Her Story
About Tera
My journey into HR literally happened by chance. After living in Italy for about 7 years, I came back to the States and took a job as an executive assistant for a small mom-and-pop company with about 10 employees. I quickly noticed they didn't have an employee handbook or any benefits for their employees, so I took it upon myself to create something to guide the employees and hold them accountable. As I progressed through different roles in manufacturing and construction, people kept telling me 'you're really good at this' - particularly the legal side, the compliance, and the risk management. I worked my way up through the ranks from that executive assistant position all the way to HR director. About a year and a half ago, I founded HR Compliance Advisors, my own consulting company. I focus mostly on small to medium businesses and nonprofits, helping them understand what HR support they really need. A lot of my work involves reaching out through LinkedIn, looking at companies that are hiring for HR positions, and asking them if they really need a full HR staff or just a fractional HR person who can come in, evaluate what they have, and help set things up. My main areas of expertise are compliance and benefits, and I specialize in working with companies going through change management, acquisitions, or downsizing.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tera
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to learning from others. Having strong leadership in my early years really set those work ethics and goals for me, and showed me how to help others. The mentors I had throughout my career made a tremendous difference in shaping who I am as a professional today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to stay true to who you are and your ethics, even if sometimes the business that you are working for doesn't appreciate it. It's so important to maintain your integrity and values, regardless of the circumstances or pressures you might face in your workplace.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The best advice I would give is to always be true to who you are and your values. Don't ever cave just because it's a paycheck. Your integrity and ethics are worth more than any job, and you need to stand firm in what you believe in, even when it might be difficult or when there's financial pressure to compromise.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in HR right now is that more employers are feeling that HR can be eliminated altogether. They're starting to get rid of individual HR departments and moving toward centers of excellence, which are almost like call centers. This approach is taking the humanization out of HR, which I believe is a serious problem for the field and for employees who need that personal, human touch in their workplace support.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and integrity are the most important values to me in both my work and personal life. These principles guide everything I do and every decision I make.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Tennessee
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.