In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky dives into the peculiarities of office life with guest Menaka Chang, a Fractional Chief People Officer. From an ex-employee treating the office like a personal lounge to navigating bureaucratic slowdowns in startups, they discuss the nuances of building high-performance cultures. They delve into the transition challenges when startups get acquired and how to maintain a performance-driven yet people-first culture. Tune in for insights on maintaining a people-first culture while still being performance-driven!

Key Takeaways

• The significance of blending various life and career experiences to enhance leadership and team dynamics in rapidly growing companies


• The pivotal role of positive corporate culture in fostering robust employee engagement


• Why people-first cultures may conflict with performance-driven environments


• The challenges of adapting to a slower, more bureaucratic workplace environment following a corporate acquisition


• The importance of adaptability, communication, and humor in the workplace

In This Episode

00:00 - Introduction and Welcome

01:09 - Meet Menaka Chang

08:36 - High Performers and Interview Techniques

14:01 - Weirdest Workplace Moment

16:33 - Week in Work: Ghost Job Listings

25:37 - Listener Question #1: Job Offers

27:52 - Listener Question #2: Startup Slowdowns

36:39 - Workplace Weirdness: Desk Perchers

40:09 - Conclusion and Farewell

Notable Quotes

• [09:28 ] "The zone of genius is when people really find that they are doing work and they almost feel like no time has passed, where you feel like you're in a flow state and you're doing great work." - Menaka Chang

• [12:37 ] " The best companies are performance driven because they are people-first. They treat employees well, they set clear expectations, they reward great work. People perform at their best when those things are happening." - Menaka Chang

• [26:16 ] " You should never feel pressured to sign a contract within an hour. That's a huge red flag. It sounds like a scare tactic or disorganized hiring process." - Menaka Chang

Resources and Links

Menaka Chang

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/menaka-chang

Maya Kadar Kovalsky

• Website https://www.mayakadar.com/


• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/

Workplace Weirdness

• Email: info@workplace-weirdness.com


• SpeakPipe http://speakpipe.com/workplaceweirdness


• Website https://workplace-weirdness.com/


• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workplaceweirdpod/

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.