Doug Owen
CHRO
Washoe County School District
Episode 290
Culture-Driven Success: Empowering Employees for AI-Fueled Organizational Transformation.
Current chapter: Built by People podcast features insights from world's top HR leaders
Built By PeopleFebruary 24, 2025 · 12:50
Thesis
“A strong, intentional organizational culture, driven by clear vision and guiding principles, is essential for empowering employees to leverage technology and navigate challenges, ultimately leading to organizational success and a healthier, more engaged workforce.”
Show notes
Integrating IT into HR: Building a People-centric Culture with Doug Owen from Washington County School District.
In this episode of the Built by People podcast, sponsored by Previ, host Dave D'Angelo speaks with Doug, the Chief HR Officer at Washington County School District. Doug shares his career transition from IT to HR, emphasizing the importance of developing a people-centric culture aligned with organizational values.
He provides examples of how guiding principles like continuous improvement have enhanced processes, discusses the challenges of merging IT and HR, and highlights the role of AI and healthcare management in the future of HR.
Doug concludes with advice on the significance of intentional culture building.
00:00 Introduction to the Built by People Podcast
00:16 Sponsorship Message from Previ
00:44 Guest Introduction: Doug's Career Journey
02:09 Building a People-Centric Culture
03:24 Guiding Principles in Decision Making
05:35 Integrating IT Knowledge into HR Practices
07:43 Fostering a People-Centric Organization
09:40 Future Trends in HR
11:52 Parting Advice on Organizational Culture
12:42 Conclusion and Farewell
What you'll take away
- 1Culture starts with vision and purpose, championed by executive leadership, and established through guiding principles.
- 2Leveraging technology in HR requires helping people understand the 'art of the possible' and training them to think beyond traditional methods.
- 3HR should shift from transactional work to transformative roles, acting as a consulting partner to the business, facilitated by AI.
- 4Proactively helping employees navigate complex healthcare systems can lead to a more engaged and healthier workforce.
- 5An intentional culture is crucial; if not actively shaped, one will form that may not align with the organization's mission.
What most organizations get wrong
- •Personnel is often seen as an expenditure; Doug Owen reframes this, asking 'how do we put it to best use?' to highlight HR's strategic value beyond cost.
- •Rather than fearing AI will take jobs, Doug Owen suggests it enables employees to work on 'higher value things,' shifting HR from transactional to transformative.
In Doug's words
“One of the last projects that, that we were working on was implementing a new human capital management system... they said, well, how would you do it? And you got the job. So that was my transition into HR...”
Highlights an unconventional and opportunistic entry into HR, driven by technical expertise.
“I firmly believe in empowering people. To leverage their strengths and accomplish those objectives. And if you have that right culture and the, and the people can, can do that, you end up being very successful in achieving your outcomes.”
Articulates the core belief that empowering people within a strong culture drives success.
“A lot of people, even on the team, were like, there is no way we're We're going to be able to get this done in 3 months. And they did it.”
Illustrates successful, rapid change implementation against internal skepticism.
“I tell people technology can do anything. You want it to do. You just have to be able to think that way and be able to change hearts and minds to be able to leverage the technology.”
Emphasizes the mindset shift required for effective technology adoption in HR.
“I like to tell people, no, I actually want you to work on higher value things. And this is that migration in the HR space from transactional work to really transformative, where we can be a consulting partner to our business, not just run the paperwork in the backend and be an administrative function.”
Clearly outlines the strategic shift HR can make by leveraging AI to move beyond administrative tasks.
“every organization has a culture. If you haven't implemented a very intentional culture, one exists that may or may not match your intended vision and mission.”
A crucial piece of advice highlighting the active role HR leaders must take in shaping culture.
The problems this episode addresses
- •Employees struggling with monthly expenses (Previ sponsor mention).
- •Inefficient, paper-based HR processes (e.g., 8,500 individual meetings for open enrollment).
- •IT teams lacking empathy or human element in their interactions.
- •Resistance to adopting new technology in HR due to ingrained 'old ways' of doing things.
- •Fear among employees that AI will take their jobs.
- •HR being perceived as purely administrative or transactional.
- •Employees getting confused and frustrated navigating complex healthcare systems (insurance, TPA, pharmacy, provider).
- •Sick workforce due to inability to leverage available healthcare resources.
- •Unintentional or misaligned organizational cultures.
In this episode
Built by People podcast features insights from world's top HR leaders
Built by People
Dave: Thanks for sharing your career journey with us. I really appreciate it
In the Elevator With Doug Jones
You believe organizations can effectively build a culture that prioritizes people
WSJD Live: The Need for a Culture
Doug, you touched very briefly on this concept of guiding principles
District 4, Leading Principles
What challenges have you encountered integrating IT knowledge into HR practices
The Challenges of Integrating IT Knowledge into HR Practices
My next question is around fostering a people-centric organization
Fostering a People-Centric Organization
What trends or changes do you foresee in the field of HR that organizations need prepared for
WSJD Live: Future of HR
HR professionals need to prepare for healthcare changes in the workplace
Employment HR Strategy: Healthcare
Doug: Every organization has a culture, and if you haven't implemented one
Doug, any parting advice
Doug, thank you so much for joining us on Built by People podcast
Doug Krupa on Built by People
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Organizations and entities mentioned
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