Mar 12, 2025
In this episode, we dive into Brittany Rohde’s unconventional journey into the HR and people space. With a background in mathematics and a love for admin, Brittany has successfully navigated the world of people operations, compensation, and leadership. We explore how she transitioned from a math degree into HR, her philosophy on taking opportunities, and why she believes every people team should have an engineering component.
Key Takeaways
🔹 Diverse Backgrounds Can Drive Success –
Brittany’s transition from math to HR showcases the power of
transferable skills and how technical backgrounds can bring unique
problem-solving abilities to people operations.
🔹 Say Yes to
Opportunities – Raising her hand for projects at GitLab
led Brittany into compensation and benefits, ultimately shaping her
career trajectory.
🔹 The Power of Admin &
Automation – A self-proclaimed admin enthusiast, Brittany
discusses the importance of balancing operational efficiency with
strategic initiatives.
🔹 People Ops Needs
Engineers – She strongly advocates for having a dedicated
engineering resource to automate and streamline HR processes,
improving efficiency and scalability.
🔹 Passion Over
Titles – Brittany emphasizes that career success isn’t
about chasing promotions but about leaning into what excites you
and where you can add the most value.
Timestamped Highlights
⏳ [00:01:00] – Brittany’s unexpected path
from a math degree to HR
⏳ [00:03:00] –
Landing an HR role at GitLab and leveraging technical
skills
⏳ [00:05:00] –
How raising her hand led her into compensation
strategy
⏳ [00:08:00] –
The role of admin work in HR and its strategic
importance
⏳ [00:09:00] –
Why every people team should have a dedicated
engineer
⏳ [00:12:00] –
Budgeting for automation and how to make the business
case
⏳ [00:14:00] –
The impact of technical skills on HR decision-making
⏳ [00:16:00] –
Scaling the people function at Monarch Money
⏳ [00:18:00] –
Advice for math and technical students considering HR careers
Quote of the Episode
"I've never been driven by title. I've always been driven by: Is this something that excites me? Is this something I can learn from?" – Brittany Rohde
Connect with Brittany
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-rohde-970964b2
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