Episode 35: AI Meets HR - How OpenAI’s People Innovation Labs Are Simplifying Workflows - with Dy...

Welcome to another episode of the People Leader Accelerator Podcast (https://www.peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast) , where we explore what it really takes to build high-performing organisations.
Our guest today is Dylan Vassallo (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-vassallo/) , an engineering leader at OpenAI, where he leads the People Innovation Labs team. Dylan brings a unique blend of technical expertise and a deep passion for people operations, having previously held impactful roles at Khan Academy and Stripe. His background in both engineering management and HR innovation gives him a distinctive perspective on how cutting-edge technology can empower and transform people teams.
In this conversation, we discuss the strategic and practical considerations behind building internal tools for people teams at scale. Dylan shares how OpenAI balances the decision to build versus buy people systems, the importance of simplifying employee workflows, and how AI is enabling new levels of efficiency and impact for people operations. The episode delves into the nuances of aligning technology, culture, and operational realities as organisations expand rapidly.
Listeners will come away with actionable insights on optimising people processes, fostering a culture of experimentation, and navigating the trade-offs of introducing new technologies within HR. Dylan also shares tips on how HR leaders can adopt a builder’s mindset, pilot solutions, and partner effectively with engineering teams, even in resource-constrained environments.
Discussion highlights:


• Why OpenAI created a dedicated People Innovation Labs team to address organisational challenges during periods of hypergrowth


• Balancing “build vs. buy” decisions and creating user-friendly layers on top of complex HR systems


• The importance of simplifying employee experiences by curating paved paths through HR workflows


• How to assess when an organisation is ready for custom internal tools based on operational complexity and compliance demands


• The role of cross-functional collaboration with security, legal, and other stakeholders when implementing people technology


• Common pitfalls in rolling out HR tech, including the need for strong operational support and sustainable adoption


• Encouraging a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and iterative improvement within HR teams


• Practical strategies for fostering a mindset of continuous learning and career growth in people leadership


This conversation is a grounded exploration of how technology and people strategy intersect as organisations grow.
For show notes and bonus resources, visit www.PeopleLeaderAccelerator.com/podcast.

About The People Leader Accelerator Podcast
Our goal with this podcast is simple: to help people leaders navigate the messy, complex, and deeply rewarding work of leading teams and organizations with more clarity, confidence, and community.
Whether you’re the first HR hire at a startup or an experienced executive at a company with scale, you’ll find actionable insights you can use right away.
We can’t wait to share these conversations with you.
Welcome to the journey!
Listen, learn, and connect:
🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-leader-accelerator-podcast/id1847048853) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6ShmQDpJTA7ZCWlhRWAzsX) , YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuVXa2eRMNXZPv3G4mt6mGDSf4jTYKPWS) ).
💡 Find show notes and bonus resources at peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast (https://peopleleaderaccelerator.com/podcast) .
📬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to level up as a people leader.
🤝 Connect with your hosts:


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Jessica Yuen: linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicayuen)  | jessyuen.com (https://www.jessyuen.com/)




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Andrew Bartlow: linkedin.com/in/bartlow (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartlow)  | peopleleaderaccelerator.com (https://www.peopleleaderaccelerator.com/)

Видео Episode 35: AI Meets HR - How OpenAI’s People Innovation Labs Are Simplifying Workflows - with Dy... канала People Leader Accelerator