Today, we’re speaking with Stephanie Bonnet, a PE/VC Chief Human Resources Officer.

Having built and rebuilt HR functions across multiple organizations, how do you define what a truly effective HR team looks like today?

Today is the keyword. A truly effective HR team is business-first, data-driven, and tightly aligned with business outcomes. It focuses on the levers that matter most: hiring velocity, quality of talent, leadership effectiveness, retention of top performers, and performance accountability.

 Also, I think HR needs to stay lean, and the function should be designed to influence productivity and growth, not just operate as a support layer or a reactive resource, but as a proactive partner. To do that, HR needs to be tech-enabled, execution-oriented, automated in whatever ways matter most, especially as far as being able to provide real-time insights to leadership.

It also requires operator rigor: prioritizing speed in how and when we act, and choosing clarity over unnecessary processes and policies; in other words, not just creating programs simply for the sake of creating them.

Today we’re speaking with Kendall Cherry, the Founder and Chief Storyteller at The Candid Collective. Kendall, can you start by introducing yourself and describing your work at The Candid Collective?

I started my career as a copywriter and ghostwriter for 7-figure brands. I've written for content powerhouses like Codie Sanchez at Contrarian Thinking, Vanessa Dew who co-founded Health-Ade Kombucha, and AppSumo just to name a few.

I've also developed an educational curriculum around storytelling and sales skills that serves both small business owners and copywriters who are ready to emerge into a premium market.

Today, we’re speaking with Courtney King, SVP of People & Culture at BeatBox Beverages. Courtney, can you start by introducing yourself and your role at BeatBox Beverages?

When I joined, the company had fewer than 40 employees and a big vision to redefine what it means to work in the alcohol beverage industry. Today, BeatBox has grown exponentially in size, creativity, reach, and impact.

My role is to make sure that as we scale, our people and culture grow with us. I lead the People & Culture team, which covers everything from recruiting and onboarding to learning, leadership development, analytics, and engagement. Our goal is to create an environment where people can do the best work of their careers while feeling connected to something fun, fast-paced, and purpose-driven.

Today we’re speaking with Cathy Miron, CEO of eSilo. Cathy, can you start by introducing yourself and describing your work at eSilo?

My 20-year career journey has landed me squarely at the intersection where technology meets risk management and business operations. Having served as the global head of IT Audit for GE Capital back when it was at its peak, and later in a CTO role at the GE parent company level, I’ve been an integral part of multi-million-dollar process reengineering, security, and compliance projects across a range of regulated industries—from finance to healthcare.

Today, I lead eSilo, a data protection and cybersecurity company that supports small and mid-market businesses in securing their most critical information assets. Our focus is on preventative security—helping leaders implement practical protections aligned with their stage of growth. And as a woman- and minority-owned firm, we understand the importance of building trust, delivering on our commitments, and empowering decision-makers to navigate complex technical issues with confidence.