HR teams are being asked to do more than ever before — move faster, support burned-out employees, and navigate constant change. And yet, many HR functions are still operating with a compliance-first mindset that slows innovation and limits impact. What if HR didn’t function like a back-office department… but instead, like a startup inside the organization?
My special guest today is John Bernatovicz, and he’s simplifying how to build entrepreneurial culture within HR teams. John has built his career blending entrepreneurship and HR, and he believes the future of HR depends on autonomy, agility, ownership, and a problem-solving mindset — not just policies and procedures.
Here’s how.
My special guest today is John Bernatovicz and he’s simplifying how to build entrepreneurs culture within HR teams.
We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including:
- What it actually means for an HR team to have an entrepreneurial culture — and why it matters now more than ever.
- One practical shift leaders can make to move HR teams from enforcing rules to solving problems creatively.
- What the “20 things you MUST do first” really mean in his book HR Like a Boss — including 3–4 of the most impactful ones, like defining your purpose and practicing real self-care outside of work.
- What would change first if HR operated like a startup — from how we hire, to how we measure success, to how we experiment.
- …and ultimately, advice for CHROs who want to empower their teams to think like founders, not function owners — even when budgets, compliance, or legacy systems slow them down.
Q: Are you ready to learn how to build entrepreneurial culture within HR teams? If yes, this one is for you.
It’s time to #DoTheThing!
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<What’s catching my eye this week>
- 3 hours of (free) focus music for deep concentration - Quiet Quest - Study Music
- Hire Mary Baird, PHR to help you run a 30-day Employee Experience Accelerator to listen better to your workforce, rebuild trust in your senior leadership and improve culture at work - The Simplifiers
- 50 powerful questions to help you reflect - The Institute of You
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My challenge for you this week:
How are you going to take what you’ve learned in today’s episode and take action by building entrepreneurial culture within your HR team? What’s one thing you’ll do differently? Share it with me, privately or publicly. Snap a photo of you doing the thing, and send me a DM over on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesimplifiers) for added accountability and support!
Links, books and apps mentioned:
Resource: Find John Bernatovicz on LinkedIn - click here
Resource: State of the Global Workplace 2025 Report - Gallup
Book: HR Like a Boss: Your Guide to Amazingly Awesome HR - John Bernatovicz
Book: Moms Eat First: 5 Principles to Prioritize Yourself and Create the Change You Crave - Kathy Sullivan
Resource: Every listener can gain access to the HR Like a Boss podcast and get 25 free SHRM/HRCI professional development credits - HR Like a Boss podcast
Resource: Join the fastest growing online community for business leaders looking to transform how people feel at work. Sign up here - HR Like a Boss
Book: Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine - Mike Michalowicz
Book: Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity - Peter Attia, MD
Podcast: How to practice empathy without burning out, featuring Joseph Cope - The Simplifiers Podcast
Podcast: How to be a better leader (guided visualization) - The Simplifiers Podcast
Hire Mary to Teach Your Teams AI at Work
More organizations are bringing me in to teach their teams how to use AI at work — practically, ethically, and strategically.
Whether you’re rolling out ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Gemini, I show non-techy teams across all levels and departments how to use AI in simple, practical ways to use immediately. Your people will walk away clear, confident, and ready to use AI to reduce busy work and drive better results. Great as an ERG workshop, too! Curious? Visit marybaird.co and click “Let’s Talk!” to book a call and see if it’s right for your teams.
Book a 25-minute Discovery Call Here!
About John Bernatovicz:
John Bernatovicz - He is a family first, business leader, balancing roles as a husband, father, brother, coach, and competitive amateur golfer. In addition to being an entrepreneur, podcast host, keynote speaker, author, and HR and payroll expert, John is on a mission to empower leaders to transform how people feel at work while making a positive impact. With a rich entrepreneurial history spanning 25 years, John has been at the helm of six business ventures.
Currently serving as the president of Willory, a boutique professional services firm empowering the HR tech, payroll, and HR communities, John's passion lies in elevating purpose-driven organizations to their full potential. At Willory, he is dedicated to attracting, developing, and empowering top talent. John's leadership has propelled Willory to remarkable achievements, including recognition in prestigious lists such as NorthCoast 99, Weatherhead 100, Crain’s 52, and Inc. 5000. In addition, John’s book, HR Like a Boss, is the first SHRM-published book to reach #1 New Release on Amazon.
Where John hangs out online:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbernatovicz
Twitter: https://x.com/JohnBernatovicz
Website: https://johnbernatovicz.com
John’s vote for the perfect guest on The Simplifiers Podcast:
Katherine Fry, SHRM-SCP - With nearly three decades of experience, she specializes in neuroscience-backed leadership, burnout prevention, and high-performance coaching as the CEO of Marble Peak Consulting LLC. Passionate about fostering mental agility and workplace resilience, she developed Thought Intelligence™, a proprietary framework empowering executive teams worldwide. Committed to advancing organizational well-being, she brings a collaborative and innovative approach to support leaders in creating sustainable, high-performing cultures.
At Marble Peak Consulting LLC, she’s delivered global leadership workshops, provided keynote speeches at prestigious events, and introduced scalable burnout recovery solutions. Her role includes coaching individuals and teams, mediating workplace challenges, and offering guided coaching through The Refresh App. By blending neuroscience principles with actionable strategies, she helps organizations unlock their team's full potential while prioritizing well-being.
