Episode Summary
What does it take to build a thriving, people-first culture in a high-growth, private equity-backed firm? In this episode of Built by People, host Dave D’Angelo sits down with Erin McAuley, Chief People Officer at Springline, to explore the power of co-creating culture in the midst of transformation. With 30+ years of experience leading organizational change at companies like Cisco, eBay, and Countrywide, Erin shares how Springline’s “Scale with Soul” philosophy is turning traditional PE models on their head.
From building a blueprint for cultural fit to leveraging data in M&A due diligence, Erin walks us through the intentional, values-driven process that Springline uses to evaluate and integrate new firms. She explains how their GROW values (Grounded, Reimagine, Ownership, Wholehearted) were developed collaboratively—and why staying human is key to sustainable scale. Whether you're a founder, people leader, or change agent, this episode offers a masterclass in embedding culture into your business strategy.
Key Timestamps
[00:52] – Erin’s 30-year journey in transformation and leadership
[03:45] – From Cisco to eBay: Defining culture in fast-paced environments
[04:30] – The challenge of private equity perceptions during acquisitions
[06:45] – How Springline co-created its GROW values with founding firms
[10:04] – Using data and culture surveys in due diligence
[12:55] – Lessons learned from implementing the cultural blueprint
[14:04] – Erin’s parting advice: Culture is business strategy
Actionable Takeaways
Treat culture as a strategic lever—not a side initiative
Use data to guide cultural alignment during M&A and integration
Co-create values with your people to ensure authenticity and adoption
Build scalable frameworks (like GROW) to drive consistency across teams
Humanize growth by balancing “big firm” opportunities with “small firm” relationships
Start storytelling early to bring abstract values to life
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