---
title: "#193: Strategic HR Evolution: Building Culture-Driven IT Organizations"
description: Will Smith shares how Seattle is transforming traditional HR into strategic business partnerships through organizational psychology, innovative frameworks, and intentional culture-building.
image: https://techtables.com/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-06-19%20at%202.02.51%20PM.png
---
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February 5, 2025
# #193: Strategic HR Evolution: Building Culture-Driven IT Organizations
 Joe Toste · 2 minute read
[mailto:email@email.com](mailto:email@email.com)
**Listen now: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@techtables) x [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-public-sector-show-by-techtables/id1661752549) x [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/0bFQBsDwKJkdNk2qENkhNL?si=387c7ae946694939)**
---
### 📬 **The TechTables Newsletter**
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### **Featuring:**
- **[Will Smith](https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-smith-mj-lel-8a22308/)**, Chief of Staff at City of Seattle IT
### **What You’ll Learn:**
- How Seattle IT revolutionized HR by embedding dedicated business partners within each department, transforming traditional personnel management into strategic partnerships that understand both technical operations and business goals
- The critical intersection of organizational psychology and tech leadership, through Will’s doctoral research on how growth mindset principles drive successful cultural transformation in IT organizations
- Seattle IT's innovative "from-to state" framework for cultural change, creating systematic pathways from fixed to growth mindset and empowering teams with clear decision-making abilities
- The power of intentional culture-building in IT organizations, demonstrated through Seattle IT's focus on psychological safety and creating spaces where all perspectives are valued
- How modern HR leadership drives organizational success by understanding both human capital and technical operations, illustrated through Seattle IT's transformation from a traditional personnel office to a strategic business partner
### **Timestamps:**
- ([01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=60s)) Will Smith: From HR Expert to Chief of Staff at Seattle IT
- ([03:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=180s)) Personal Background and Family Values
- ([04:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=240s)) Educational Journey: Bridging IT, Law, and Organizational Psychology
- ([07:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=420s)) Understanding the 'Why' in Organizations
- ([09:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=540s)) Growth Mindset: Foundation for Organizational Change
- ([11:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=660s)) Revolutionizing HR: The Business Partner Model
- ([14:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=840s)) Creating Intentional Culture and Psychological Safety
- ([17:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=1020s)) Managing Conflict Through Relationship Building
- ([19:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=1140s)) Leading Change: Hybrid Work Transformation
- ([21:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=1260s)) Seattle IT Learning Conference: Culture in Action
- ([23:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bSCg474DE&t=1380s)) Closing Thoughts and Show Information
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**→ [#179: Richard McHattie, Chris Chirgwin, Mike Hojnicki, Don Ingle - Transforming the Resident Experience: Insights from Top County CIOs](https://techtables.com/podcast/179/richard-mchattie-chris-chirgwin-mike-hojnicki-don-ingle)**
**→ ****[#180: J.R. Sloan, Ryan Murray & Doug Lange – Arizona State CIO, CISO & Former CSO Talk AI](https://techtables.com/podcast/180/j.r.-sloan-ryan-murray-doug-lange)**
**→ **[**#181: Dr. Bianca Lochner, Feroz Merchhiya, Dr. Muriel Reid, & Ken Williams – Smart Cities & Digital Innovation – Transforming Cities with AI & 5G**](https://techtables.com/podcast/181/dr.-bianca-lochner-feroz-merchhiya-dr.-muriel-reid-ken-williams)
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