What does it look like when a Chief People Officer truly understands the business—not just the policies, but the work, the pressures, and the human potential of the people who run it? In this conversation, Tom Dardick sits down with Jim Sponaugle, Chief People Officer at Utz Brands, to explore a fundamentally different approach to people strategy. Jim's is a non-traditional HR path. His experience is built from two decades in operations and P&L leadership. Jim shares how his background in running businesses reframed his view of HR’s role: moving beyond compliance and administration to becoming a genuine driver of strategy, culture, and human potential. Together, Tom and Jim examine what happens when HR leaders deeply understand the business they serve. Jim shares how that understanding allows them to unlock performance, engagement, and fulfillment rather than simply manage risk. Their conversation ranges from:
- The shift from fixing what’s wrong to cultivating fulfillment and engagement
- Why moving people from dissatisfaction to neutrality requires different drivers than moving them to full contribution
- How misalignment between role and strengths quietly erodes engagement—and how leaders can address it early
- Why focusing on the small portion of work that aligns with passion and strength can transform even difficult jobs
- The dignity of work, the power of mindset, and the ripple effects of individual contribution
- The importance of humility, curiosity, and lifelong learning in effective leadership
Jim also shares personal practices that support growth and openness, along with candid reflections on what it actually takes to develop people in real organizations, not in theory. This episode will resonate with:
- Chief People Officers and HR leaders
- Executives and operators responsible for culture and performance
- Leaders interested in engagement, fulfillment, and sustainable people strategy
- Anyone thinking seriously about how organizations can support human growth at scale
This is not a conversation about perks or programs. It’s a grounded exploration of what becomes possible when people strategy is treated as a serious business discipline.
