Tiffany Querido

I attribute my success to the thank yous and appreciation I receive, which keeps me motivated and shows me I'm doing my job. Being in HR and leadership is not easy - there's such a negative connotation with HR that people scatter when they see me in the halls. But when I see glimpses of smiles and laughter, when managers and employees are engaging and congregating and spending time with each other, that's the most rewarding part of my job because it shows me I am doing what I set out to do. Those moments motivate me to keep going. I also believe that knowledge is power, and as I got older, I realized I needed to link up my education with my experience. My daughter's passing was a wake-up call that made me realize I needed to finish my career, keep climbing, and finish my education. I had two other daughters I needed to be an example to, and I believe in being a physical example. I wanted them to see both the rough and the tough times and the successes - not a pretty picture, but the real journey. I wanted to push through my divorce and my loss to show them what perseverance looks like. That drive to be a positive influence in their lives has been fundamental to my success.

The most important value to me is full-circle advocacy for all humans involved in a business - from owners to customers to vendors to employees. I don't believe HR should only advocate for the business. I believe everyone is human, and everyone deserves that support. Balance is also critical to me. There's a misconception that culture means you either hold people accountable or you celebrate them all the time, but there has to be a balancing beam. Holding people accountable is actually a great culture because you're giving them opportunity to rectify an area of opportunity and grow from it, even though many people see it as negative. I also deeply value being a physical example, especially for my daughters. I wanted them to see the rough and the toughness, not just a pretty picture. When I struggled in a class and failed, I didn't hide it from them - they saw both the struggles and the successes. I believe in speaking about my trials and tribulations because if I don't share my story, I won't complete that circle or reach those who are in the dark thinking they can't do something. I want to paint a realistic picture and show that success isn't about being handed things - it's about trial and tribulation. I also value continuous learning and collaboration. I genuinely want to learn from others and understand why things are done certain ways, not to question people disrespectfully, but because I want to expand my knowledge.