Building an HR Department from Scratch: Strategies and Challenges with Vytelle’s Lynn Lobe

Building an HR Department from Scratch: Strategies and Challenges with Vytelle’s Lynn Lobe

Author: Sean Boyce June 15, 2023 Duration: 28:18

In this episode, Vytelle's Director of Human Resources, Lynn Lobe, discusses her unique journey to HR leadership and the significance of empathy and opportunity in the workplace, the strategies and challenges involved in building an HR department from scratch, and managing global mobility, and the opportunities that combining her passion for animal science and HR provides beyond traditional roles.


Lynn Lobe is the Director of Human Resources at Vytelle, a precision livestock company reshaping how cattle producers worldwide optimize their herds. Here are a few of the topics we’ll discuss on this episode of People Analytics:


  • The importance of surrounding oneself with people who know more and not being afraid to tackle new opportunities.
  • Why building an HR department requires prioritization and support from others.
  • Why change management skills are required to overhaul an established HR program.
  • How preventing fires in the workplace involves listening to employees and being flexible in processes.
  • How increasing global mobility requires automation, fair and equitable approaches, and project management skills.


Resources:


Connecting with Lynn Lobe:


Connect with Lindsay Patton:


Quotables:

  • 04:33 – “So we recently had a guest who is a champion for veterans in the workplace, and she shared information that is so important for other people leaders to understand is that veterans have a very unique skill set.”
  • 11:26 – “Something I really love about your journey is the importance of opportunity and giving people opportunity because I know that you were asked to put some foundational bricks into place, and that's a huge opportunity and also can be very overwhelming.”
  • 20:27 – “I think it's just also having the exposure to some really good project managers. I'm not a project manager expert. I've been able and fortunate enough to work alongside some, and I think that's where that sense of order comes into play. It's like, okay, how can you strategically map this out so that this entropy that you've got going on can now be put into a scope that has a workflow to it.”
  • 22:05 – “So how do the voices collectively come together in a way that then you've got a platform to say, this isn't working, so what can we fix? And then now there's going to be entropy. How do we project manage this? And that's the kind of the issue, right? I mean, there can be a lot of cooks in this kitchen and in this endeavor. How do you do it so it's fair and equitable, and doable? 
  • 25:36 – “And I think that the universe puts people in our pathway for a reason. And sometimes we see those, and there's clarity around that, and sometimes not. But ultimately, you get somebody in my role, you get the ability to touch somebody, an impact for the positive in every situation that you can work in.” 

Sean Boyce hosts People Analytics, a series that digs into the practical realities of using data to understand and improve how organizations work. This isn't about abstract theories; it's a grounded conversation for HR professionals, talent leaders, and managers who want to move beyond intuition and make decisions backed by evidence. Each episode explores how data intersects with the human elements of hiring, development, and team management, offering actionable strategies for those navigating this evolving discipline. You'll hear discussions on turning numbers into narratives, measuring what truly matters for employee experience, and building a culture where analytics supports people rather than just monitoring them. Tune into this podcast for candid insights that bridge the gap between spreadsheets and strategy, all focused on creating more effective and humane workplaces. Whether you're building a people analytics function from scratch or looking to refine an existing program, these conversations provide a valuable perspective on one of the most significant shifts in modern business management.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 97

People Analytics
Podcast Episodes
The Changing World of Recruitment with Talroo’s Thad Price [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:30
This episode. I’m joined by the CEO of Talroo Thad Price to discuss how to retain talent without increasing spending, the shift there’s been on what workers deem as important, and the ways the world of recruitment is cha…
The Power of Storytelling and Social Media with Joe Mullings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:58
This episode, I’m joined by the Founder and CEO of The Mullings Group Joe Mullings to discuss the importance of storytelling, how to best spend your marketing budget, and how different social media platforms should be us…
Running a Small Business with HamiltonDemo’s Yvan Demosthenes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:42
This episode, I’m joined by the CEO of HamiltonDemo Yvan Demosthenes to discuss the differences between working with big businesses and small businesses, the benefits of having a smaller team, and how to make yourself ap…
Retaining The Right Staff with theSkimm’s Lisa Dallenbach [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:52
This episode, I’m joined by theSkimm’s Chief People Officer Lisa Dallenbach to discuss effective recruiting strategies, how to drive employee growth, and ways we can help employees succeed in new roles.
Optimizing HR with Resume Sieve’s Michael Yinger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:30
This episode, I’m joined by the Founder of Resume Sieve Michael Yinger to discuss how applicant tracking systems have optimized the client hiring process, the challenges these systems still face, and how we can empower o…
Retaining The Right Staff with the Skimm’s Lisa Dallenbach [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:52
This episode, I’m joined by theSkimm’s Chief People Officer Lisa Dallenbach to discuss effective recruiting strategies, how to drive employee growth, and ways we can help employees succeed in new roles.
Where HR should focus with Series B Consulting’s Andrew Bartlow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:51
This episode, I’m joined by Series B Consulting’s Founder Andrew Bartlow to discuss where HR should prioritize focus, how we can use data to inform our decisions and ways we can create a positive culture that retains sta…