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Live from CultureCon 2025: Hiring for Heart, Not Just Skill with Eliza Jackson
Description
What if your company values weren't just words on a wall, but a lived, breathing part of your culture that drives every hire, fire, and daily decision?
Live from CultureCon 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin, Nikki sits down with Eliza Jackson of ButcherBox for a conversation that flips traditional HR playbooks on their head.
With a colorful background that spans finance, kindergarten classrooms, and hypergrowth startups, Eliza brings a refreshingly real perspective on what it takes to build values-driven organizations that actually walk the talk.
From rejecting high-performing candidates who don't align with company values to ensuring every employee has access to a personal coach, Eliza breaks down ButcherBox's radical approach to "baking in" culture at every level. You'll hear how they future-proof their workforce through mindset over skillset, maintain startup agility at scale, and foster a culture of relentless improvement, all while staying human at the core.
Additional Resources:
Connect with Eliza on LinkedIn
Learn more about ButcherBox
Listen to The CultureCon Podcast
Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn
Learn more about CultureCon
Subscribe to CultureCon's YouTube channel!
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network
Key Takeaways:
- Values must be embedded across all touchpoints.
- Coaching unlocks personal and organizational growth.
- Hire for mindset, not just experience.
- Startup culture can scale if you're intentional.
- Inner work fuels external culture strength.