http://www.rollercoasterhr.com/reflection-question-of-the-week/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reflection-question-of-the-week The HR universe has many ups and downs and sometimes it may even make you sick! Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:05:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://www.rollercoasterhr.com/reflection-question-of-the-week/#comment-2866 Bradley Galin Tue, 16 Feb 2016 03:28:21 +0000 http://www.rollercoasterhr.com/?p=599#comment-2866 Thanks Mary. That sounds fabulous! Thanks Mary. That sounds fabulous!

]]> http://www.rollercoasterhr.com/reflection-question-of-the-week/#comment-2865 M Faulkner Tue, 16 Feb 2016 03:00:53 +0000 http://www.rollercoasterhr.com/?p=599#comment-2865 Once upon a time, I didn't work in anything even approaching HR - I worked for a VOIP start up. I loved it. And the reason I loved it is because the president of the company, Jimmy Howson, was all about letting people figure it out. Jimmy was from London and had been a millionaire and a bust several times over. (Fun fact: He was a roadie for The Animals in the 60s). Jimmy recognized talent and let them find their way if the company needed it. And he challenged me to think beyond what I could do. The company needed a website? He told me to go learn how to do it. Needed an ad for USA Today? Surely I could figure that out. Investor relations? Press releases? How hard could THAT be. Jimmy created an environment I would love to create - freedom to learn, a chance to contribute. The company went the way of the dot-com bubble burst, but I'll never forget what I learned there. Once upon a time, I didn’t work in anything even approaching HR – I worked for a VOIP start up. I loved it. And the reason I loved it is because the president of the company, Jimmy Howson, was all about letting people figure it out. Jimmy was from London and had been a millionaire and a bust several times over. (Fun fact: He was a roadie for The Animals in the 60s). Jimmy recognized talent and let them find their way if the company needed it. And he challenged me to think beyond what I could do. The company needed a website? He told me to go learn how to do it. Needed an ad for USA Today? Surely I could figure that out. Investor relations? Press releases? How hard could THAT be. Jimmy created an environment I would love to create – freedom to learn, a chance to contribute. The company went the way of the dot-com bubble burst, but I’ll never forget what I learned there.

]]> http://www.rollercoasterhr.com/reflection-question-of-the-week/#comment-2864 joe Mon, 15 Feb 2016 15:55:34 +0000 http://www.rollercoasterhr.com/?p=599#comment-2864 4 people quickly come to mind and they are all HR leaders... One of the first important influences in my current career....Angela Jones, she was a VP of HR at ConAgra Foods. I had just started my own thing (after being invited to leave my last employer) and really had no idea what I was doing. I had a meeting with Angela and she told me that I was a "D&I Rock Star." While I kind of roll my eyes at that phrase today...I reeeaaaaallllllyyyyy needed to hear it at the time. And it was coming from someone that I had a tremendous amount of respect for, which made it even more magical. She hired me on as a consultant to help her launch their D&I efforts, and ConAgra was my largest single client for the first 2-3 years of my business. It was nice to be able to say (in less than 6 mos. in business) that I did in fact have a Fortune 500 client. I did not fully grasp it at the time, but I think that relationship was a really valuable thing for me at the time. I think that my confidence was a fairly fragile thing in that first year or two in business and Angelas faith in my ability helped me hold it together. 4 people quickly come to mind and they are all HR leaders…
One of the first important influences in my current career….Angela Jones, she was a VP of HR at ConAgra Foods. I had just started my own thing (after being invited to leave my last employer) and really had no idea what I was doing. I had a meeting with Angela and she told me that I was a “D&I Rock Star.” While I kind of roll my eyes at that phrase today…I reeeaaaaallllllyyyyy needed to hear it at the time. And it was coming from someone that I had a tremendous amount of respect for, which made it even more magical. She hired me on as a consultant to help her launch their D&I efforts, and ConAgra was my largest single client for the first 2-3 years of my business. It was nice to be able to say (in less than 6 mos. in business) that I did in fact have a Fortune 500 client. I did not fully grasp it at the time, but I think that relationship was a really valuable thing for me at the time. I think that my confidence was a fairly fragile thing in that first year or two in business and Angelas faith in my ability helped me hold it together.

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