If you were newly appointed to lead your organization’s people strategy, what would be on your “day one” list of priorities?
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Interview people to understand what's in the way of getting work done. Leadership often focused on the org chart and alignment, but helping people focus on the work -- instead of the complicated ways work gets done -- can help drive engagement and trust in management. Sat surveys are useful, but they only show that issues exist, and don't typically show what issues are problematic.
GTM works best when the entire team stays aligned, so using the right tools makes a huge difference. Platforms like Notion, Airtable, and Asana help us organize launches, track ownership, and keep everyone accountable. We’re also starting to use AI for faster positioning drafts, competitive insights, and workflow automation. It’s been great for speeding up early GTM stages while keeping the team focused on higher-value strategy.
If I were stepping in to lead the people strategy, my day-one priorities would be simple: listen, learn, and build trust. I’d start by understanding the team’s current challenges, clarifying what success looks like for everyone, and creating an environment where people feel supported and empowered. A strong culture starts with understanding the people behind it.
1) Assessment 2) Values and Norms establishment / confirmation with C-Suite
Listen first. Understand where communication breaks down, where teams operate in silos, and start fixing the gaps that stop good people from doing great work.