“PEOPLE BRING DIFFERENT DYNAMICS TO THE ORGANIZATION
AND WE HAVE TO LEVERAGE DIVERSITY IN ORDER TO BECOME A
STRONGER ORGANIZATION. IF WE ALL LOOKED AT THINGS THE
SAME WAY, WE WOULD BELIEVE THAT WE ARE NEVER WRONG.”
– ALLAN BARTOLINI
leveraging diverse cultural backgrounds and the knowledge gained
from those backgrounds can help us arrive at a better overall deci-sion.
You have to be able to listen with an open mind – make sure
that everyone counts.
What tips do you have for new grads or those in entry-level
HR jobs who want to move up the ladder?
AB: Number one is to focus on improving your emotional intel-ligence
– how you interpret things and how you make judgment
calls. Also, how you connect your feelings with your thoughts.
Determine what you have to offer and build on those strengths;
you also need to evaluate your weaknesses and work to improve.
Find a mentor in the organization.
The HR field has been evolving. What
changes excite you the most?
AB: I’m extremely excited about the Millennials coming into
the workforce and how an organization can adapt and embrace
what they are looking for. We can’t say they need to fit our mould,
hr influencer
because that’s not what they are about. We need to offer an envi-ronment
conducive to their needs and that motivates and inspires
them to perform at their best. They are the future. Why resist?
We need to embrace them. Organizations that promote this cul-tural
shift will be able to attract and retain the best talent in the
years ahead.
What’s the future of HR?
AB: The HR function has evolved significantly from my early
years. It has transformed itself from the “personnel” depart-ment
to that of a strategic business partner. I believe that the
partnership evolution will continue and organizations such as
Google, Apple and Netflix are leading the charge. I think that
“people strategies” led by the organization’s chief cultural of-ficer
will drive the business strategy. Fred Smith, founder of
FedEx and a CEO who was ahead of his time, subscribed to
the philosophy of “people, service, profit.” Take care of your
people and they will service the customer, and profits will be
the result. n
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HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA ❚ JUNE 2017 ❚ 41
