April 29, 2025
Episode 136: Building LinkedIn’s Talent Engine with Steve Cadigan
In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld sits down with Steve Cadigan, first Chief HR Officer at LinkedIn and author of Workquake. Steve shares his unexpected journey from a history major with zero interest in business to becoming a globally recognized HR executive. From recruiting at Esprit to scaling LinkedIn from 400 to 4,000 employees, Steve reflects on the lessons learned across industries and continents. He offers powerful insights on human-driven work and leadership, talent strategy, and what it really takes to build systems from scratch in fast-moving environments. For leaders who want to invest in their people and create stronger teams, this episode offers a fresh perspective.
Building LinkedIn’s Talent Engine with Steve Cadigan
Guest Bio
Steve is a top talent strategist and leadership expert with 30+ years of experience. He famously led LinkedIn’s early hyper-growth phase as its first CHRO, building its world-class company culture from scratch, and scaling the organization from 400 to 4,000 employees in 3.5 years.
As one of the most provocative global thought leaders on the future of work, Steve is hired not only by F500 companies but by entire countries to help them navigate the talent landscape. His clientele spans all the way from Google, X, Slack, BBC, and Intel, to the City of Lisbon, which hired him to develop the startup incubator Unicorn Factory.
His award-winning book Workquake is considered a game changer for leaders and organizations on the future of work in a post-COVID world. He has also written for Forbes and Inc., will soon be writing for Business Insider, and frequently appears on Bloomberg and CNBC to talk about the evolving nature of work, talent management, the Big Resignation, and successful leadership.
He is regularly asked for advice by legacy institutions like Harvard, as well as top VCs and management firms including Accenture, Deloitte, and McKinsey, and today sits on the board of three corporations.
Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction to the Future of Teamwork Podcast
01:27 Meet Steve Cadigan: Leadership Expert and Talent Strategist
02:09 Steve’s Early Life and Career Journey
08:26 Building a World-Class Company Culture at LinkedIn
11:42 The Dynamic Nature of Modern Careers
16:26 The Role of AI in Talent Management
24:21 The Power of Human Connection in Career Growth
29:12 Journey of Self-Discovery
29:38 Parental Expectations and Personal Fulfillment
30:48 Value and Career Choices
31:31 Career Week Controversy
33:00 The Gig Economy and Self-Awareness
36:02 The Importance of Diverse Experiences
37:29 Adapting to Rapid Change
40:40 The Future of Learning and Work
44:00 The Role of AI in Talent Development
52:18 Creating Inspiring Work Environments
56:15 Conclusion and Contact Information
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