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Cat & Cloud Podcast

Taking Care of the Pack with Leah Wolff in HR - Ep #445

Cat & Cloud Podcast

Cat & Cloud

Education

4.8727 Ratings

🗓️ 13 April 2026

⏱️ 65 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Cat & Cloud Podcast Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com Taking Care of the Pack w/Leah Wolff in HR - Ep #445 Summary: In this episode, the team sits down with Head of HR Leah Wolff to explore what it really looks like to build people, culture, and leadership inside a growing coffee company. Leah shares her journey from starting as a concierge during the pandemic to stepping into an executive leadership role, offering a candid look at how growth happens through ownership, feedback, and continuous learning. The conversation digs into the difference between traditional HR and a more human, culture-driven approach—covering hiring, training, communication, and the realities of managing a transient workforce. Along the way, they unpack how strong values, intentional onboarding, and honest conversations can shape not just better employees, but better people. Chapters: 00:00 Meet Leah Wolf and Casey Ryan 04:30 Leah’s Journey from Concierge to Head of HR 10:00 Knowing When You’re Ready to Lead 15:30 Feedback, Directness, and Learning to Communicate 21:00 Orientation, Training, and Setting the Tone 27:00 Hiring for Values and Cultural Fit 33:00 The Challenge of Staffing a Cafe Business 39:00 How Cat & Cloud Built Better HR Systems 45:00 Advice for Small Business Owners Hiring Their Team 51:00 Team Chemistry, Standards, and Accountability 57:00 Why Clear Expectations Matter 1:01:30 Gratitudes and Final Thoughts Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale Links – The Truth! Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural Jared Truby Interview https://youtu.be/KaTFcHxjumk?si=wlTAbJ7ZCvZleM7B Jared Truby Zine https://www.flipsnack.com/965BBFD6AED/letter-to-young-coffee-owners-issue-with-jared-truby Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first. Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.  The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.  Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby Produced by Casey Ryan April 2026

Transcript

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0:00.0

Catin Cloud Podcasts episode 4.40.5. This one's a little different. This one we pull in

0:12.9

Leah Wolf. Leah is our in-house head of HR. She sits down with Jared and Casey to talk about

0:20.4

her journey. We start to talk about her journey.

0:21.3

We start by talking about her journey from a frontline team member to now head of HR in this five-year span.

0:29.2

They talk about the difference between traditional HR and culture-driven leadership.

0:34.6

Talk about why feedback and how you give it shapes team performance, hiring for

0:40.9

culture versus hiring for short term needs, the challenge of training in a high turnover

0:46.1

cafe environment, and how Cat and Cloud has evolved its hiring and onboarding systems over

0:51.6

time. And lastly, why ownership and taking initiative are a key to growth in any role?

1:00.3

Leah's incredible.

1:01.7

She's been with us for five years.

1:03.9

And this is a really good one for understanding that career arc.

1:07.6

If you're starting in a frontline line position and have aspirations or interests

1:11.0

in this world of HR or building and creating culture wealth of knowledge here so enjoy

1:16.7

episode 445 brah it kind of is yeah hey hey us straight. I don't want it to be that way.

1:28.2

Broy.

1:28.9

Hello and welcome.

1:30.9

It is Monday.

1:32.6

I am Jared Truby here with the Cat in Cloud podcast, sitting not solo but Sands Christopher

1:38.8

George Baca with my two friends, one you've heard before, Casey Ryan, two first names, one amazing man,

1:46.5

and a new friend here.

1:49.2

Good morning.

...

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