Building a People Management Curriculum ft. Deanna Durrett
In this insightful episode, Deanna Durrett, CEO and General Counsel at El Toro, brings her legal acumen and leadership experience to a conversation every organization needs to hear—why people management deserves a place in our core training strategies. Drawing from her transformational journey from law to leadership, Deanna recounts her time at Success Academy Charter Schools, where she witnessed firsthand how disciplined people management helped scale a network of high-performing public schools across New York City without compromising quality.
Deanna dives into the overlooked truth that great individual contributors often struggle in leadership roles due to a lack of formal training. She highlights the emotional and strategic burden placed on middle managers—especially in the post-pandemic hybrid work era—and outlines how El Toro tackled this challenge head-on by building a grassroots management development program.
Her approach? Start with shared language and shift the cultural conversation. Through tools like Kim Scott’s Radical Candor, Deanna and her team created a curriculum rooted in empathy, direct feedback, and real-world scenarios. She explores how simple but strategic steps—from book clubs to leadership workshops—can build stronger, more resilient leaders equipped to grow others.
This episode is a must-listen for HR professionals, team leads, and executives looking to empower their managers with not just responsibilities, but real tools for success.
Creators and Guests
