Building Elite Teams at Coinbase with L.J. Brock

Building Elite Teams at Coinbase with L.J. Brock

Update: 2025-10-02
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For today’s essential Heretics 101 feature, Kelli and Nolan talk to Coinbase Chief People Officer LJ Brock reveals how the company’s mission-first philosophy, refusal to negotiate salaries, and rigorous talent density standards challenge conventional HR orthodoxy.

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KEEP UP WITH L.J., NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

L.J.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbrock/

Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/

Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

LINKS:

Coinbase: http://www.coinbase.com/

For coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00 ) Intro

(00:46 ) Banning Politics at Work

(02:29 ) Backlash and Reality: “You’ll Never Work Again”

(04:32 ) The Near-Death Moment

(05:22 ) How Coinbase Creates Radical Ideas

(06:34 ) Talent Density: The Future of Hiring Standards

(09:04 ) CEO Approval for Every Hire

(09:14 ) Real-Time Feedback: Eliminating Manager Bias

(11:33 ) Performance Systems That Don’t Suck

(13:34 ) Sponsors: Ethena | Planful

(16:43 ) Work Trials

(15:37 ) Sponsor: Metaview

(16:43 ) Work Trials: The 12-Week Internship Strategy

(19:49 ) Single Pay Target

(21:00 )Executive Alignment on No Negotiation

(22:03 ) Stock Grants: From Four Years to One Year

(23:17 ) Building the Next Generation of CHROs

(26:40 ) Closing



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com
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Building Elite Teams at Coinbase with L.J. Brock

Building Elite Teams at Coinbase with L.J. Brock

HR Heretics