Daniella Zubarev, MS, CPC

I've been very fortunate to have such amazing mentors throughout my career. I have learned so much from them. They taught me early on to take any challenge as an opportunity to learn, and I really embrace that kind of growth mindset. I think having that growth mindset really sets you up for success. There's always something to learn, there's always knowledge to be gained. And I've just been very fortunate to have mentors in my life who supported me.

Leaning into the discomfort. One of the best pieces of advice that one of my mentors has given me is that the only thing that's constant is change, and change can be very uncomfortable, it can be scary, but especially in my industry and the role that I'm in, it's inevitable. And you have to lean into discomfort in order to grow. Comfort hinders growth and creativity. The second you become comfortable in your role, it's time for you to seek a new opportunity. So that discomfort is actually a positive, it means there’s more to learn. And leaning into that discomfort I think is beneficial for a successful career, regardless of industry or your role.

My field of work is very relationship-driven, so network, network, network. That's the biggest advice that I can give anyone who aspires to be an HR Business Partner. Your network is going to set you up for success, and practicing building those relationships and practicing sustaining those relationships for the long term really helps in a role like this. Not only can you learn from networking and sharing best practices, maybe even finding a mentor of your own, but it does help you build those essential capabilities to influence and make an impact, which is a big portion of my role. I think what has made me successful in my career is having the ability to build and sustain those relationships.

I think the external environment and job market right now are particularly unique, making strategic workforce planning crucial. We have to get more creative in how we attract and retain talent. For example, one thing that I love to say, particularly at Organon, is that the flexibility that we offer is a competitive advantage, especially from the perspective of diversity, equity and inclusion. Women tend to be the primary care givers for their families, so when things come up like daycare closes or a child is sick from school, they're the ones who usually take on that additional responsibility. For this particular demographic, a work environment that allows you to double hat as the primary caregiver while still advancing in your career is extremely meaningful- and that flexibility is the competitive advantage. It’s not always solely about compensation and benefits, we have to look at the full picture and be more creative in how we attract and retain key talent.

Above all else is integrity and accountability. Also, inclusion is very important. I think it’s important to foster an environment where everyone feels like they have a voice. Inclusion breeds creativity and innovation. I also value transparency and authenticity. I believe one of the biggest indicators of a strong leader is the ability to show humility. Leading with empathy and being vulnerable may not always be comfortable, but it enables trust and accelerates relationship building. I think those are the top ones for me personally.