Her Story
About Haleema
Haleema Ali is a human resources professional with over 10 years of experience specializing in talent acquisition, talent management, employee engagement and culture initiatives, recruiting, and performance management. Originally from Canada, she moved to the United States and began her career after an internship in an HR department during her graduate studies. She holds an undergraduate degree in health management and earned a master's degree in public policy from a graduate school in Toronto, where her internship at City Hall sparked her interest in HR. Throughout her career, Ali has often served as the first HR hire at organizations, including a cybersecurity startup and a PR company, where she built HR foundations and supported growth from Series A to Series B funding. She previously served as Director of People and Culture and then COO at a non-profit shelter organization managing operations across multiple counties. Ali is known for transforming perceptions of HR by fostering welcoming environments where staff feel comfortable seeking support. She attributes her success to maintaining an open mind, taking accountability, and the kindness and guidance of powerful female mentors. In her personal life, Ali is heavily involved in autism community advocacy, promoting accommodations, empathy, and understanding in the workplace, values she also applies professionally alongside kindness, empathy, and patience.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Haleema
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having an open mind and taking accountability. Early in my career it was tough to be told I was wrong, but learning to take accountability and having an open mind does wonders. It's not about fault but improving as people and as an organization. I also attribute it to my mentors and leaders, especially powerful women who saw potential in me and showed kindness, empathy, and patience even when I was stubborn.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice is about meeting people where they are at and seeing change and disruption in a positive light, not always as negative. Not all change is disruptive in a bad way; sometimes it's positive. Meeting people where they are makes it easier to bring them along on the journey during change management without getting frustrated.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Advocate for yourself. Women in the workplace don't do that enough. Don't listen if someone says you're being too assertive. Know what's best for you and your goals. If it's not working, think about the whys, but don't let it discourage you. Ask for what you need like retro pay or boundaries, because the worst that can happen is a no. Find a mentor or buddy to help practice those conversations.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is skills development and translating skills from colleges, universities, and trade schools into the workforce. Our education system doesn't align well with workplace needs. There's a missed opportunity for organizations and schools to partner on curriculums, internships, and understanding what skills are applicable. This affects fields like HR, psychology, journalism, and marketing where skills are broad. Organizations should offer more internships, coaching, and mentorship.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Kindness, empathy, and patience are the three values I hold most important. We live in a world with diverse perspectives, and personally I practice these because I have a child with special needs. In HR, when people come to you often with negative issues, understanding where they're coming from and treating them with kindness and patience helps tremendously.
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