Her Story
About Lisa
I'm a Human Resource Business Manager for C&H Industrial, an agricultural heavy equipment manufacturing company where I've worked for just under 11 years, with the past 2 years in my current role. I serve as the HR business partner for various business units, including our North America quality and product platform as well as the purchasing and supply chain side. In this capacity, I support strategic leaders, most of them directors and vice presidents, managing their staffing, organization, and labor budgets. I also provide comprehensive HR services to managers and their staffs, including talent development, succession planning, and recruiting. I've been in the HR field for 22 years total. I made a career change in 2004 when a friend who was working for Chief Industries told me they were looking for somebody in HR. I interviewed for the job and it was a great alignment for me because I had been on the business side up to that point, but I've always been compliance and legal-minded, so it was a great bridge to pull the two together. I hold an undergraduate degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in business, which I completed in 2008, and a master's degree in legal studies from 2013. I previously held my professional HR certification, though I've let it lapse since then.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lisa
01What do you attribute your success to?
Honestly, I just think it's my network. I volunteer for things, and I network with people, and from that, you start to build programs and develop different things, and it just carries me. I think for work, it's just creating good relationships and maintaining those good relationships, whether it's with my business leaders, my peers, or others within my field.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I think the best advice that I've received is related to my tendency to be more introverted. I like to listen and process before I respond, and I had a vice president tell me that I need to speak up sooner. He said I'm smart and intelligent, but I need to be heard in the moment. It's true. Don't be afraid to put your questions out there, don't be afraid to put your ideas out there. That advice has really stuck with me and helped me grow professionally.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The best advice I could give to women entering into this field is to let your ideas and your voice be heard. Be strong, but not aggressive. There's a fine balance between that, and when you're dealing with business leaders, they have very strong personalities. So be assertive in your positions, but also approach things from a collaborative nature. In human resources, there are things that are inherent where this is right, and no matter what, this is the direction we're going to go. And there's other times where it's 'I can see what you're saying, but let's look at it from a different perspective.' You have to be able to influence your leaders.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think some of the biggest challenges within my field right now is just shifting the culture mindset of senior leaders, especially within agriculture. Agriculture is a hard industry to change.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think for work, it's just creating good relationships and maintaining those good relationships, whether it's with my business leaders, my peers, or others within my field. Personally, it is faith and family.
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