The Greenhouse podcast: People-first, featuring Lars Minns and Steve Ehretsman
People-first companies prioritize their people and foster a culture of hiring. They understand that people are their most valuable asset, so they treat all their people practices – especially hiring – as strategic, rather than administrative, functions. On the Greenhouse podcast: People-first, join host Donald Knight, Chief People Officer at Greenhouse, as he sits down with individuals at innovative organizations to discover how these companies prioritize their people.
In this episode, Donald is joined by Lars Minns, Chief HR Officer at Mercedes-Benz, North America and Steve Ehretsman, Founder & CEO at Shamrock Prosthetics, Inc., to discuss the importance of building trust between leaders and employees. Lars and Steve also share their personal journeys and how experiences in their lives outside of work have made them more effective leaders.
On a team, everyone brings their own unique talent to the table. They may all come from a different walk of life, but they're all there for one objective.”
Lars Minns
Chief HR Officer, Mercedes-Benz, North America
If you're looking beyond yourself, always focus on a teammate. They’ll help you as much as you’ll help them.”
Steve Ehretsman
Founder & CEO, Shamrock Prosthetics, Inc.
Consistency, transparency and trust go a long way when building successful teams.”
Donald Knight
Chief People Officer, Greenhouse
Learn more
Love the People-first podcast? Find out how Greenhouse promotes inclusivity, creates a culture of belonging and embraces diverse perspectives in our product, our culture and our community by visiting us at greenhouse.io/belonging.
Special thanks to our production partner, Wonder Media Network. Our producer is Brittany Martinez, and our supporting producer is Sara Schleede, with additional production assistance from Lila Watts. Our Greenhouse producer is Marnie Williams.
About Lars Minns
Lars is the Chief HR Officer for Mercedes-Benz, North America with responsibility for the US and Canada serving the organization since March 2015. He currently leads the organization in designing, implementing, and executing HR strategies that directly align with the company’s strategic objectives for the Sales, Marketing, and Distribution of Passenger Cars, Vans and parts in the United States and Canada.
Prior to joining Mercedes-Benz, he served as the Sr. Mgr. of Talent Acquisition for The Home Depot. He led his team in executing talent acquisition strategies for the company’s fastest growing business segment. Lars spent 10 years with The Home Depot and served in roles of increasing responsibility.
He is a member of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank’s Human Capital Advisory Council, the Society HR Management’s Executive Council, Leadership Atlanta, and a Board of Trustee of Mount Vernon Presbyterian School. Lars earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University in Hampton, VA. A native of Nassau, Bahamas, he and his wife, Moya reside in Sandy Springs, GA with their three children.
About Steve Ehretsman
Steve is Founder & CEO of Shamrock Prosthetics, Inc. Steve is responsible for the overall strategic leadership of the company but spends his days on the road heading up the new patient onboarding via mental coaching.
Prior to starting Shamrock in May of 2015, Steve spent most of his career in various results-based marketing and sales roles working for some of the most prestigious consumer brands like Coca-Cola, Budweiser, and Gatorade. In 2021, Steve received Work Comp Central’s Comp Laude Awards Gala National Service Provider/Vendor Award. In 2019, he received the Annual Spirit Award from The David Corey Company. In 2017, Steve received the Georgia State Board of Workers Compensation Annual Spirit Award. And in 2011, Ehretsman was named to Atlanta Business Chronicles 40 under 40 Rising Business Leaders.
Steve is from Cleveland, OH and currently resides in midtown, Atlanta.
A former Division 1 Student-Athlete, Steve was also Captain of Boston University’s Men’s Basketball Team and has been a featured speaker across the country on “Trauma to Triumph.”
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About Donald Knight
Donald is the CPO at Greenhouse Software. He leads with a people-first mentality hoping to unlock the potential of Greenhouse talent globally. With a laser focus on the connection between people and the processes that serve them, Donald and his team create proximity by building bridges focusing on enhanced experiences that nurture culture and develop people. He is responsible for providing global strategy and leadership in developing, overseeing and administering people programs.
Before Greenhouse, Donald served as Senior Vice President of Global Talent for Edelman, where he helped shape the HR brand as a proactive, insightful and collaborative solution provider.