Ep 040 - Quiet Influence: Thriving as an Introvert in Human Resources

About The Guest(s): Dennisse Bray has 16 years of experience in HR, starting as an HR Assistant during what was meant to be a two-week assignment that launched her career. She has worked across various industries in both specialist and generalist roles, fostering diverse perspectives and empowering others. A lifelong learner and avid reader, Dennisse enjoys building her personal library and leading book clubs, including HR-themed ones. She created a LinkedIn group for HR Introverts and Ambiverts to build a supportive community. As an immigrant and eldest daughter, she embraces the challenges of navigating new paths. In her free time, Dennisse enjoys family time, hula dancing, writing, and brainstorming ideas for her podcast, Pan Dulce with Dennisse. Summary: In this episode, Ricklyn and Dennisse discuss the journey into human resources, emphasizing the importance of networking, transferable skills, and the unique challenges faced by introverts in the field. They explore how HR roles can evolve from temporary positions and the necessity of self-advocacy and self-care to prevent burnout. The conversation highlights the dynamic nature of HR and the need for continuous learning and adaptation.  In this conversation, the speakers discuss the unique strengths and challenges faced by introverts in the HR field. They emphasize the importance of support and community for introverts, highlighting their ability to lead with empathy and deep thinking. The discussion also covers the diverse roles available in HR that cater to different personality types, the significance of celebrating introverted achievements, and the need for connection and understanding in both personal and professional spaces. Finally, they offer valuable advice for those looking to enter or navigate their careers in HR. Key Takeaways: Introverts Thrive Too: Introverts bring valuable strengths like empathy and deep thinking, making them effective HR professionals. Self-Care Matters: Burnout and compassion fatigue are common in HR; prioritizing self-care is essential for longevity in the field. Advocate for Yourself: Speaking up for your needs and accomplishments helps build recognition and career growth. Community Builds Strength: Support networks, especially for introverts, reduce isolation and foster meaningful connections. Transferable Skills Count: Experience from non-HR roles can provide valuable insights and help build a successful HR career. Connect with our host: Website LinkedIn Connect with our guest: LinkedIn  

About The Guest(s): Our guest today, Jessica Winder, is a dynamic working mama of twin daughters, celebrated as a keynote speaker, career coach, and senior-level HR executive. With a no-nonsense approach and expertise in people operations, she's all about stirring up "good trouble" for positive change. Passionate about nurturing leadership and unlocking potential, she leads Hidden Gem Career Coaching and authored "The Hidden Gem Within" to support career journeys. Get ready to be inspired by her wisdom and dedication to empowering individuals and organizations. Summary: Jessica navigates us through the complexities of industry transitions, strategic corporate involvement, and the art of aligning personal values with professional endeavors. As an emblem of empowerment, she offers her perspective as a "quit queen," advocating for the necessity to depart from roles that fail to honor one's worth, a sentiment echoing loudly among women of color in the corporate sphere. Furthermore, we traverse the landscape of minority experiences in predominantly white corporate spaces, gaining insights into the resilience and self-awareness required to thrive. Jessica's expertise culminates in a business designed to tackle the unique challenges faced by professionals of color, a beacon of hope and guidance in today's ever-changing societal fabric. Key Takeaways: Embrace Adaptability: Life’s unexpected turns, like Jessica's shift from medicine to HR, highlight the importance of being adaptable and open to new opportunities that can lead to unplanned yet fulfilling career paths. Value Mentorship and On-the-Job Training: Jessica's journey underscores the transformative impact of mentorship and hands-on experience in building a successful career, particularly in navigating new and unfamiliar roles. Strategic Role of HR: The narrative emphasizes the strategic nature of HR, showing how it plays a crucial role across various sectors, shaping organizational culture and workforce management. Empowerment and Self-Advocacy: Jessica’s experiences as a "quit queen" and a minority in corporate environments stress the importance of advocating for oneself, especially in industries lacking diversity, and the resilience needed to thrive in such spaces. Aligning Career with Values: Jessica’s commitment to supporting professionals of color and fostering workplace well-being illustrates the significance of aligning one’s career with personal values, turning challenging experiences into opportunities for growth and empowerment. Connect with our host: Website LinkedIn Connect with our guest: Website LinkedIn  

About The Guest: Tiersa Hall, a world-class master trainer and HR consultant, shares her journey into the field of HR and the challenges she faced along the way. She emphasizes the importance of mindset and confidence in HR professionals and offers advice on how to navigate complex workplace issues. Tiersa also discusses the role of HR in shaping company culture and highlights the need for a balance between policy and human connection. She shares insights on how to sell the value of culture work to organizations and offers guidance for HR leaders looking to partner with consultants. Key Takeaways: Confidence and mindset are key to a successful HR career. Balancing policy and human connection is crucial for creating a positive company culture. HR leaders can partner with consultants to gain support and expertise in areas outside their own expertise. Building relationships and providing value to organizations are key to long-term success in HR. Connect with our host: Website LinkedIn Connect with our guest: Website LinkedIn  

About The Guest(s): Charisse Fontes is a human and accomplished author, international speaker, and visionary in the culture industry. She is the founder of Culture Circles, where she creates healthy cultures for culture-conscious companies. With a background in anthropology, Charisse offers a human-centered approach as a trusted advisor. She is also the leader of a nonprofit organization that aims to end harmful isms in humanity. Charisse is known for her intuitive nature and passion for empathy and holistic care. Summary: Charisse Fontes, founder of Culture Circles, shares her unique career journey in the field of HR and culture. From starting as an executive assistant to taking on HR responsibilities at a startup, Charisse discovered her passion for creating healthy cultures in the workplace. She emphasizes the importance of treating employees as humans and the need for a holistic approach to HR. Charisse also discusses her book, "How to Keep Your Company Culture From Going to Shit," which offers practical advice and insights for cultivating a healthy workplace culture. Key Takeaways: Charisse's nontraditional entry into HR as an executive assistant at a startup allowed her to take on HR responsibilities and discover her passion for creating healthy cultures. Culture work is about more than just ping pong tables and happy hours; it requires an immersive and transformative approach to align the values of the company with the needs of its employees. The transactional aspects of HR are necessary for compliance and risk mitigation, but the transformational aspects of culture work are essential for creating a positive and empowering work environment. Charisse's approach to business is rooted in abundance and giving, rather than scarcity and competition. She believes in the power of ubuntu, the interconnectedness of humanity, and the importance of treating others with kindness and empathy. Connect with our host: Website LinkedIn Connect with our guest: Website LinkedIn  

About The Guest: Matt Parkin is the Business Development Lead at FindWRK, a search-based alternative to job boards. He is also a LinkedIn Top Marketing Voice and helps entrepreneurs and executives grow their personal brands on LinkedIn. Matt is actively involved in the community as an entrepreneurship mentor and has been featured in various publications for his thought leadership in HR and talent acquisition. Summary: Matt Parkin, the Business Development Lead at FindWRK, shares his journey in HR and marketing and provides valuable insights on personal branding, networking, and the future of the job search process. He emphasizes the importance of personal branding on LinkedIn and shares tips on how HR professionals can leverage the platform to build their personal brand. Matt also discusses the benefits of thought leadership and how it can enhance career growth. He highlights the unique features of Find Work, a platform that connects job seekers and employers in the hourly workforce, and explains how it improves the candidate experience and streamlines the hiring process. Key Takeaways: Personal branding on LinkedIn can significantly impact career growth and opportunities. Networking is essential for career advancement and should be done consistently, even when not actively job searching. Thought leadership can enhance career growth and establish credibility in the HR industry. Find Work provides a streamlined platform for connecting job seekers and employers in the hourly workforce, improving the candidate experience and simplifying the hiring process. Connect with our host: Website LinkedIn Connect with our guest: Website LinkedIn  

About The Guest(s): Brittany King is a Senior Level Talent Acquisition, Talent Intelligence, and Diversity Leader. She is a passionate advocate for helping others create opportunities in the midst of life's most challenging circumstances. Brittany is also a self-proclaimed "neighborhood hope dealer" and is dedicated to using her voice and message to inspire and uplift others. Summary: In this episode, host Ricklyn interviews Brittany King, Senior Manager-Talent Acquisition, Talent Intelligence, and Diversity at The Kraft Heinz Company. They discuss the importance of job hoppers and debunk the negative stigma associated with changing jobs frequently. Brittany shares her own experience as a job hopper and emphasizes that job hopping does not reflect a person's ability to perform a job. They also discuss the need for psychological safety in the hiring process and the importance of being honest about past work experiences. Brittany shares her journey into HR, including her first HR job as an HR consultant and her passion for talent acquisition. She also talks about her role as a "neighborhood hope dealer" and how she uses her voice and message to inspire others. Key Takeaways: Job hopping does not reflect a person's ability to perform a job. Psychological safety is crucial in the hiring process, and candidates should feel comfortable being honest about their past work experiences. Everyone has a unique story to share, and it is important to use your voice and share your experiences. LinkedIn is a powerful platform for building your personal brand and connecting with others in your industry. Recruiters are human too, and it is important to build a good rapport with them and give them grace. Connect with our host: Website LinkedIn Connect with our guest: LinkedIn  

About The Guest(s): Julie Turney is a heart-centric and people-focused HR professional with over 15 years of experience in the field. She is the founder of HR at Heart Consulting, Inc., a coaching firm that helps HR professionals build resilience and agility while providing a safe space to recharge. Julie is also the lead organizer of Disrupt HR Caribbean for Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad, the host of the HR Sound Off podcast show, and the author of the book "Confessions of an HR Pro: Stories of Defeat and Triumph." Summary: Julie Turney, founder of HR at Heart Consulting, shares her journey into HR and the inspiration behind her coaching firm. She discusses the challenges and burnout that HR professionals often face and the importance of creating a safe space for HR professionals to recharge. Julie also talks about her book, "Confessions of an HR Pro: Stories of Defeat and Triumph," which aims to clear up misconceptions about HR and shed light on the experiences of HR professionals. Key Takeaways: Julie's entry into HR was driven by her own negative experiences as an employee, which inspired her to create a better work environment. HR professionals often face burnout and struggle to find support and understanding within their organizations. Psychological safety is crucial in HR, allowing employees to share their thoughts and ideas without fear of judgment. Julie's coaching firm, HR at Heart Consulting, provides a safe space for HR professionals to recharge and build resilience. Julie's book, "Confessions of an HR Pro: Stories of Defeat and Triumph," aims to address misconceptions about HR and highlight the challenges and triumphs of HR professionals. Connect with our host: Website LinkedIn Connect with our guest: Website LinkedIn  

My guest for this episode is Lauren Davis, an HR professional with a juris doctorate and 15+ years of experience working with clients in multiple industries. She offers a full-suite of HR services to small to mid-sized businesses to help mitigate risk and secure their bottom lines. Lauren has worked both in-house and as a consultant for a large PEO. She has mentored many newer HR professionals to broaden their depth of HR knowledge.  If you've ever considered hanging your own shingle and starting your own HR consulting practice, you'll appreciate the gems dropped in this episode. In this episode, Lauren shares: Why she decided not to practice law and pursued a career in HR instead. How she strategically positioned herself for her first HR role. Why she decided to leave a "good job" to do HR her way, on her terms. How she adds value to her clients as an independent HR consultant. Her tailored approach for providing recommendations to clients. The importance of continuous learning and cultivating and leveraging your network. Connect with our host: Website LinkedIn Connect with our guest: Website LinkedIn  

My guest for this episode is Rebecca Weaver. She is the Founder and CEO of HRuprise, a marketplace and community that connects people with HR coaches to help them grow, develop, and navigate their toughest workplace challenges. After 20 years of working in HR, Rebecca grew frustrated with just how much is stacked in favor of the company, including the role of HR. Her experience has run the gamut, from well-established companies like Target and Home Depot, to experimental companies like Tony Hsieh's Downtown Project. Rebecca created HRuprise to level the playing field for employees, providing HR that works for employees, rather than the company. In this episode you will learn: Why and how Rebecca imagined and created a different HR structure where HR pros work for employees not their bosses Why there is in an inherent conflict of interest when navigating employee relations How and why you should value the advice you give as an HR professional How you may be able to do HR differently while still working your day job Connect with our host: Website LinkedIn Connect with our guest: Website LinkedIn

Lisa, a Partner at Meritarc, where she and her colleagues believe that people strategy IS business strategy. Lisa delivers exceptional business outcomes through a deep understanding of client needs and how to solve unique challenges. She develops talent through proven strategies. and has over 20 years of HR experience, including roles as Head of U.S. HR for Scotiabank, SVP of Leadership Development at Bank of America Merrill Lynch along with a variety of global HR roles at CIBC and Deutsche Bank. Lisa is Hogan Assessment Certified and was inducted into the YWCA of the City of New York, Academy of Women Leaders. In this episode, you will learn: The benefits of turning your interview into a conversation How to step into a leadership position What it means to get paid for what you know How Walsh navigates being the only person in the room like her Connect with our host: LinkedIn® Website Connect with our guest: LinkedIn®