Lattice appoints Gianna Driver as CPO

Timing and opportunity are everything when it comes to job changes.

Gianna Driver was serving as CHRO at cybersecurity company Exabeam, then it went through a merger. At the same time, employee engagement software giant Lattice’s Chief People Officer (CPO) Cara Brennan Allamano was stepping down.

“I deeply respect Cara, so when she tapped me on the shoulder to consider the role at Lattice, I listened,” Driver tells UNLEASH in an exclusive interview.

She has been a customer of Lattice for a long time – “I’ve implemented it at multiple prior workplaces and have been a huge fan” – and she served on the HR tech company’s CPO Council since its inception in August 2023.

Ultimately, the potential to be part of a company at the intersection of innovation and human-centric design was just too hard to pass up,” continues Driver.

“One conversation led to another, and here we are!”

“Lattice is an AI-forward, people-first HR technology platform that puts employees at the center of everything we do,” notes Driver.

“I do HR because I’m passionate about people and want to work alongside folks who are thoughtful, driven, and committed to creating innovative solutions that solve real world problems. That’s Lattice.”

In what has “truly felt like a cosmic alignment”, today, 12 August 2024, Driver starts her new role as CPO at Lattice.

As she steps into the job, let’s dig into her HR plans for the HR tech company now and into the future – how will her team drive innovation at Lattice?

Driver becomes Lattice’s third C-Suite appointment in 2024

Driver’s appointment comes amid a flurry of other high profile executive changes at Lattice in 2024, notably a new CEO, Sarah Franklin (former CMO of Salesforce), and Cheryl Sanclemente as Chief Communications Officer.

Having so much change at the top can be hard for companies and their employees, so UNLEASH was keen to find out how Driver is going to overcome that change management challenge.

Driver shares: “Our CEO, Sarah Franklin, has assembled an A-team here at Lattice that’s composed of some of the most impressive leaders in tech.

“I’m honored to be the newest addition to this best-in-class group and really looking forward to working closely with this team.”

She continues: “Change management, and being thoughtful and intentional about change, is critically important to success, especially during these periods of growth.

“My approach is rooted in curiosity, listening, empathy, and communication.

“I’m committed to understanding the aspirations and concerns of our employees first and foremost.

“This will help me better craft strategies that honor our existing strengths while addressing areas for transformation.

“Once we have clarity on these basic cornerstones, we then communicate, act, and ensure we’re bringing our people along with us on the journey they’ve helped to map.”

The future of HR and AI at Lattice

In her UNLEASH interview, Driver is clear that Lattice has a great foundation, but now it is about “building upon what’s made our company great as we scale new mountains”.

In the short-term, Driver will embark on a listening tour to understand the needs of Lattice employees – “I want to know what’s top of mind for them, what challenges they’re facing, and what matters most from an employee experience perspective”.

“I want to help Lattice honor what got the company here while also embracing what’s going to get us to the next stage,” adds Driver.

Writing in a letter to employees, she adds: “What excites me most about Lattice is the people.

“Yes, we’re a leader in HR technology, but we’re also a leader in culture-centered people practices that are a beacon to other companies.”

As Lattice is a HR tech company, Driver’s role will also involve “collaborating with our Product teams to develop AI-powered tools that meet our customers’ needs”.

As a people leader myself who is all too familiar with the challenges CPOs and CHROs face today, I’m especially excited to bring my perspective to the table around how we can continue to elevate HR,” she shares.

For Driver, it is not about innovation for innovation’s sake – it is about ensuring that Lattice’s tools are “deeply aligned with the practical needs of HR professionals”.

To this end, she will also work closely with customers “to understand their needs, actively seek their feedback, and involve them in the development process”.

“I’m looking forward to working with our internal teams to ensure our products continue to meet and exceed the expectations of the HR community, and I’m excited to work with customers to help their teams become more strategic and human centric.”

AI is a huge part of the future of the HR tech sector – Lattice recently unveiled some game-changing AI features, which include seeing AI as team members.

This led to some backlash from the HR community, which pushed Lattice to have a change course.

UNLEASH was keen to find out Driver’s perspective here.

She shares: “I’m excited to join Lattice at this specific moment in time because we’re innovating at a unique intersection where customers are seeking very AI-forward products, yet very human- and culture-centered solutions as well.

“What’s exciting is that these aims are not mutually exclusive.

There’s a place for the responsible evolution of AI technology in the workplace and also remaining human, culturally-sensitive, and inclusive.

“I’m looking forward to being a co-creator with my peers at Lattice and remain deeply committed to ensuring we work with our employees, customers, and the broader HR community as we develop these tools.”