Patrice Baker

I attribute my success to having a mentor who saw something in me and gave me an opportunity. My Senior VP of HR became my mentor and shared with me everything I needed to know about human resources, which was communication and talking to people. He taught me to remember that people are the most valuable resource of an organization, hence why we are called Human Resources - we are their resource. He really prepared me for my career. I've also learned a lot through the school of hard knocks, learning by being pressed and going into the water. But most importantly, my greatest achievement has been not being a slave to the money or the title, and valuing my mental health and my emotional well-being most importantly over any and everything. You can't put a price on peace of mind. That's why I left a high-paying leadership title to follow my dream and start my own consulting firm, making sure my mental health is well by taking walks in the morning and having my time while still being of service to people.

The best career advice I ever received came from my mentor, the Senior VP of HR who brought me into human resources. He taught me that communication is key - you have to talk to people. He also taught me to remember that people are the most valuable resource of an organization, hence why we are called Human Resources. We are their resource. That advice has shaped everything about how I approach my work in HR.

I would share that there's things planted inside you for a reason. We as kids grow up with different dreams and different desires, and sometimes we kind of steer away from that. Pay attention to those things that are inside of you - they're there for a reason. If you feel like you're in a field or in a role that you don't feel like really fits you, find something that does. There's so much opportunity out here, and there's enough for all of us. Find what speaks to you. And if anyone wants to break into the HR industry specifically, which I get asked often, find someone that works in HR and allow them to mentor you, because that person will probably have a role that's open in HR and will recommend you for it. Sometimes you do have to start at the beginning as a coordinator or as an assistant, but that's okay. There is room for growth. There's upward movement.

Right now, a lot of people are concerned, especially in human resources, that AI will take over their roles. However, that's not true. Human resources still needs a people touch. There's some positions that will not be replaced by AI - it can't be. Human resources is one of those industries. One of the challenges is, in HR, specifically in employee relations, how are we going to be able to leverage AI to ensure that our jobs are not only secure, but we're able to do our job more efficiently with these tools? How does it fit in? With recruiting, it's easy. With compliance, it's easy. But with employee relations, it's a little different. We can use it for tracking, we can use it for documentation, but there's still some other pieces that require that human touch. The challenge is how can we use AI and it's still effective and make our jobs easier.

The most important value to me is that people are the most valuable resource of an organization, hence why we are called human resources - we are their resource. That's what my mentor taught me and what I carry with me in everything I do. I also deeply value my mental health and emotional well-being over any and everything, including money or title. That's actually what I'm most proud of - not being a slave to the money or the title, and valuing my mental health most importantly. That's why I wake up in the morning, take a walk, and make sure my mental health is well before I even open my laptop. On a personal level, my faith is central to my life. My parents are pastors, and I've been heavily involved in church ministry my entire life. I serve in praise and worship, singing at several different churches and honoring God by leading people to praise. I'm also deeply committed to serving people, whether through homeless ministry, women's ministry, helping the youth with back-to-school efforts and tutoring, or any other way I can give back. Being of service to people has always been important to me.