Her Story
About Shaina
Shaina Poulard, MBA, is a global human resources executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning technology, financial services, biotechnology, entertainment, retail, and high-growth organizations. As Global Senior Director of HRBPs, Total Rewards, Enablement, and Belonging at NerdWallet, she leads strategic HR business partnerships, talent enablement, employee experience, leadership development, diversity and belonging initiatives, and total rewards. Throughout her career, she has successfully guided organizations through transformational change by aligning talent strategies with business objectives while building inclusive, high-performing workplace cultures.
Prior to joining NerdWallet, Shaina held senior leadership positions at Relativity Space, Facebook, Bird, and Fullscreen Media, where she developed enterprise-wide learning and development programs, led global diversity and inclusion strategies, launched employee resource groups, improved employee engagement, and coached leaders through organizational growth and change. After beginning her professional career in biotechnology research and consulting, she pursued an MBA focused on Leadership and Managing Organizational Change, which served as the foundation for her successful transition into human resources leadership. Her expertise spans organizational development, talent management, leadership coaching, DEIB strategy, change management, and employee experience.
Shaina is passionate about empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential through inclusive leadership, continuous learning, and purposeful culture transformation. Guided by her personal motto—"Live, Learn, Teach, Pay it Forward, and Enjoy Every Moment"—she believes exceptional leadership begins with serving others, fostering belonging, and helping people grow. Her team-first leadership philosophy, commitment to lifelong learning, and ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders have established her as a respected leader dedicated to creating workplaces where both people and organizations thrive.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shaina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to leading with a team-first and company-first mindset. I am committed to continuous learning and personal growth, and I embrace a "fail fast, learn faster" philosophy that allows me to adapt quickly and continuously improve. I believe one of my greatest strengths is meeting people where they are, understanding their perspectives, and aligning individuals around shared goals and meaningful business outcomes.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I believe in putting people first by creating environments where everyone feels valued, included, and empowered to succeed. I value continuous learning, collaboration, empathy, authenticity, and servant leadership. I strive to build meaningful relationships, foster belonging, and help individuals reach their fullest potential while contributing to organizational success.
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