In this episode of the Build a Vibrant Culture podcast, Nicole sits down with people-first HR leader Carrol Ostendorf to talk about building leadership from the inside out. Carrol shares her bold vision for Delta |v| University, a homegrown development platform that’s energizing engineers, elevating young talent, and reinforcing culture across five states. With a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and a heart for people, Carrol brings humor, insight, and a blueprint for HR teams that want to make real impact.
From onboarding and recognition to mentorship and retention, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom for building a vibrant, people-centric workplace.
Vibrant Takeaways from this episode:
[00:09:00] Why Engineers Are Geeking Out Over Training: It’s not just training—it’s ownership. Carrol reveals how involving technical teams in content creation has transformed engagement.
[00:12:00] People Are the Product: Discover why recognizing the value of people—not just process—is the real driver of Delta |v|’s culture and retention.
[00:18:00] Cohort Culture & Live Learning: Hear about Delta |v|’s unique leadership cohort model and why creating connection across states is a game-changer.
[00:24:30] Rethinking Recruiting: Carrol shares a fresh, relational approach to hiring that emphasizes transparency, trust, and the power of proximity.
[00:34:00] How to Handle Mistakes Like a Leader: A candid story of an error—and how owning it with grace and accountability turned into a leadership moment.
Connect with Carrol:
Website: https://www.deltavinc.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrolostendorf/
