In this episode of HR in Action, Aaron Robbins sits down with Christina Cota-Donovan, founder and principal consultant at Cota Coaching and Consulting, to explore what it really looks like to build effective people practices in small and mid-sized organizations.

Christina brings decades of hands-on HR experience across organizations of all sizes and now partners with leaders who need strategic HR support—but don’t have it in-house. From navigating post-COVID workforce shifts to designing people strategies that actually support growth, this conversation dives deep into the practical realities HR leaders and business owners face every day.

Key topics include:
-Building people strategy alongside business growth strategy
-Why many organizations struggle with HR infrastructure—and how to fix it
-Culture by design vs. culture by default
-Turning values into observable, actionable behaviors
-Improving recruiting and onboarding to reduce early turnover
-Using employee listening (surveys, focus groups, stay interviews) to uncover real issues
-Creating growth, purpose, and clarity through skill and career pathways
-Helping leaders take ownership of the employee experience

Throughout the conversation, Christina shares concrete examples, common patterns she sees across organizations, and practical ways leaders can move from “winging it” to building intentional, scalable people practices.

This episode is especially valuable for HR leaders, consultants, and executives working in smaller or growing organizations who want to strengthen culture, leadership capability, and employee experience—without overcomplicating it.

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