Hebba Youssef

Hebba Youssef is a chief people officer, human resources thought leader, and the founder and creator of "I Hate It Here," a widely read newsletter in the HR industry. With a career spanning technology, fintech, and media, Youssef has led global learning, development, and talent management teams across multiple sectors. She previously led people operations at Lithic and served as a talent management leader at Axios. Youssef began her career at CoStar Group as a research associate, advancing through roles such as project manager before building expertise in talent management and strategic program development.

The creation of "I Hate It Here" originated from Youssef's experience during the pandemic, when HR and people teams were required to adapt to remote work, manage health protocols, and address workforce challenges such as the Great Resignation. As a first-time head of people, Youssef recognized a lack of resources for HR professionals and launched the newsletter to fill that gap. Within two months, the publication gained more than 30,000 subscribers and a growing social media following.

The weekly "I Hate It Here" newsletter now reaches over 169,000 subscribers and addresses topics such as workplace culture, organizational strategy, and people management. The content combines practical insights, research, and commentary to challenge conventional thinking about work. Its readership extends beyond HR professionals, with nonprofit CEOs and leadership teams citing its guidance on goal-setting and organizational culture.

As founder and chief people officer at Workweek, Youssef continues to create content for "I Hate It Here" and hosts "The I Hate It Here" podcast. She also manages the Safe Space community, focusing on modern HR practices and manager empowerment. In her role at Workweek, Youssef supports HR and people teams in building effective workplaces. She is a frequent speaker at industry events, including the HR Technology Conference and Exposition, where she shares expertise on workplace connections and supporting diverse, multi-generational workforces.