Helen Russell

Observer
DISC Type : ci

Chief People Officer at HubSpot

San Francisco, California, United States

Overview

Helen Russell is the Chief People Officer at HubSpot, bringing extensive experience from leadership roles at high-growth tech companies like Atlassian, Rivian, and Sonos. An alumna of Harvard Business School, she specializes in scaling global, people-centric company cultures.

Originally from the UK, Helen has a significant international background, having lived and worked in France, Australia, and the United States. This global experience shapes her perspective on building diverse and inclusive teams that can thrive across different regions.

Unique fact: Helens career has spanned three continents, giving her a distinct and hands-on global perspective on human resources and culture.

Personality Overview

Value Driven

Assertive

Example Seeker

They are generally strong communicators and are not easy to convince.  They ask a lot of questions and rely heavily on information and collaterals. They can sound friendly and charming but can quickly change gears to become inquisitive and probing.

Topics They Care About

AI & Human Performance
Explores how AI can be leveraged to accelerate human performance and directly benefit customers, as discussed in her recent podcast appearances.
Future of Work
Focuses on how transformative technologies like AI are reshaping the fundamentals of how teams collaborate and work together effectively.
Adaptive Leadership
Emphasizes the need for leaders to navigate change with clarity, curiosity, and courage, especially during periods of significant transformation.

Media Appearances

239 – Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot): The …. Featured in Spotify

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239 - Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot) on the .... Featured in YouTube

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Helen Russell - Chief People Officer - HubSpot - Transform 2026. Featured in Transform Conference

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Work History

6-2024
Chief People Officer at HubSpot
10-2019 - 6-2024
Chief People Officer at Rivian
3-2019 - 3-2020
Peer Advisory Board at Forescout Technologies Inc.
10-2016 - 10-2019
Chief People Officer at Atlassian
7-2014 - 8-2016
Chief Human Resources Officer at Sonos, Inc.

Education

Executive Development Programme from Harvard Business School
Bachelor's degree from University of Liverpool

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 26 Location : San Francisco, California, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : Chief People Officer at HubSpot
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Insights For Selling To Helen

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Be prepared for a lot of questions, answer them objectively
  • Focus on immediate action-items rather than the larger goals
  • Invite them for a social do but don’t rely solely on the relationship

DONT's

  • Don’t brush off any concerns, take all questions seriously
  • Don’t try to rush them into a decision, provide all necessary information first
  • Avoid making offhand commitments

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Helen is

  • Proven value, strong testimonials are important for them, rapport can impact decisions a little.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Helen

  • They are practical yet friendly, don’t expect a clear no very often.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Helen move?

  • They like to analyze well and then make their decisions.
  • Can Helen take some risk or not?

  • They weigh all decisions systematically and are unlikely to take many risks.

You And Helen

Personality Compatibility


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