risk so teams prioritize growth over safe inaction * Why collapsing product, technology, and GM roles is becoming more common * How one defining metric can align an entire organization * The practical steps Tiama used to shift focus from adoption to success rate * How cross-functional operating cadences drive faster learning and execution * Why discipline and focus matter as much as timing in acquisition outcomes * How clarity of accountability creates psychological safety and trust * What it really takes to keep teams rowing in the same direction at scale Tiama Hanson-Drury is an award-winning executive with a track record of scaling businesses and increasing enterprise value through product, technology, GTM, and AI innovation. She currently leads global product and technology at Opus 2. Previously, she served as CPO at Minna Technologies, where she led growth initiatives culminating in an acquisition by Mastercard, and held executive roles at Zappi and Dynata. Tiama is known for low-ego leadership, cross-functional execution, and her passion for building high-performing, diverse teams. Glenn Murphy is Managing Partner and Head of Riviera Europe at Riviera Partners. With a career spanning London and New York, Glenn has deep expertise in executive search for engineering, product, and design leaders. He has completed over 400 executive-level searches and works closely with some of the world’s leading technology companies to help them build exceptional leadership teams. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Episode Resources: * Tiama Hanson-Drury on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiamahd/] * Opus 2 Website [http://www.opus2.com/] * Glenn Murphy on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennmurphy24/?originalSubdomain=uk] * Riviera Partners Website [https://www.rivierapartners.com/] * Riviera Partners on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/riviera-partners/posts/?feedView=all] Signal to Noise is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

How Tiama Hanson-Drury Leads Product, Tech, and AI Through Change Part-1

In this episode of Signal to Noise, Glenn Murphy sits down with Tiama Hanson-Drury, award-winning Chief Product and Technology Officer at Opus 2, to explore what it really takes to lead product and technology through moments of disruption. Drawing on her experience scaling businesses across legacy industries, Tiama shares how she tunes out AI hype, builds high-trust teams, and focuses relentlessly on competitive advantage. From rejecting traditional leadership advice to redefining what great talent looks like, Tiama offers a candid look at modern, low-ego leadership in an era of rapid technological change. What You’ll Learn: * How to cut through AI hype and focus on signals that drive real competitive advantage * Why low-ego leadership and high-trust systems outperform “smartest person in the room” models * The three traits Tiama looks for when hiring elite product and technology leaders * How to assess whether talent from big tech can thrive in smaller, high-impact environments * Why company stage matters more than brand names when building teams * What’s overhyped and underappreciated in agentic AI systems today * A practical framework for approaching your first 100 days in a new executive role * How deeply understanding your business model sharpens product and strategy decisions Tiama Hanson-Drury is an award-winning executive with a track record of scaling businesses and increasing enterprise value through product, technology, GTM, and AI innovation. She currently leads global product and technology at Opus 2. Previously, she served as CPO at Minna Technologies, where she led growth initiatives culminating in an acquisition by Mastercard, and held executive roles at Zappi and Dynata. Tiama is known for low-ego leadership, cross-functional execution, and her passion for building high-performing, diverse teams. Glenn Murphy is Managing Partner and Head of Riviera Europe at Riviera Partners. With a career spanning London and New York, Glenn has deep expertise in executive search for engineering, product, and design leaders. He has completed over 400 executive-level searches and works closely with some of the world’s leading technology companies to help them build exceptional leadership teams. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Episode Resources: * Tiama Hanson-Drury on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiamahd/] * Opus 2 Website [http://www.opus2.com/] * Glenn Murphy on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennmurphy24/?originalSubdomain=uk] * Riviera Partners Website [https://www.rivierapartners.com/] * Riviera Partners on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/riviera-partners/posts/?feedView=all] Signal to Noise is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]