How To Preserve (and Nurture) Culture As You Grow: Lessons From Trainual’s Head of People Ops

“Hire people who attract more incredible people.”

What happens when you mix emotional intelligence with strategic hiring, sprinkle in a dash of Hot Topic eyeliner, and top it off with a leadership team that actually walks the talk? You get Trainual. In this episode of Inside the Process, Sasha Robinson, our Head of People Ops (aka Goth Sasha), pulls back the curtain on how culture isn't just preserved — it's intentionally built, scaled, and celebrated. From recruiting the top 2% of talent to turning performance reviews into power moves, Sasha shares the magic behind Trainual’s thriving workplace. Buckle up—this isn’t your average HR playbook.

Key Takeaways:

•  Values-driven hiring is the first filter.  Hiring at Trainual isn’t just about credentials — it’s about values. Every candidate is vetted not only for skills but for emotional intelligence, communication ability, and cultural alignment. Because one bad hire can throw off the whole vibe — and that’s a no-go.
• Culture is led from the top — and reinforced at every level. From Chris responding to every DM to Sasha dressing full goth for a company kickoff, leadership at Trainual models authenticity and fun. That energy cascades throughout the org, making joy and performance a team sport.
• Systems keep the culture scalable. Career ladders, principle-based decision-making, and competency-based interviews aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the systems that make a strong culture repeatable. And review cycles? Not just checkboxes. They're tools for real growth.
• Feedback isn’t just welcome — it’s actionable. Twice-yearly engagement surveys are read in full by execs, themes are extracted, and changes are made. Transparency and follow-through turn feedback from noise into trust.‍
• Referral networks and personal advocacy fuel talent acquisition. The best hires often come through existing team networks — because great people attract great people. Candidates who go the extra mile with personalized outreach and show genuine interest in Trainual’s mission stand out.

Chapter Markers:

[0:00] Sasha’s origin story

[9:30] How to build an award-winning culture

[17:30] Hiring at Trainual and leadership

[26:00] Hiring in the early stages 

[30:30] The power of referrals

[33:30] What companies get wrong about hiring

[38:00] Preserving our culture

Resources:

Want more resources from this episode? We’ve got an episode recap, replay, and every template, process, and resource we covered right here: Inside the process

Trainual

Inside The Process provides solutions for every aspect of the business — from process headaches and system improvement to self-management and leveling up as a leader. Mallory Glessner sits down with some of the brightest business minds and unpack their specialized insights to help you improve and level up the work you’re doing.

This is one of a few podcasts from Trainual, a software platform that helps businesses build playbooks to train and grow their team. You can check out the rest of our shows here: Inside the process