Human Resolve

Ever since Teresa Tanner entered the workforce at the age of 16, she knew things were different for women. This understanding led her to found Reserve Squad, a business that helps companies retain employees who pause their careers to take care of family or other obligations. “We've lost about two and a half million women from the workforce,” Teresa says of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are at the lowest workforce participation rate that we've been in 33 years, so basically, my entire career has been wiped out for this pandemic.”Teresa started her career at McDonald's, where her higher-ups told her they wanted her to take on an HR role. She was wary. As an operations manager, Teresa thought HR was administrative, bureaucratic and, at times, a barrier. She agreed to do it for a couple years, saying she eventually wanted to go back to operations. Spoiler: Teresa never went back to operations. Following her time at McDonald's, she went on to join Fifth Third Bank as an HR leader, eventually rising to the C-suite. Throughout her career, Teresa knew that she had to position herself differently and overcome barriers many of her male co-workers did not face. “As we look forward 10, 20, 30 years, what are the things that we can do today to change some of those outcomes? Some of these barriers have been in place for for many, many decades, and we have to think differently if we want to pivot away from that,” she says. Teresa's experiences over the years, including a shooting at Fifth Third and the COVID-19 pandemic, have highlighted for her the importance of a human-first approach to management. As companies move forward from the pandemic, she explains why leading with empathy is a must. Featured LeaderName: Teresa TannerTitle: Founder and CEOCompany: Reserve SquadNoteworthy: Teresa has a two-year-old granddaughter, and she dreams of a world where her granddaughter will have less barriers than she did. Where to find Teresa: Twitter | LinkedInHuman Resolve Episode 14 HighlightsHighlights from the transcript.

Featured LeadersName: Jessica Lopez Title: Chief of StaffCompany: U-Haul International, Inc.Noteworthy: Jessica was a finalist for 2018 Business Leader of Year and a 2020 Health Intelligence Hero.Where to find Jessica: LinkedIn Name: Monique HartyTitle: Wellness Program ManagerCompany: U-Haul International, Inc.Noteworthy: Monique was on azcentral.com's “Who's Next” list for emerging health experts.Where to find Monique: LinkedInHuman Resolve Episode 13 HighlightsHighlights from the transcript. 

When Angela Smith Jones was Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis, she set the tone as an inclusive leader by extending a hand to people who normally don't get one – people like herself.“I took an intern every single quarter that we were able to get interns and the people who ran the internship program knew we're going to pitch the people to Deputy Mayor Angela Smith Jones that other people might not take because I was all about access,” Angela says. “I was like … I'm going to give you access because I wanted somebody else to give me access when I was your age.'”On this episode of Human Resolve a year after the death of George Floyd, host Mark Minner speaks with Angela about how her parents raised her to appreciate diversity, and why it's crucial to lean into uncomfortable conversations and use them as an opportunity for human connection. Although they're far from easy, she stresses why having these discussions in the workplace are crucial and gives advice on how to navigate them. Angela also shares how her background in public policy and economic development helped prepare her for her current role as Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion at Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County, and offers advice for individuals working on DE&I in their own office. “The business argument is it's actually increased profitability and saving of money,” Angela says. “And then the human perspective is I want to feel welcome, too. And I want my kids and my brothers and sisters to feel welcome wherever they're going.” Featured LeaderName: Angela Smith JonesTitle: Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion Company: Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion CountyNoteworthy: Angela helped her best friend's mother go from being an openly racist, close-minded individual to loving and accepting Angela, a Black woman, like a second daughter. Where to find Angela: LinkedInHuman Resolve Episode 12 HighlightsHighlights from the transcript.

When Sally Hornick Anderson’s 13-year-old child came out to her as non-binary, wanting to use the pronouns “they” and “them,” they went to the right person. Sally remembered the story“The therapist that they were working with said ‘Hey, how did your parents respond?’ And they said, ‘Well, my mom works in diversity. So of course, she was OK with it.’”Sally, Google’s Workforce Diversity Director, believes it’s every HR professional’s duty to make employees feel accepted and comfortable. And developing an open relationship with your team requires being genuine about your own experiences.  On this episode of Human Resolve, host Mark Minner speaks with Sally about the importance of HR professionals being allies, the power of uncomfortable conversations (especially around race) and why it’s crucial to check in on employees regularly, especially during a time when mental health issues are a growing problem in the U.S.  Sally also shares how her work at Google has been affected by recent racial inequity protests and the COVID-19 pandemic. Spoiler alert: it’s made work much more challenging but also that much more important.“I always try to be very conscious and … check in, like ‘How are you?’” Sally says of her one-on-one meetings with employees. “I think sometimes when people ask that question, it can come across as inauthentic because it's like ‘How are you?’ and they’re already thinking about the next topic — but just holding the space to say, ‘How are you?’ and ‘How can I support you?’”Featured LeaderName: Sally Hornick AndersonTitle: Workforce Diversity Director Company: GoogleNoteworthy: Sally is an avid cook who enjoys cooking Indian dishes — not only because of how delicious it is, but because it offers a range of tasty options that comply with her food limitations due to dairy and gluten sensitivities. Where to find Sally: LinkedInHuman Resolve Episode 11 HighlightsHighlights from the transcript.

Even three-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner Ed Carpenter was once told his dreams were too big. “One of the first assignments we had was to write a five-year success plan,” Ed says of his time at Butler University’s Andre B. Lacy School of Business. “I obviously wrote a paper largely based around my racing career, and kind of tied in my time at Butler and how I was there to complement that as kind of a plan B. … [The professor] told me that it was nice to have dreams, but you need to be more realistic.” On this episode of Human Resolve, host Mark Minner speaks with Ed about how he went from a rookie to eventually co-owning his own race team, Ed Carpenter Racing, and why naysayers only motivated him to work harder to achieve his goals. Ed also shares what he’s learned as the leader of a 40-person team, including the importance of compassion, transparency and a clear mission shared by all employees. He describes how, in the small community that is IndyCar racing, it’s extra important to show respect for your competitors. After the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ed is extra grateful for a team that knows how to think on its feet and adapt. “I'd like to think that's one of the skill sets that we're very good at — just being able to deal with change and drama and unforeseen circumstances,” he says. “But I don't think anyone was prepared for what we went through last year. Fortunately, we were able to keep our people on through the whole time.”Featured LeaderName: Ed CarpenterTitle: Co-owner of Ed Carpenter Racing Company: Ed Carpenter Racing Noteworthy: Ed didn’t start racing until his mom remarried and suddenly he became the stepson of Indy Racing League founder Tony George.Where to find Ed: LinkedInHuman Resolve Episode 10 HighlightsHighlights from the transcript.

Elliott Parker isn’t perfect, and he’s happy to admit it.As some become more advanced in their career, they feel they're not in a position to make a lot of mistakes. As a result of that mindset, Elliott believes people "actually render [themselves] fragile. We benefit from learning and from making mistakes.” And, a certain degree of risk and variability are central to this mindset.After studying finance at Brigham Young University and then earning his MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, Elliott wanted a career that would allow him to learn, grow and help others. He started as a consultant, then a manager, and after six years, he became an entrepreneur. Then in 2020, Elliott became the CEO of High Alpha Innovation, a venture capital and private equity firm that focuses on scaling software companies.Now, 20 years into his career, Elliot’s focus is fostering a positive environment with growth opportunities for his employees. “I want a place where people feel secure,” he says. “Everybody's been hired onto this team for a reason because of things they do exceptionally well. They're going to help us all be better in different ways. That's why they're here. I don't want people to feel like they need to be perfect at everything.”On this episode of Human Resolve, Elliott discusses the importance of leading with love, learning from mistakes and combining the traits of a team and a family. He also reflects on High Alpha Innovation’s values, how his team has gotten through COVID-19 and why helping others get their job done helps him do his own work.Featured LeaderName: Elliott Parker Title: CEO at High Alpha InnovationCompany: High Alpha InnovationNoteworthy: Elliott volunteered for two years as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paris. Where to find Elliott: Twitter | LinkedIn Episode SnippetsHighlights from the transcript. 

Summer Crenshaw grew up in poverty, teaching her the importance of education and hustle at a young age.“What motivated me to make an impact was knowing that so many of my friends and my family struggled because they couldn't get jobs in the standard sense,” she said. “My dad got a great job at a steel company because he showed up at the HR office and sat for hours on end until somebody in HR was willing to talk to him. … I just was horrified that really good people, regardless of their aptitude, just couldn't get employment.”After graduating from Miami University with a degree in communications and public relations in 1999, Summer went into marketing and consulting before co-founding her second startup, tilr. tilr was essentially the Match.com of recruiting and eventually led Summer to her current position as CEO of TalentNow, “the first unified marketplace connecting employers to talent, free from constraints of source, location or engagement model.” With more than 15 years of experience as a self-described “serial entrepreneur,” Summer’s big focus is helping underserved and underrepresented populations find employment. She’s spoken at everything from Techstars Startup Week to DisruptHR, and she has a strong passion for supporting military members/veterans, women entrepreneurs and the Midwest startup ecosystem.On this episode of Human Resolve, Summer discusses how the future of work supports and even benefits underrepresented folks in all industries. In her eyes, technology has the power to lift everyone. Workers must adapt to the ever-changing tides, which is why empathy is your most important tool. She also touches on the unique needs of women, veterans and other traditionally underserved individuals and what value they bring as employees.##Featured LeaderName: Summer Crenshaw Title: CEO at TalentNow Company: TalentNow Noteworthy: Summer has received several prestigious accolades, including Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2018 40 Under 40 Honoree, Cincinnati Business Courier’s 10 Women Who Mean Business Honoree and Cincy Inno’s 50 on Fire Honoree.Where to find Summer: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website##Episode SnippetsHighlights from the transcript. 

Martha May understands the value of self-reflection — and she’s a better HR professional because of it. Martha, the Chief Human Resources Officer at billion-dollar academic apparel company Varsity Brands, realized something was up several years ago while working for another firm. She felt she couldn’t move forward professionally without facing a truth that she’d long hidden: she’s attracted to women. So, she separated from her then-husband and eventually married her wife. “I'm so grateful for … what that's done to even further my authentic self in all relationships, in all aspects of my life,” Martha says. On this episode, host Mark Minner speaks with Martha and the Performance Lab’s Managing Director, Rebecca Ellis, about Martha’s biggest takeaways from 2020, how her passion fuels her work and why it’s important to learn from your mistakes rather than run from them.

Seth Morales learned a lot about people from his time as a football star at Purdue University – from legends coach Joe Tiller and quarterback Drew Brees. And he's applied many of those lessons to his role as CEO of the Morales Group. Based in Indianapolis, the recruitment and staffing agency was originally founded by Seth’s first-generation American father. But it was never meant to only be a staffing business — the purpose of the Morales Group was and is ultimately, to help their communities grow and flourish. Because of the company's mission, diversity and inclusion have been at the core of the Morales Group since its founding. "For us, we saw it as a core differentiator," Seth says. On this episode of Human Resolve, Seth explains how his company incorporates diversity and inclusion in an impactful way rather than just paying lip service. You’ll learn the importance of prioritizing vulnerability and empathy in your leadership, and how giving HR a voice can help your organization thrive. Megan Nail, Vice President of the Total Rewards Practice at FirstPerson, joins as well.

R. J. Talyor likes to keep it real. He doesn’t pretend 2020 has been easy, and he tries to let his employees know that he has struggled through moments just like anyone else — so why not let loose a little during the workday? “I try to actually get on [Zoom] with bedhead in front of our own internal team, just to demonstrate like ‘Hey, I'm living my life here, there's a kid on my lap.’ I'm real, too. We're all real. We're all dealing with this crazy thing. And we're also working.” R. J. is the CEO and Founder of Pattern89, a startup that helps e-commerce retailers understand what paid social ads work and why. In this episode of Human Resolve, R. J. discusses why a company culture molded by core values is crucial, how you can use it to recruit exceptional talent “representative of the country,” and what future workplaces may look like.

Feeling stressed? On the brink of burning out? Worried about the pandemic or your never-ending work from home situation? Dr. Lisa Penney is exactly who we all need to hear from in 2020. Dr. Penney is an award-winning researcher who received her doctorate in industrial-organizational psychology and has spent almost 20 years studying job stress, counterproductive work behavior, and burnout. In her current position as a Professor of Management for USF's Muma College of Business, Dr. Penney teaches undergraduate business courses while also researching strategies to help people improve decision-making skills during stressful situations. In this episode of Human Resolve, host Mark Minner speaks with his colleague Kristen Campbell and Dr. Penney about the damaging effects stress has in the workplace, healthy ways to address stress and anxiety in the workplace, and what leaders can do to better identify it in their employees. They also discuss how stress and uncertainty manifested as a toilet paper shortage and what we can all be doing better to curb vicious burnouts.

Ashima Kapur has a deep-rooted faith in people — and no doubt has it played a pivotal role in her success. “I believe that ultimately we all want to do a good job,” Ashima says. “I can't think of a single person that's walked in and said, ‘You know what, I really don't care.’” As an immigrant from India, it took Ashima a while to break into HR in the U.S. But her first American bosses at The Morley Group helped her get to where she is now: Vice President of Human Resources at Allied Solutions. Now, after 26 years in the field, she’s an expert who leads with the understanding that employees are human beings with lives. On the third episode of Human Resolve, Ashima discusses why it’s important for HR professionals to listen to employees, respect varying backgrounds and work as a team to get the job done.

Former pastor Adam Weber practices what he literally preaches, both as an author and the co-founder and Chief People Officer of Emplify, an employee management software and consulting firm based in Indianapolis. Since leaving the church and venturing into the business world, he’s pushed for authentic leadership, a catalyst for unlocking people’s true potential. "It's not about your product, it's not about all these other things. As a leader, you can truly create a high performance culture when you simply get to know yourself in a way that you can actually lead from your authentic, whole person," Adam says. In this episode of Human Resolve, learn how to build a more human workforce as Adam discusses the importance of self-awareness and self-reflection in your journey as a leader, meaningful feedback, and “the mirage of the desk.”

“Success is as much about what you divest as where you invest.” Author, thought leader and big tech exec, Karen Mangia says that accepting opportunities often requires declining others – an important step in progressing toward your goals. With over twenty years of experience engaging with customers and growing revenue at Fortune 50 companies, Karen is now the Vice President of Customer and Market Insights at Salesforce. Recently, she’s helped more than 50,000 employees around the world adapt to a remote work lifestyle during the pandemic, a way of life she’s been accustomed to for almost two decades. After suffering from a mysterious yet serious illness for years, Karen reimagined success, allowing her to live a happier, healthier and more prosperous life — entirely on her terms. In the pilot episode of Human Resolve, Karen discusses what she’s learned from almost twenty years of remote work experience, how her definition of success has transformed through her life, and what vulnerability can offer your professional life.

Human Resolve, a new podcast from FirstPerson Advisors, explores the modern challenges that HR leaders face, as well as their creative, human-centric solutions.