Leading Culture: Building the Future of Work

What happens when HR starts telling the unvarnished truth? (with Christine Song, Founder 5 to 9 Society)

What happens when HR starts telling the unvarnished truth? In this episode, Workleap’s Chief People Officer, Kahina Ouerdane, sits down with Christine Song — former Chief People Officer at Knix, turned founder and CEO of 5 to 9 Society — for a raw conversation about leadership, loneliness at the top, and what it really means to be honest in business. They explore why HR has traditionally been governed by secrecy, how speaking plainly with CEOs can change the trajectory of a company, and what can get lost when founders are replaced by “operators.” Christine also shares why she chose to show the messy, human side of HR on LinkedIn, how that transformed her career, and why the best leaders see their roles as partnerships, not pedestals. If you’ve ever felt the tension between protecting feelings and telling the truth, or wondered how to scale without losing the soul of your culture, this episode will hit home.

What if HR and IT weren’t separate functions, but one team? (Manuela Paoletta, SVP of People and Culture at AlayaCare, and Kahina Ouerdane, CPO at Workleap)

In this episode of Leading Culture, Kahina Ouerdane chats with Manuela Paoletta, SVP of People and Culture at AlayaCare, about what it really looks like to lead both HR and IT, and why more companies should consider it. They dive into the power of breaking down silos, how tech impacts culture and onboarding, and the evolving role of HR in driving AI adoption

Scaling Culture, Remotely (Katya Laviolette, CPO at 1Password, and Kahina Ouerdane, CPO at Workleap)

How do you scale fast without losing what makes your culture special? In this episode, Workleap’s CPO Kahina Ouerdane sits down with Katya Laviolette, CPO at 1Password, to talk about growing a global, remote team—while staying true to your values. They dive into codifying culture, onboarding with intention, and why clarity and candor are must-haves in a high-growth world. A must-listen for anyone building culture at scale.

Beyond Ratings: Performance Without the Box (Shirvani Mudaly, CPO at Lightspeed, and Kahina Ouerdane, CPO at Workleap)

What if ratings aren’t the only (or even the right) answer to better performance? And what would happen if we trusted people more — not less — to grow, stretch, and lead? In this episode, Kahina Ouerdane, Chief People Officer at Workleap, sits down with Shirvani Mudaly, Chief People Officer at Lightspeed, for an honest conversation about reimagining performance management. Together, they explore why traditional systems often create noise instead of clarity, how feedback and trust build the foundation for high-performing teams, and why great leadership is more about meaningful conversations than perfect frameworks. From practical tips on goal-setting to the deeper question of purpose at work, this episode is packed with wisdom for anyone rethinking what performance can look like in today’s world of work. It’s an invitation to shift from control to connection — and lead with the kind of clarity that truly moves people.

Leading Through Change with Intent (Afroditi Ladovrechis, CPO at Innocap, and Kahina Ouerdane, CPO at Workleap)

What happens when you’re leading people through transformation—while transforming yourself at the same time?In this episode, Kahina, Chief People Officer at Workleap, is joined by Afroditi Ladovrechis, Chief People Officer at Innocap, for an honest conversation about the realities of HR leadership in moments of deep change. From navigating a major M&A to shifting from law to people operations, Afroditi shares how she’s learned to lead with heart, navigate ambiguity, and protect culture through complexity.Together, they explore what it really means to bring your full self to work, why alignment with organizational values matters, and how to evolve culture without losing its core. This is an episode about honesty, empathy, and the messy, meaningful work of building something better—for your people, and for yourself.