Women in Payroll

For this episode of Women in Payroll, Graham and Melanie met with Kelly Semones.   Kelly didn't start her working life wanting to become a payroll specialist; her career journey took her from Geology to HR and then she fell in love with the Payroll industry. Kelly shares her tips for a successful transformation project and her excitement about the ways technology may change the future of payroll and pay.  Kelly's passion for payroll shines throughout the episode, and she confesses that (like many of us in the industry) she is a Payroll Geek!

For this episode of Women In Payroll, Graham and Melanie had the pleasure of meeting with Sharon Tayfield. Sharon is one of the Payroll industry's most passionate professionals. During our conversation, Sharon explains how she joined the payroll industry and used her payroll and entrepreneurial skills to become part of a team that developed new software for the Payroll industry in Africa.  Like many of us, Sharon's successful career within Payroll has been shaped and inspired by others and she speaks about those who have been her greatest influences and mentors.

Melanie and Graham met with Melanie Duffus for this episode.  Melanie began her working life in Insurance and was intrigued to decipher her first payslip and understand why the tax man took so much money each month. Her curiosity launched her career in payroll! In the '90s Melanie worked for a recruitment agency, processing their payrolls, and her love of payroll was cemented.  Melanie is passionate about getting in front of stakeholders to directly address queries and explain how payroll work. This has helped her build important relationships throughout her career.  Networking, people skills and attention to detail are Melanie's niche and she encourages everyone who works in the payroll industry to discover their own specialism.

Barbara is passionate about Payroll. Like many people in our industry, she fell into payroll and got the bug. Barbara is an advocate of networking and explains its benefits; both in furthering your career and with day-to-day payroll processing. She also champions ongoing learning and encourages her team to take time to learn new things about payroll and share what they have discovered. Barbara is admirably forthright and encourages fellow Payroll professionals to be open with bosses about the job you want. That positive drive took her all the way to director!

Graham and Melanie had the pleasure of meeting Lara Smart for the latest Women in Payroll Podcast. As a Payroll Transformation Consultant, Lara comes to payroll from a slightly different perspective than our other guests.  During this revealing episode, Lara provides helpful insight into what makes a good and successful Transformation project and discusses potential complexities together with the importance of engaging with all business partners. We get Lara's take on how prioritising positive reporting will change the profile of the payroll industry not only in-company but also externally.  We also find out whether the last week of a transformation project gives Lara the same adrenaline rush as taking part in extreme sports!

In this entertaining episode, Graham and Melanie interview Samantha Williams the VP Head of Global Payroll at NielsenIQ.  Samantha's very first role was in Payroll and she hasn't left the industry since. Samantha shares insights from her time with multiple international organisations, the ups and downs of her career and how early experiences shaped it. In her own words: All roads lead to payroll!

Welcome to another inspiring episode! Melanie and Graham had the pleasure to interview Janet Grossett in this session of Women in Payroll. Janet is the Compliance at the National Payroll Institute of Canada. Like so many Payroll Leaders we have interviewed, Janet fell into payroll by happenstance after being asked by her accountant to run payroll whilst they were on vacation.  And from that moment on Janet hasn't looked back, she loves working in the Payroll Industry and chose it as a career.  We learn about Janet's career path and explore the story of the great influence and mentor who had a great impact on the way she charted that path. Janet discusses the effects of the pandemic and what impact it had on her team. She shares that being supportive and flexible and encouraging her team to go from good to great was key to surviving and thriving in such manic and high pressurised times.

Graham and Melanie had the pleasure of interviewing Samantha Johnson, Policy Lead at CIPP.  Samantha studied for a degree in Law and found a job within Leicestershire Police after graduating. She saw an internal role in payroll being advertised, got the job and hasn't looked back since her career in payroll began!  During this podcast we discuss a variety of topics including Financial Wellness, On Demand Pay, AI, RPA and what the future of payroll will look like.  Samantha encourages our listeners to not be afraid of change, never to make assumptions and to embrace their creativity.

Graham and Melanie had the inspiring opportunity to meet with Amber Visconti.  Amber is a Global Payroll Director who, like so many payroll professionals, seemingly fell into the payroll industry.  Having just left University, Amber applied for a position within a payroll organisation that jumped at the chance to use her multi-language skills.  Amber has a love of mathematics and languages and found that her skill set fit beautifully with her new payroll position. Since then she has not looked back!  Working for many well-known organisations, Amber has specialised in high volume global payrolls.

For this episode Graham Wylie and Melanie Pizzey had the pleasure of meeting Natalie Turner. Natalie is a Global Payroll Manager who, like so many payroll professionals, started her career by stumbling across the industry by chance. At a young age Natalie had a passion for numbers and luckily someone suggested she applied for a job in payroll! Natalie fell in love with the industry and from there her career evolved though her hard work in a variety of different sectors within the UK and Global market. Those early lessons in the basic skills of payroll have served her well throughout her professional journey. Natalie is a true advocate of the payroll industry and here she shares her thoughts on how we can encourage the next generation to join.

Graham and Melanie had a transformational experience meeting Anna Hammarkvist, a well known and respected member of the Swedish payroll community. Anna has had experience working in organisations in-house and also outsourced and approaches every job as though she is running a business. Anna sees an opportunity to treat payroll not as a back-office function but as a priority with every business. She applies her philosophies of love and respect to her professional life and working relationships. Anna encourages her team to be inquisitive; to investigate and learn something new every day. She values awareness of technology and industry updates alongside encouraging people to use their brains and not solely rely on technology.  Anna is an advocate of being green and believes every payroll department can and should decrease its footprint on the environment. Enjoy Anna's calming approach to work and life and don't be surprised if the serenity of this episode remains with you through your day!

We truly are starting season two of Women in Payroll in style! Graham Wylie and I were fortunate enough to meet with Debbie Piacitelli the Global Payroll Leader of W.L. Gore & Associates. Debbie’s drive and passion for the payroll industry radiate throughout our conversation and it is impossible not to get caught up in her enthusiasm. Debbie is refreshingly frank as she explains how she overcame challenges during her career and how highly she now values lending her encouragement as others develop their own career and profile. Debbie believes it is important to make other departments and c-suite aware of the data available within the payroll department while recognising the important role it plays in every organisation. Like many payroll professionals around the world who share similar concerns, Debbie discusses the question of how we can successfully bring the younger generation into the industry.  For Debbie promoting the Payroll profession is key. In fact, she may well be our first official Payroll influencer!

Angela Wagner Senior Director, Global Payroll, HiltonGraham Wylie and I had the pleasure of interviewing Angela Wagner for our Women in Payroll Podcast. Like many payroll professionals, Angela was raised in a military family. However, in her late twenties, she made the decision to personally serve her country within the US Coast Guard.  Not only can Angela process payrolls but she can drive a fort lift truck!  Angela believes her 8 years as a Coast Guard gave her a great grounding to embrace her payroll roles at Amazon and Starbucks and her prominent position at Hilton today.During this memorable podcast, Angela candidly discusses the challenges of raising a family whilst juggling an equally demanding working life.  Angela's openness really makes an impression as she shares that - in common with many people in payroll over the course of their careers - she suffered from imposter syndrome. The numerous challenges Angela has overcome and the valuable lessons she has learnt on her journey in payroll and life make for a fascinating listen!

We are pleased to share a brand-new GPA podcast featuring Virginia Magliulo -President Global View HCM of ADP- which we recorded in May during lockdown. Virginia had embarked on a new global role and shared with us some of the challenges she faced and the steps she had taken to overcome them.Virginia reiterated that effective communication with your team is essential, as is understanding different cultures and the impact they have in the workplace, especially during the heightened circumstances of the pandemic.Join Graham, Virginia and I in conversation as Virginia revisits her payroll journey and the more challenging terrain she has navigated, particularly working in a male-dominated industry. And learn why Virginia values technology as well as customer service.Virginia’s journey differs from many others within payroll because she began her career as an engineer. Having been only in the payroll industry for 5 years, Virginia admits that she initially underestimated how hard it can be to run payroll but quickly underwent a crash course in the complexities and the pitfalls involved in achieving a 100 per cent accurate global payroll.

For this engaging podcast, Graham Wylie and I met with Alex Little - EMEA hub leader Global Workforce Operations at Avery Dennison - Alex has worked in the Payroll industry for over 20 years. Based in the North East of the UK, Alex started her career processing UK payrolls for Northern Rock.Alex's role has expanded from processing payrolls for the UK and grown to cover countries like France, Ireland, Scandinavia and Israel.Alex's passion for payroll punctuates the podcast as she shares her personal experiences and the steep learning curves she traversed throughout the projects she has managed. Alex credits building relationships and communicating with your colleagues as the keys to success and shares how stepping out of your comfort zone can reap the greatest rewards.

Annemarie Verwaaijen-KalsbeekExecutive Director Global Payroll & Global MobilityNCROnce again Graham Wylie and I have had the opportunity to share our podcast with another inspiring woman from the payroll industry. On her career ladder ascent, Annemarie Verwaaijen-Kalsbeek has worked her way up from a small butchers' shop to her position as Executive Director Global Payroll and Global Mobility at NCR and built a brand new life in America.Annemarie's passion for payroll was evident throughout our conversation. In fact, she revealed that she learned to embrace her identity as a payroll nerd early! Annemarie discusses the path which brought her to the professional success she enjoys today and the ways the advice of a mentor remain prevalent. Annemarie’s initial goal was to move and work in the US for one year; seven years on she is still there...Listen to the story of Annemarie’s very own American dream and the reasons she feels that it truly is the land of opportunity! 

I am joined by Graham Wylie for this unforgettable podcast with Marcela Uribe, Vice President, General Counsel EME & MNC of ADP. Marcela shares with us her life as an American in Paris, from her arrival as a non-French speaker through the journey of making it her professional and personal home. Marcela had initially relocated for a few years yet is still there 14 years later!Marcela is one of the pioneers who developed and built the way we deliver Global Payroll today. She offers her incisive take on how the industry has changed and her predictions for the future. Like many Global Managers, Marcela appreciates the challenges of managing people around the globe. Sharing the wealth of her own experience, she reveals how to apply negotiation skills to the situation while remaining mindful of the people you manage.

On this podcast, you have the opportunity to share in Graham Wylie and Melanie Pizzey's discussion with Product Evangelist and Multi-Country ADP Michele Honomichl.  Michele’s innovative journey in payroll began when she decided to simply listen to people, find out what they wanted and do her best to fix it.  When told something couldn’t be done, Michelle found a way to meet that challenge head-on.  She discusses the many highs and lows of building multimillion-dollar Global Payroll service provider Celergo.Michele advocates the importance of connecting with people - in our working and personal lives - and the lessons you can learn from everyone you meet.  She confides the invaluable influence her father had on her career, the wider importance of her family, and the role a pig called Winston plays! To discover more about Global Payroll Association:  globalpayrollassociation.com To learn more about ADP:  adp.com/worldwide

On this podcast, Graham Wylie and Melanie Pizzey speak with Zennie Sjölund, the Sweden-based Divisional Director Payroll of Srf konsulterna, the association of Swedish Accounting and Payroll.  Zennie explores with us the very first steps of her journey in payroll and the challenges she has faced.  Inspiring us all with her positive attitude and get it done approach, this dynamic industry leader discusses how the Swedish Payroll Association began and the pride she feels for her own contribution; bringing together software suppliers to overcome industry challenges.  Zennie shares her tips for getting noticed within the payroll industry and for finding the motivation to persevere after a knockback. We hear her perspective on the importance of working together and discover valuable tips about the way Swedes promote the payroll industry and take an age-blind approach to teaching people more about it.  To discover more about Global Payroll Association:  globalpayrollassociation.comTo learn more about ADP:  adp.com/worldwide

Join Graham Wylie and Melanie Pizzey in conversation with Kate Upcraft as they explore how Kate achieved the success she enjoys today.  Kate is a successful self-employed conference speaker, lecturer and writer on legislative issues. In our discussion, she will detail her journey from employment as Payroll Manager of Marks and Spencers to setting out on her own and building a successful business within the UK Payroll Industry. Kate shares her thoughts on the UK Payroll Industry as it currently stands and the impact the election and government will have on its future. Kate also predicts how the future will look for the industry and gives the reasons behind her belief in the absolute importance of new blood. To discover more about Global Payroll Association:  globalpayrollassociation.com To learn more about ADP:  adp.com/worldwide

Share in the discussion Graham Wylie and Melanie Pizzey have as they meet with Joy Hartigan - Director, Payroll Global Process Owner at Microsoft.  Joy’s career began within the payroll department of the Civil Service, find out how that experience became the first step on a path which led to her becoming the Global Process Owner of one of the most recognizable organisations on the planet.  Joy talks about the ups and downs of her career journey across the years and confides her experiences and wisdom.  Joy advocates a philosophy of putting yourself out there to further your career and believes a knockback should never be a reason for anyone to give up but rather an opportunity to learn and try again! To discover more about Global Payroll Association:  globalpayrollassociation.comTo learn more about ADP:  adp.com/worldwide

For this dialogue, Graham Wylie and Melanie Pizzey are joined by award-winning Career Coach and Leadership Trainer Jenny Garrett.  Jenny talks us through the ways we, as individuals, can improve our role within a company.  The discussion explores gender balance, leadership and how to better support colleagues.  The topical subjects of mental and financial well being also come under scrutiny. Jenny champions making men into ‘Manbassidors’ within organisations. A role intended to support women as they climb the career ladder.  The podcast covered so many topics of interest that we have divided it into two episodes to ensure you don’t miss a single fascinating moment! To discover more about Global Payroll Association:  globalpayrollassociation.com To learn more about ADP:  adp.com/worldwide

For this dialogue, Graham Wylie and Melanie Pizzey are joined by award-winning Career Coach and Leadership Trainer Jenny Garrett.  Jenny talks us through the ways we, as individuals, can improve our role within a company.  The discussion explores gender balance, leadership and how to better support colleagues.  The topical subjects of mental and financial well being also come under scrutiny. Jenny champions making men into ‘Manbassidors’ within organisations. A role intended to support women as they climb the career ladder.  The podcast covered so many topics of interest that we have divided it into two episodes to ensure you don’t miss a single fascinating moment! To discover more about Global Payroll Association:  globalpayrollassociation.com To learn more about ADP:  adp.com/worldwide

For this podcast, Graham Wylie and Melanie Pizzey unite in conversation with Ayse Nazmiye Uca - the inspiring CEO of Datassist Payroll Services in Turkey. Ayse was the very first person to start a Payroll Provider in Turkey 20 years ago.  Ayse discusses the unique experience of setting up a business in Turkey as a female professional and passes along the invaluable advice she would now give to people in the position of starting their own business.Discover how Ayse has been instrumental in training Syrian refugees in payroll processing, some of who leave behind careers as doctors and engineers at home in Syria.  And Ayse isn’t stopping at training she is also lending her expertise to educate the entire Turkish Payroll community on how to process payroll.This podcast was recorded virtually so the sound quality is not to our usual standard but Ayse’s singular story was so compelling that we had to share it with you.To discover more about Global Payroll Association:  globalpayrollassociation.comTo learn more about ADP:  adp.com/worldwide