Laura Miller
Laura Miller is a Human Resources Leader with extensive experience in HR strategy, compliance, employee relations, and organizational development. She currently serves in a senior HR leadership role at American AllWaste, where she oversees multi-site HR operations across the United States. In this capacity, she partners with leadership to align people strategy with business goals while managing core HR functions including payroll, benefits administration, compliance, employee engagement, and HR systems. Her work focuses on building strong, scalable HR infrastructure that supports both operational performance and a positive employee experience.
Laura’s path into HR leadership is rooted in a deeply personal experience that shaped her professional purpose. Early in her career, she faced a challenging workplace situation during pregnancy that ultimately strengthened her commitment to advocating for working women and mothers. That experience inspired her passion for ensuring employees understand their rights, protections, and opportunities in the workplace, especially parents balancing career and family responsibilities. Since then, she has dedicated over seven years to the HR field, working in a fast-paced wastewater and environmental services organization that converts non-hazardous wastewater into reusable mulch. In this role, she supports a diverse workforce that includes truck drivers, plant operators, administrative staff, and corporate teams, making her work highly dynamic and hands-on.
Throughout her career, Laura has built a reputation for resilience, adaptability, and operational excellence in complex HR environments. She manages hiring, employee relations, payroll, benefits, audits, and 401(k) administration, often serving as the primary on-site HR presence. During periods of leadership transition working through multiple supervisors and HR executives in a short timeframe she ensured continuity of all HR operations, including payroll processing, benefits delivery, and employee support, so that every employee continued to receive what they needed without disruption. One of her proudest accomplishments is successfully stabilizing HR functions during times of uncertainty, proving her ability to step into challenging situations, learn quickly, and lead effectively under pressure. This experience has strengthened her confidence and reinforced her belief that with determination and resourcefulness, complex challenges can always be solved.
• PHR Certification Training
• DISC Level 2 Practitioner
• DISC Coaching Level 1
• Texas State University - BS, Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General
• Austin Community College - BS, Kinesiology and Exercise Science
• Employee of the Month (November 2024)
• Williamson County HR
• Previous nonprofit work
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being placed in challenging situations and choosing to step up, even when I felt unsure or didn’t have all the experience. There were times when I had to carry a lot on my own, adapt quickly, and simply make things work—and through that, I learned that I’m capable of more than I initially believed. That experience built a level of confidence that doesn’t come from knowing everything, but from trusting that I can figure things out along the way.
I’ve learned that challenges are inevitable, mistakes will happen, and not everything will go perfectly—and that’s okay. Things can be worked through, fixed, and improved. We’re all human, and we’re all learning as we go. What matters is showing up, trying, and continuing to move forward.
At the core of it all, I strive to do the best I can for others. We all get one life, and we all carry our own struggles in different ways. That perspective drives me to be the best version of myself so I can better serve the people around me—especially working mothers navigating their careers—offering support, understanding, and advocacy wherever I can.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Laura credits several mentors—including leaders she’s worked alongside including the CFO, a career coach, and her father and husband. All have consistently provided guidance, encouragement, and support throughout her professional journey. One message has stayed with her: never change who you are. Everything can be figured out, and mistakes can always be worked through. We’re all human, we’re all learning, and that never really stops. Above all, don’t give up on yourself or lose sight of who you are and what you’re working toward.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You’re capable of more than you think, and you don’t have to change who you are to get there. Trust that things will work out, even if they feel uncertain right now. Don’t let fear make your decisions for you. Mistakes are part of the process, not something to avoid at all costs. Be willing to step into the unknown, even when you’ve never done it before. You’ll figure it out as you go, and whatever happens, you’ll learn from it and keep moving forward. Most importantly, never lose sight of who you are and what you value. Always stay true to you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in HR is finding your niche. There are so many areas to step into and so many roles to balance, and it can take time to figure out where you truly fit. Along the way, you learn that everyone approaches the work differently—different communication styles, different ways of thinking, different ways of getting things done. The real growth comes from learning how to work effectively with others despite those differences, and still moving things forward in a meaningful way.
At the same time, that challenge is also the opportunity. It’s about holding onto your passion, staying grounded in what you value, and not losing who you are in the process. When you start to find where you belong, align with people who support and push you, and continue showing up for others in a way that’s true to you—that’s when you really begin to thrive.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My core values are rooted in advocating for working women and mothers. After experiencing a demotion during my pregnancy at a previous job, I developed a strong passion for ensuring that others understand their rights and opportunities—especially as parents, as mothers, and as women in the workplace. That experience shaped how I show up, both professionally and personally.
In my personal life, I value being present with my three boys and truly enjoying the time I have with them. I also cherish time with my close group of girlfriends, being outdoors, and finding ways to release stress and stay grounded in the moment. It’s something I actively try to practice and pass on to my kids—appreciating life as it is, even in the chaos that comes with raising a young family.
I also deeply value people and connection. I believe we all walk different paths but cross paths for a reason. I try to make the most of those interactions, showing up with intention and doing right by the people around me—both in my personal life and within my company.