Search Results for: ""

Team Members

  • Jeff Wilbanks

    Jeff brings a strong track record of successful executive search assignments across a wide breadth of industries and and HR specializations. He has led engagements spanning fast-scaling organizations seeking their first HR leader to mature enterprises undergoing transformative human capital strategies. Jeff has partnered with publicly traded, PE-backed, and non-profit organizations domestically and globally. Prior to joining LEAD3R, Jeff was part of the leadership team for a retained executive search boutique focused in Human Resources. He developed customized recruitment strategies to attract top talent across the US for companies of all shapes and sizes. Based in Kansas City, Jeff cherishes time with

  • Shakirah Kellam

    Shakirah is a Senior HR Consultant at LEAD3R, focusing on talent strategy and planning, team acceleration, and DEIB initiatives. With an MBA from Indiana Institute of Technology, Shakirah has extensive experience in program building, partner development, and relationship management. She has previously held roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where she led DE&I talent acquisition and communications for business resource groups. Recognized for her leadership, Shakirah also served as a Deanâs List honoree and captain of her track and field team.

  • Travis Zaleppa

    Travis has spent the last 10 years of his career recruiting top executives within the Climate Tech & Sustainability industry. His experience has allowed him to work with candidates across all functions, within a variety of subsectors including Renewables, Storage, Utilities, Ag/Biotech, Chemicals, and Fuels. He maintains and cultivates deep relationships with his clients to understand not only the requirements for each strategic role, but the needs for the overall business and cultural environment. As a key member of the Talent Solutions team, Travis will continue to expand and grow the Climate Tech & Sustainability Practice. He is adept at

  • Samantha Korn

    Samantha is experienced in various roles and industries showcasing her ability to quickly adapt. Now working in the HR field, she is enthusiastic about creating a positive environment for both employees and clients. She supports the smooth operation of the organization, maintains compliance with legal regulations, promotes staff growth and wellness, and contributes to the companyâs success and cultural environment. Samanthaâs background in Hospitality Management has equipped her with a range of qualities and skills that are well-suited to her role here at LEAD3R. Outside of work, she thrives on being active. It will vary from going to the gym,

  • Michelle McCollough

    Michelle is an experienced Talent Acquisition professional who has honed her ability to identify and secure top talent for a variety of industries. She specializes in sourcing and retaining high-caliber professionals who contribute to organizational success in an ever-changing business landscape. Renowned for her relationship-building skills, Michelle swiftly connects with clients and candidates, approaching every opportunity with a "How can I help?" attitude. Her commitment to ensuring a positive candidate experience sets her apart, making candidates feel valued and supported throughout the recruitment journey. Michelle's achievements speak to her impact: she has successfully filled critical senior leadership and executive roles,

  • Marc Salamone

    With over 23 years of experience, Marc is a seasoned executive with a strong track record in scaling and successfully exiting companies. As a Senior Partner at Hobbs & Towne, he played a pivotal role in expanding the firm's operations and establishing it as a leader in the executive search industry. In 2021, he was part of the successful transition and acquisition of Hobbs & Towne by True Search. Marc specializes in placing executives in private equity (PE), venture capital (VC), and publicly traded companies, focusing on emerging tech industries. His expertise is completing Board and C-suite assignments, particularly in

  • Lisa Raef

    Lisa is a Senior Consultant on LEAD3R's talent solutions team. With a focus on the life sciences industry, she has a proven track record of delivering strategic staffing solutions for clients across diverse sectors, including technology, finance, operations, and consumer goods. Lisa excels at matching top talent with their ideal roles, from entry-level positions to executive leadership, and has successfully filled numerous challenging roles both on a contract and direct hire basis throughout the United States. A dedicated professional with a passion for building strong partnerships, Lisa enjoys the thrill of placing candidates in their dream jobs while simultaneously addressing her clients' most critical staffing needs. When not immersed in

  • David Bumby

    David is a passionate people leader and strategic thinker with nearly two decades of expertise in HR and Operations, specializing in Talent Strategy, Leadership Development, and the Employee Lifecycle. Before joining the HUDDL3 Groupâs portfolio of businesses, David played a pivotal role in scaling a staffing firm from a startup to a global enterprise, ultimately supporting a successful private equity deal. His multi-industry experience, spanning Sales to Manufacturing, equips him with methodologies and tactics to achieve strategic objectives and drive performance and growth. David is determined to transform the stereotypical view of HR Departments as the "fun police" and mere

  • Dane Groeneveld

    Dane is passionate about teamwork and seeking new ways to unlock the potential of people, and the roles that they can play in business. He is also fascinated by the changing shape of tomorrowâs workplace and enjoys exploring ways for employers, the community, and technology to come together to address opportunities such as diversity and inclusion, partnering initiatives, training and knowledge transfer, innovation, disruption, and cost-effectiveness. As an operating executive, Dane has worked for public companies, private equity-backed businesses, and family-owned businesses experiencing steep growth curves. He has previously led sales from $400 million to $1 billion-plus in revenue in

  • Caitlin Landis

    Caitlin is an experienced Talent Development professional with a strong background in talent acquisition, learning and development, organizational design, and talent management. She launched her career in Talent Acquisition, excelling in building TA teams from the ground up. Her notable accomplishments include strategically scaling the North American operations of three businesses, which involved implementing effective interview and onboarding processes and developing comprehensive TA strategies. Caitlin has designed and implemented comprehensive L&D programs from the ground up, including sales training and leadership development programs. Throughout her career, she has designed and implemented various initiatives, such as career development frameworks, onboarding programs,

  • Brandy Knox

    Brandy has a diverse background in marketing, communications, and operations management within the talent management and executive search industry. She has a proven track record of leading high-profile global projects, driving marketing initiatives, and creating thought leadership opportunities. Prior to LEAD3R, she managed operations integration during an acquisition, led global marketing and communications projects, and supported C-suite executives with strategic initiatives. Additionally, Brandy managed daily operations for a multi-site organization, designed and implemented marketing strategies, managed IT systems, and produced comprehensive data analyses. Her extensive experience is complemented by a background in recruiting, office management, and executive support across various

  • Andy Mitchell

    Experienced Recruitment Director with 16 years of expertise in strategic staffing solutions across diverse sectors. Adept at managing and delivering customized recruitment strategies to meet varied employer and talent requirements. Currently leading LEAD3R's life sciences recruitment team, driving the successful execution of client campaigns of all scales across the country, and offering strategic insights for addressing complex staffing challenges. Andy enjoys building long standing relationships with both his clients and candidates, many have become good friends over the years.

  • Andrew Uprichard, CPCC, ACC, MA

    At LEAD3R, Andrew coaches executives and helps leaders build high performing teams. As an Executive Coach, Andrew partners with leaders who are committed to developing themselves as well as their people, teams, organizations, and communities.  He is coach certified (Co-Active (CPCC) & International Coaching Federation (ICF)), Hogan certified, and loves delivering 360° assessments.  Andrewâs approach is customized to the needs of his clients with the intent to increase engagement, capacity, and performance. As a team coach and master facilitator (Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC) & Institute of Contemporary Leadership (ICL)), Andrew partners with senior leaders and HR departments to

  • Alicia McCraw, PhD

    Alicia is the Community Programming Director at LEAD3R, where she combines her sociological expertise with a passion for community engagement and innovation. Holding a PhD in Sociology, she spearheads the strategy for the TeamUp Foundation, whose mission is to provide education and skills training to individuals. Alicia also produces The Future of Teamwork Podcast, a study of teamwork, and leads the Boundary Rider innovation program. Additionally, she co-runs the Elevate Team Impact Roundtables, bringing industry thought leaders together to discuss insightful topics. Working closely with internal stakeholders, Alicia ensures these programs are integrated with LEAD3R's culture initiatives, aligning them with

  • Adina Mencer

    Adina is a human capital consultant with LEAD3R's Team Effectiveness practice. Adina partners with organizations to design strategic human capital solutions that enable them to achieve their goals with impact. She has experience working with Fortune 500 companies and startups across various industries, delivering solutions in organizational design, organizational restructuring, talent strategy, change management, and learning and development. Prior to LEAD3R, Adina has a background in executive search and consulting for non-profit organizations. Adina holds a degree in Strategy & Entrepreneurship from the Sy Syms School of Business. When not at work, Adina enjoys spending time with family and friends,

  • Lexi Rubin

    Lexi is a human capital consultant with 4 years of experience specializing in project management, organizational development, and employee engagement. She has worked with a range of clients including publicly traded tech companies, biotech firms, and non-profit organizations. Lexi is committed to building deep relationships with her clients and understanding the âœwhyâ behind their day to day challenges.

  • Angela Gatta

    Angela has more than 6 years of experience in Human Resources. Prior to LEAD3R, she worked at Enspira, Pembroke, Biogen, and Rothschild & Co. Angela holds a BA in Philosophy and Human Development, and a minor in Organizational Behavior from Boston College. Based in Boston, Angela plays a key role across multiple LEAD3R engagements. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, trying new restaurants and watching movies.

  • Lydia Tuch

    Lydia has more than 10 years of experience in project management, change management, and communicationsâworking to ensure a positive employee experience, on-time results, and alignment with company mission, culture, and industry trends. Lydia has served in a variety of roles at Blue Shield of California, Caterpillar, and San Diego Gas & Electric. She is known for being an âœactivatorâ and âœmaximizerâ: she turns thoughts and ideas into action and takes projects from good to great. She has a strong knowledge of leading projects, setting goals and requirements, facilitating effective change, managing risk, and communicating effectively. She holds a BS in

  • Jessica Vega

    Jessica has over 20 years of administrative, contracts and operations experience. Prior to joining LEAD3R, Jessica was Chief of Staff to the CEO at Enspira, which was subsequently acquired by LEAD3R. Prior to that, she was an Administration Analyst at Rothschild & Co. She holds a B.S. in Human Resource Management from San Jose State University. Jessica is based out of the Indianapolis area with her husband, son and dog. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, trying new foods and traveling.

  • Lizzie Pollock

    Lizzie has nearly 20 years of experience as an organization and talent development leader, helping people and organizations unlock their potential and achieve impact. Prior to LEAD3R, Lizzie spent her career in non-profit organizations and high education. Most recently, Lizzie led a culture transformation initiative at the largest community college in New England. Lizzie has been recognized for her strategic, analytical, and human-centered approach to diagnosing organizational challenges and designing practical solutions. She brings knowledge of design thinking; diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; facilitation techniques; and adult learning to developmental experiences for employees and organizations. Lizzie has a Master's in

  • Leesa Hill

    Leesa (she/her) has over 25 years of experience in the Human Resources industry with deep expertise in the areas of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB), and Learning and Development. Leesa is currently Partner of DEIB & Leader Effectiveness at LEAD3R (formerly Enspira), in the Human Capital Consulting organization.  Prior to LEAD3R, she worked in human resource roles at Biogen, Pfizer and Kforce Inc. She has a proven track record of creating and implementing successful DEIB strategies in a variety of organizational settings which includes a progressive program to prepare female senior leaders for placement on corporate boards, fit-for-purpose strategic

  • Jenna Cohen

    Jenna has ~20 years of experience leading high-impact leadership, team and organization programs across industries.  In her work, Jenna partners with leaders to create team and organization environments where business results are achieved through connected and engaged people.  Prior to LEAD3R (Enspira), she worked at Biogen, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston. She earned her MBA from Simmons College School of Management and holds an undergraduate degree in Communications and International Relations from Boston University.  Jenna loves travel and the outdoors and is the mother of three beautiful children and a black

  • Alan Mait

    Alan is a seasoned HR executive talent acquisition leader with ~20 years in the field. His experience spans the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, where he has built and managed high-performing, market-leading teams. This international perspective has taught Alan the value that diversity of experience and culture can bring to organizations, and the importance of challenging our own learned behaviors to keep growing as professionals and people. He has learned the value of cultivating, maintaining, and enhancing relationships with senior business and HR leaders, offering credible and accurate market information to aid key hiring decisions. His successes have fueled a desire

  • Kurt Landon

    Kurt Landon is a seasoned executive coach and entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in senior business and HR leadership roles across diverse industries and global settings. He collaborates closely with business leaders to drive customer success and strategic partnerships. His extensive international experience, having lived and worked in eight countries and 16 cities, along with proficiency in five languages, uniquely qualifies him to navigate the complexities of cross-cultural business environments. Prior to LEAD3R, Kurt held leadership roles at Accenture, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Expedia, and Biogen, as well as serving as Chief People Officer at Pinterest. He was also

Posts

  • Elevate Team Impact Roundtable: "Intelligent Impact: AI as Your Business Partner"

    As part of LEAD3Râs Elevate Team Impact Roundtable series, LEAD3R recently hosted a session titled "Intelligent Impact: AI as Your Business Partner," with Marcus Sawyerr, CEO and Founder of EQ app, leading the discussion. Moderated by Alan Mait, President of Executive Search & Talent Intelligence at LEAD3R, the conversation explored how AI can transform business operations, specifically in HR, talent acquisition, and team collaboration. The attendees, consisting of HR leaders, tech innovators, and talent management professionals, contributed to a thought-provoking dialogue on AIâs potential to accelerate business outcomes and improve efficiency. How AI is

  • Conflict, Clarity, and Empowerment: How to Lead Teams to Flourish

    Takeaways from the Elevate Team Impact Roundtable: Empowering Teams to Flourish, featuring Rachel Llanes In LEAD3Râs recent roundtable, âœEmpowering Teams to Flourish,â Rachel Llanes, founder of The Gardin Group and creator of the Science of Flourishing Training (S.O.F.T.) program, led a rich discussion on cultivating team resilience and empowerment. Hosted by LEAD3Râs Chief Customer Officer, Kurt Landon, the session provided both practical insights and real-life examples shared by participants, offering a deeper understanding of how to create empowered and resilient teams. Leadership Formula Rachel introduced her leadership

  • Does DEIB Need a Reset?

    Takeaways from the Elevate Team Impact Roundtable with Janine Ting Jansen As part of LEAD3Râs Elevate Team Impact Roundtable series, we gathered a diverse group of practitioners and advocates passionate about advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in the workplace and beyond. The conversation was rich and insightful, and reinforced the importance of creating spaces for open dialogue. DEIB is highly nuanced and discussions around it can be provocative and emotionally charged. The discussion brought forth some honest and very personal workplace experiences â some uplifting and others that left the group saying, âœwe need to

  • Building Cohesive Teams: Cultural Fit vs. Ways of Working

    Takeaways from the Elevate Team Impact Roundtable: Building Cohesive Teams with Dr. André Martin LEAD3R hosted a thought-provoking roundtable on a topic that strikes at the heart of todayâs workforce challengesâbuilding cohesive teams and navigating the complex balance between cultural fit and ways of working. The discussion featured Dr. André Martin, organizational psychologist and author of Wrong Fit, Right Fit, and featured insights from human capital and people leaders across various industries. The session kicked off with a compelling analogy comparing team building in the workforce to that of an NFL team preparing for the

  • Building Resilient Teams for a Disruptive World

    Takeaways from the Elevate Team Impact Roundtable: Building Resilient Teams with John Estafanous In todayâs fast-paced business environment, the demand for resilient, adaptable teams is more critical than ever. LEAD3Râs roundtable on âœBuilding Resilient Teams,â hosted by RallyBright CEO John Estafanous, highlighted some powerful insights on what makes teams not only withstand adversity but thrive through it. At the heart of this conversation was the idea that resilience isnât just about bouncing back from challenges. As one participant pointed out, resilience is more than overcoming adversity; itâs about thriving despite it. This shift in mindset

  • Navigating Talent Acquisition in a Tech-Driven World

    Takeaways from the Elevate Team Impact Roundtable: Maximizing Value in Talent Acquisition LEAD3Râs roundtable brought together a diverse group of talent acquisition professionals to discuss the future of hiring in an increasingly tech-oriented landscape. This session, part of our Elevate Team Impact series, provided a platform for experts from various sectors to share insights, debate best practices, and explore innovative strategies in talent acquisition. Embracing Technology and Predictive Analytics James Molloy, Senior Director of Talent Channels and Talent Intelligence at Uber, highlighted the transformative role of predictive analytics and artificial intelligence in modern

  • Empathy as a Key Component of Leadership

    Takeaways from the Elevate Team Impact Roundtable: Leader Empathy: Do You Have It? Does Your Team Think You Do? LEAD3Râs roundtable âœLeader Empathyâ offered profound insights into the nuanced role of empathy in leadership. Leaders and experts from diverse sectors gathered to dissect, discuss, and digest the multifaceted nature of empathy within the organizational context. The Essence of Empathy in Leadership Empathy, as explored in the roundtable, is not just about understanding others' feelings; itâs about genuinely connecting with team members in a way that fosters trust and opens communication channels. Kurt Landon,

  • The Quest for Unicorn Employees

    In fairy tales and folklore, unicorns are mystical creatures believed to possess magical powers. Their presence brings good fortune and prosperity, but they are rare, elusive, and mysterious â difficult to find and even harder to capture. So, what do unicorns have to do with the workplace? For different businesses, Unicorns are those employees with skills, talents, and capacities that endow the employers with exponential growth. These exceptional employees are known as rockstars, A-players, star performers, and high-flyers; however, no description is as fitting as unicorn employees. Unicorn employees can be the backbone of innovation, a driving

  • Avoiding Misalignment: Keys to Seamless Integration of New Leaders

    by Alan Mait, President, Executive Search For businesses, the process of hiring new leader is a critical juncture that can impact the trajectory of an organization. The path to hire, and successful integration of an incoming leader is often riddled with potential pitfalls, one of the most common is misalignment regarding the type of leader to hire. Misalignment, or a lack of agreement, among the team regarding the characteristics, values, skills, and behaviors desired in a new leader, can result in long-lasting negative impacts to the organization. All the stakeholders involved in the hiring process

  • Navigating the Future of Work â Some Takeaways from Transform 2024

    The average person will spend around four decades working, with most (if not all) of those years as part of an employer-employee relationship. LEAD3R was formed around a passion for positively impacting this dynamic by focusing on an organizationâs most precious commodity: human capital. The annual Transform conference attracts thousands of executives, entrepreneurs, and investors who are shaping the future of work in an era dominated by technological advancements. Our leadership team was on the ground, joining sessions and networking but always listening to what was on peopleâs minds. Below is a small snapshot of their takeaways.

  • Battling Burnout with Disconnect Culture

    In an era where connectivity knows no bounds, the lines between work and personal life have become increasingly blurred. The prevalence of connecting chat apps to our personal phones and committing to remote work arrangements has made it all too easy for employers to reach their employees at any time. This connectivity is leading to a concerning rise in burnout across various industries. Recognizing the detrimental effects of this trend, several countries are taking proactive steps to safeguard the well-being of their workforce. Australia is the most recent country making headlines by introducing legislation protecting

  • Raising the Bar

    How Enspiraâs DEIB Essentials are enriching the workforce As an LGBTQ led business, it was natural for Enspira to aim for NLGCC certification. The NationalLGBT Chamber of Commerce is the voice and advocate of the LGBTQ community for businesses,large and small. It offers scholarships and training and drives diversity supplier initiatives. It aims tobring a different perspective to the business world, whilst connecting its members, allowing them toshare successes, discuss barriers and build relationships. Our Executive Search president, Alan Mait, attended the NLGCC conference this year, representingEnspira among its peers as well as connecting with

  • Revolutionize change management with a startup mentality

    Enspira's latest blog by Jen Zeckendorf (Head of Enspira Startup Studio), published by TroopHR, dives deep into the power of adopting a startup mentality to drive impactful change management no matter your organization's size or industry. Click here to read the blog on TroopHR's website or read below! _____ Change and, in particular, change management is a huge issue for HR leaders; 77%* say that their employees feel fatigued and 82%* report that managers at their organizations are ill-equipped to lead change.   We at Enspira have seen this to be true.  When

  • How to Execute an Effective Total Rewards Program In 3 Simple Steps

    Today there are more than 15 million open job listings in America, which means that in the average office, roughly one in every ten seats is empty. Meanwhile, wages are increasing at a record pace â 4.2% year over year in September of 2021. At the same time, economic pressures continue to squeeze the American workforce: over the same year-over-year period from September 2020 to September of 2021, inflation (4.4%) outpaced the average wage growth. This means two things for American workers. One: They want higher base salaries. And two, they want better benefits with a wide range of options. That second

  • As Right-to-Disconnect Laws Hit Europe, Will U.S. Follow Suit?

    Over the last five years, thereâs been a dramatic increase in the number of laws centered around digital protections. Anyone whoâs worked online in some capacity during this timeframe is likely familiar with the biggest digital law to become enacted: the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR. And while GDPR was about digital protections (and privacy of customer/consumer data), the focus has now shifted more toward workerâs rights, specifically the âœright to disconnect.â That is, the right of a worker to be inaccessible to their employers outside of work hours, promoting a healthier work-life balance. Itâs notable that the vast

  • Building the Foundations of a Startup Team Culture

    An in-depth tutorial and set of worksheets to help startup leaders establish a positive culture from day one is now available. Is your startup culture ready to scale as you grow? Have you defined your companyâs mission, core beliefs, guiding principles and values from the start? While your culture can seem less important than other areas to address, such as your go-to-market strategy, there are a set of proven practices startup leaders can deploy to optimize the workplace culture and employee performance.  âœBuilding the Foundations of a Startup Team Cultureâ is now available and features an

  • As Right-to-Disconnect Laws Hit Europe, Will U.S. Follow Suit?

    Over the last five years, thereâs been a dramatic increase in the number of laws centered around digital protections. Anyone whoâs worked online in some capacity during this timeframe is likely familiar with the biggest digital law to become enacted: the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR.  And while GDPR was about digital protections (and privacy of customer/consumer data), the focus has now shifted more toward workerâs rights, specifically the âœright to disconnect.â That is, the right of a worker to be inaccessible to their employers outside of work hours, promoting a healthier work-life balance.  Itâs

  • Many Companies Are Saving Incredible Amounts of Cash During the Pandemic. Where Is It Going?

    If youâre like most of the world right now, the amount of time youâve spent in an office has decreased drastically since the start of the pandemic. Amidst this shift to remote or hybrid work models, your company might have decided to downsize or forgo its office space entirely. Some are getting creative, subleasing part of their office space to recoup costs, while others have picked up and moved shop to cheaper cities altogether. In any case, most companies have been saving significant sums of money on operating and capital expenses. Funds once spent on office space

  • AI & Recruiting: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence While Avoiding Bias

    As employers contend with the Great Resignation, the use of artificial intelligence for talent acquisition is more important than ever. However, it is important that companies understand how AI tools work and be equipped to identify potential areas of bias to avoid legal scrutiny. At our webinar CEOs from AI platforms, Plum and Talenya discuss the power of AI and what companies need to know in order to use it responsibly. Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Talent Acquisition Leader at Rubius Therapeutics discuss how companies can effectively unite artificial and human intelligence to

  • Fear Drives More People at Work Than You Think. Let's Change That.

    A typical list of common fears and phobias might contain things like spiders, planes, enclosed spaces, and the "unknown." "My co-workers" rarely appears on such lists--but it's a valid one for many people. I can't tell you how many times I've witnessed colleagues forego making an objective decision in favor of one predicated on fear of others. Chances are we all can relate, yet we rarely discuss it. Consider this hypothetical situation. Gretchen has been at her company for more than a year.  Having built a marketing action plan for her product launch that's been reviewed and approved by her

  • Lack of Digital Adoption Is Becoming More Common in the Workforce, and That's Problematic

    In a workplace, somewhere, itâs happening right now. The company implements a new timecard system to track hours. The HR team socializes the tool with the company executives and then plans a company-wide rollout. Everyone gets the launch email â except those who are away on vacation, or sabbatical, or who just miss the memo. The new system is, well, new, and some find it hard to understand. Adoption is low, and the financial investment in the tool fails to meet stakeholder expectations. To catch late adopters, additional funds are poured into change management solutions â pushing the project over budget.

  • How Companies Can Leverage AI Recruiting to Increase Representation in Hiring

    Bias has always been an inherent part of job recruitment. The collective weight, and oppression, of bias in the workplace is enormousâwhich is why the current push to eliminate bias in recruiting marks such a positive change. But itâs no simple task, and it's far from over. Despite advancements in equity and technology in the 21st century, bias in recruiting remains a huge issueâincluding bias within artificial intelligence (AI) tools, whose usage is soaring in workplaces across the country. Today, some 46% of executives say they plan to use AI tools in their recruiting processes.

  • AI Recruiting Tools May Be the Future, But Proceed With Caution

    The vision is simple: Artificial Intelligence lends lightning-fast computing power and machine learning to make recruiting easier â and, even more importantly, removes the element of human bias. But weâre not quite there yet. Technologyâand AI recruiting technology in particularâis only as free of bias as its code. Or, as Charlotte Burrows, chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently warned, âœWe must work to ensure that these new technologies do not become a high-tech pathway to discrimination.â A recent study found that 42% of employers felt the pandemic boosted their digital transformation efforts, and 79% agreed that their organizationâs

  • I Use This One Tool to Get 125% More Done

    If I hear the words âœhustleâ or âœgrindâ in relation to a job one more time, I might go crazy. Or,âœletâs work smarter, not harderââanother cliche that Iâd be happy never to hear again. The problem with theâœeveryday Iâm hustlingâ mantra is that it inherently implies long workdays, laptop-filled weekends, and unused vacation timeâall in the name of efficiency and production. The problem with theâœwork smarter, not harderâ mantra? No one actually knows what that means.  So we end up exiting our eleventh back-to-back video conference call, having missed lunch, needing to desperately

  • New Hires Weigh In: How Do You Survive The Working World?

    When we started college in 2017, we expected to have the typical undergrad experience: weâd enjoy our four years, take inspiring classes, complete some internships, and then launch our careers in a high-rise office in our city of choice. For the most part, all those assumptions held true. But with the pandemicâs onset about halfway through college, we realized our future careers would be dramatically different than what weâd expected. After graduating in 2021, we successfully completed summer internships at Enspira and were hired full-time. We both quickly embraced the companyâs warm, collaborative culture. But no matter how great the

  • Stress Is Rewiring Our Brains. Can Training Like Navy SEALs Help Combat It?

    A big deadline is looming. The boss calls you into his office. Your server is down on a delivery date. Stress is no stranger to the workplaceâand according to a recent Gallup poll, itâs especially pervasive in American offices: U.S. workers are some of the most stressed out in the world, with a whopping 57% of respondents from the U.S. and Canada reporting they feel stressed out on a daily basis. Stress isnât just overwhelming panic or anxietyâitâs a psychological and physiological reaction that directly impacts the brainâs structure, memory, and performance functions which, if left unchecked, has the potential to

  • Working From Home Has Changed Your Brain and Body. Hereâs How.

    These days, weâre all processing the consequences of an indisputable fact: the pandemic has forever changed the way we work. For many American workers, a day âœat the officeâ is very different than it was two years ago. New habits, workflows, tools, and dynamics are effecting us, whether we realize it or not. Now, scientists and researchers whoâve studied our pandemic work patterns are beginning to draw some conclusions about these effects and their long-term implications. â Non-Stop Video Meetings = Brain Fatigue What happens to your brain when you take non-stop video call meetings? To find out, Microsoftâs Human

  • The Life of an HR Executive: a Roundtable Discussion

    On December 16, 2021, Enspira hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with a panel of cutting edge Chief People Officers to share reflections, perspectives, and resources. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzGJKxgpOPw

  • The Ahmaud Arbery Trial's Social Justice Ramifications Affect Companies and Their Employees. Here's How.

    George Floyd. Daunte Wright. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. ââSay their names. Say their names and talk about it. This is the call to action made by Tiffany Sturdivant, Enspiraâs Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) manager, in response to the trial verdict in Ahmaud Arberyâs murder. Last year, three vigilante white men killed a young Black man jogging through an affluent neighborhood. The country has continued to suffer more deaths, including Ryan Leroux, Daniel Prude, Brayla Stone, and others. Too many Black, Indigenous andPeople of Color (BIPOC) die in a culture dominated by people who do not look like them.

  • Artificial Intelligence Is Shaping the Workforce in Ways You've Never Imagined

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has migrated from the realm of science fiction to real life and is now everywhereâat work, at home, and at play. Believe it or not, AI as a concept has been around for literally ages. In Greek mythology, an ancient Greek god named Talos was the first robot, while inChinese culture, early precursors to modern technology were automota made of wheels and cogs that operated clocks and animated toys. But the term was officially coined in 1956, when Marvin Minsky predicted that AI would be achievable in the near future. Fast-forward to the 21st century, when IBMâs

  • Yes, Your Nostalgia Is Valid. That Doesn't Mean It Belongs At Work.

    For close to two decades, Iâve been a summer camp counselor for kids ages 8-13. Itâs long been one of the highlights of my summer. Weâd take the kids on hikes, go canoeing, stargaze, do arts and crafts--typical camp stuff that fosters personal growth and an appreciation for nature. One of our favorite activities was the annual end-of-summer dance for our oldest kids. Before sending them home, weâd pack the middle school campers into the lodge and watch as they found the courage to just have a good time dancing together. Until five years ago, camp had an unspoken policy

  • How the LGBTQ+ Movement is Dismantling the Gender Binary System

    Dismantling the gender binary system is a cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Movement. While the building blocks may have been a binary struggle between gay and straight, the uniqueness of identification that grew and blossomed into a spectrum of diversity are clearly non-binary. What brought us to this level of enlightenment? Disrupting the system, radical inclusion, and fierce pride. Spectrum thinking has garnered equal rights in the arenas of gay marriage, employment protections, trans rights, and more. How can companies shift their mindsets to advance their diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging(DEIB) missions? Can implementing non-discriminatory policies improve employeesâ well-being?

  • The Big Quit: How Burnout Is Reshaping the Workforce

    The Big Quit, or Great Resignation, is as surprising as it is real. Itâs become clear--as evidenced by countless news stories and social media posts--that people have quit their jobs at historic rates during the pandemic, even while wages are growing quickly. A number of complex forces are steering people away from the workforce, but burnout is arguably the most common. âœYou can't just ignore the fact that people are burning out at insanely high rates,â said Anika Briner, Director of Human Capital at Enspira HR. Rates that, in the long run, are not sustainable. Burnout Isnât Just About Fatigue To be

  • Is the 5-Hour Workday the Answer to All Our Problems?

    In the classic song âœ9 to 5,â Dolly Parton sings,âœThey got you where they want you, there's a better life and you think about it, don't you?â We all think about it: less work, better pay, less work, more play. The song became both a huge hit and an anthem for those trapped in the daily grind. The film of the same name turns that grind on its head to promote a healthier, happier workplace--what we call âœwork-life balance.â What can employers do to foster âœa better lifeâ to their employees? What is a companyâs responsibility for creating a happier

  • Why You're Probably Using the Word "Strategy" Incorrectly

    One of my previous mentors always used to say, "Everybody always wants to do strategy." The word "strategy," much like "aesthetic" and "agile," is a buzzword that gets people excited. It exudes an air of intelligence and importance. People are rarely challenged to elaborate when they say they're operating strategically, and promising employees vying to climb the corporate ladder are swift to use "strategy" at every opportunity. High-potentials aren't wrong to use the word to their advantage. After all, leadership wants proof that employees are capable of implementing plans that increase revenue and bolster productivity. That said, here's a reality check: just

  • No, You Canât Always Just âœBe Yourselfâ At Work. Hereâs Why.

    Anyone whoâs nervously sought advice before a first date has probably heard these words: âœjust be yourself.â Yes, âœbe yourselfâ is definitely sound advice--and these days, employers are known to tell their employees the same thing. Showing up to work authentically is in everyoneâs best interests. Employees who feel they can be themselves at work generally demonstrate higher output and productivity levels. It also helps alleviate stress and boost morale. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and last yearâs social justice demonstrations, companies are now working to create workplace environments that foster a greater sense of openness and belonging. Veering from traditional corporate culture

  • Is Fear a Barrier to Inclusion & Belonging? Why Companies Balk at Action

    Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives (think: diverse hiring practices, employee resource groups, and inclusivity training programs) arenât just good practice â the data shows companies that practice DEIB outperform financially, innovate more, and have higher customer trust and employee retention rates. Perhaps thatâs why focus on DEIB programs is surging across the American workplace. Thatâs not to say that every DEIB initiative rollout is good â thereâs plenty of bad and ugly, too. Take Starbucksâ decision in summer 2020 to ban its employees from wearing Black Lives Matters paraphernalia, despite a commitment on Twitter to support the BLM movement and

  • Speed vs. Quality: The Timeless Dilemma

    Should leadership prioritize speed or quality? It depends on the situational context--but even then, the right answer can be far from obvious. According to a recent Forbes Business Development Council post, this dilemma doesn't even rank among the top 14 challenges that business leaders face in 2021. However, when you look closely and read between the lines, a proper balance of the two can help mitigate many of the pressing issues. Itâs not always possible to complete every task or project to the utmost degree within the necessary timeline. Time has a habit of moving more quickly than anticipated when youâre working

  • Intent vs. Impact: The Communication Disconnect

    âœThatâs not what I meant!â How many times have you said those words in your lifetime? We begin every conversation with a particular intent, or what we mean to say. But intent doesnât guarantee that your message will be received the way you expected. The impact--what the other person hears, feels, and understands--can often differ greatly from your original intention. In short, intent is what you mean to do, whereas impact is how others perceive what you do. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. â Intent and impact can dictate not only working relationships, but the

  • Feedback Doesn't Have to be Scary

    Feedback is intrinsic to growth, both in life and in the workplace. It helps us to gauge our performance, correct and learn from our mistakes, identify our strengths and weaknesses, and in essence, develop as people. But many of us find it difficult to give and receive feedback--which can create  ambiguous dilemmas for leaders. Is your feedback too harsh? Is it too vague? How feedback is delivered and received can result in anger, defensiveness, confusion, or a lack of direction. Simply put, there's an art to both offering and receiving feedback. Letâs consider some tips that can help establish positive

  • Does Unlimited PTO Work?

    Paid time off (PTO) benefits are one of the first things a new hire will zero in on. PTO has almost become a source of pride and bragging rights: âœOh, you only get 20 days? My company gives us 25.â By this logic, the ultimate goal of a company might be unlimited PTO. But, as with most things that seem too good to be true, there are pros and cons to consider. â˜Unlimitedâ Has Limits Although some companies do offer so-called "unlimited" PTO, it's worth noting that parameters always remain. These may be generous policies--employees can take up to six weeks

  • Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace: A Webinar

    Though neurodivergent workers--defined as those who differ in mental or neurological function from what's considered typical or normal--don't always come to mind when employers are looking to fill positions, this population possesses unimaginable talent. While not all organizations are equipped to serve members of the neurodiverse community, it's vital that we rebuild our workplaces to include people of all skills and backgrounds as we reconcile the impact of COVID-19 and embrace a new and uncharted future of work. Our intersectional discussion with neurodiversity experts on the benefits of employing a diverse team offers actionable steps to build

  • Lessons in Biases from the Olympics

    In a highly uncertain time, the Olympic games have offered a shred of normalcy this summer. With traditions dating to ancient Greece, this global competition unites the world in celebrating athleticism and national pride. But the commoditization of these athletes and powerful human bias has arguably begun to taint the essence of the games. When gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of the group and subsequent individual competitions, the incident engendered highly polarizing discussions publicly and privately. Some people respected her decision to withdraw to maintain her mental health; others believed that she needed to be tougher. This debate demonstrates how

  • A New Norm? Exploring the Four-Day Workweek

    Since COVID-19 shattered our perceptions of what the modern work environment could and should be, workplaces and employers worldwide have had many opportunities to explore alternative approaches--whether they wanted to or not. So far, we've seen work-from-home, desk-absent workforces, hybrid set-ups, and remote and satellite offices, among others. Another idea that garnered attention even before the pandemic? The four-day workweek. Perhaps the earliest suggestion of a shortened workweek came in 1928, when economist John Maynard Keynes predicted a 15-hour workweek by the turn of the century. In the 1920s and 1930s, automotive visionary Henry Ford reduced the already-common 60-plus-hour workweek

  • Reflections on LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Corporate America

    As we look back on 2021 Pride Month, Enspira interviewed two pioneers in the LGBTQ+ business community: Beck Bailey, a managing director of Inclusion & Diversity at Accenture, and Kurt Landon, founder and CEO of Enspira HR, a boutique HR consulting firm that was recently certified as an LGBTQ Business Enterprise⢠by the National LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. Bailey has spent over 20+ years in corporate, non-profit, and entrepreneurial roles across various industries, and is an openly transgender man. Before founding Enspira, Landon, who is openly gay, spent 26+ years as an executive and entrepreneur in senior business and HR

  • How to Address & Support Mental Health

    What's the best way to help someone who is struggling? We want to be supportive of friends, colleagues, and coworkers, but interacting in a virtual environment brings new levels of complexity to addressing mental health issues in the office. How do you initiate a conversation without fear of offending? Recognize Itâs not always easy to recognize when someone is struggling. In many instances, they may be adept at hiding it; others may not even know thereâs something wrong. Here are a few signs that indicate someone may need help. Decreased productivity and engagement. Mental health issues can manifest in

  • Four Steps to Cultivating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

    As Diversity Month concludes, we all must strive to continue to advocate for the change necessary in acknowledging and celebrating diversity in the workplace. Enspira strives to help cultivate lasting change by educating ourselves and others--and most importantly, taking action wherever and whenever we can. As these can be difficult, complicated conversations, we've established best practices and resources to help you and your organization along the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) journey.The first step is to recognize the privileges we may have that others do not. Privilege is not the presence of perks and benefits, but rather the absence

  • Caregivers: Working Women in a Pandemic

    What Organizational Leaders can do Balancing work and family has always been a challenge, but the pandemic has pushed people beyond reasonable limits, and adversely affected women disproportionately. Women--who often shoulder the burden of childcare and elderly care--have been in crisis this past year, struggling to take care of their families, their work responsibilities, and themselves. Since the pandemic's onset over a year ago, women have been forced to decelerate or pause their careers, or leave the workplace entirely in unprecedented numbers. Since the pandemic's onset, roughly 1.4 billion kids were sent home from school--and many more from childcare--leaving women overwhelmingly responsible

  • Propelling Gender & Racial Equity in STEM

    Listen to personal narratives from inspiring and transformational leaders The world is facing monumental challenges in the time of COVID-19, widening existing gaps in racial and gender equity. Womenâs participation in the labor force has shrunk to levels last seen in 1988, with significant impacts to women in the BIPOC community. Now, more than ever, thereâs an opportunity for business leaders to take actionable steps to emphasize and strengthen equity and inclusion in the workplace. In honor of International Womenâs Day, Enspira invited inspirational and transformational leaders in STEM to discuss disparities in equitable access and the impact it has

  • Your frontline managersâ capability & effectiveness matters now more than ever. Hereâs what you need.

    With 2020 and 2021 presenting a host of unprecedented challenges changing the dynamics in the workplace, itâs more important than ever to ensure your organization has strong people manager capability and effectiveness. Your people managers are on the frontlines of hiring, developing and aligning their teams, yet are being asked to navigate very complex issues never before experienced, such as the public health crisis from the COVID-19 pandemic, complex diversity and inclusion issues and keeping a remote workforce engaged and motivated. These skills often donât come naturally, and itâs critical to equip your people managers with the tools and expertise

  • Disrupting Your Workplace Culture with âœThe 3 Bs of Belongingâ

    How inclusive is your organization? Are you just scratching the surface in your diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategy--simply checking the representation boxes and creating policies, yet seeing no real action behind them? Or is your organization further along in its D&I journey but not fully disrupting your culture? With social distancing the norm, equality and anti-racism front and center in the news, and the rapid shift to remote working in full swing, itâs now more important than ever to reimagine your D&I strategy by focusing on a crucial, missing pieceâcreating a culture of belonging where your employees feel truly included.

Pages

  • Webinars

  • Selected Customers

  • News

  • ZZZ: Future Full-time Opportunities

  • ZZZ: Freelance Opportunities

  • ZZZ: startup HR solutions

    To learn more about startup HR solutions, please reach out to Enspiraâs Jen Zeckendorf at the email below

  • Podcasts

  • ZZZ: interim and fractional support

    First Name Last Name Company Name Phone Work Email How can Enspira help? Submit

  • ZZZ: open positions

    contact us

  • How We Do It

    Through our E3 Method of Explore, Engage, Elevate, we initiate collaboration with your leaders to identify problems that we can celebrate and solve together. We listen deeply and explore your organization, teams, and people, to understand your strengths and pinpoint any barriers hindering your goals. This establishes a shared understanding essential for effective interventions. We foster engagement through collaborative creationâsparking dynamic discussions where diverse ideas, and innovative solution emerge from the team. This cultivates inclusive thinking and opens avenues for positive

  • ZZZ: Who We Are

    Enspira is a growth engine for our clients. With decades of human resources experience, we partner with clients to maximize business results with innovative, inclusive practices and solutions that enable people & organizations to thrive. with a focus on the hr problems that are often difficult and complex to solve We deliver fit-for-purpose HR solutions co-created by our team of top HR and business professionals and you, designed to

  • Terms of Use

    Content and Use LEAD3R makes no representation or warranty regarding the completeness, accuracy, currency, adequacy, suitability or operation of this website. While we use reasonable care in compiling and presenting the content, users are urged to seek further guidance and make independent enquiries before relying upon it. LEAD3R accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage whatsoever resulting from reliance on any statements contained in this website. The contents, functionality, trademarks, designs and logos displayed on this website are owned by LEAD3R, and are protected by US and international laws. Except as where otherwise noted

  • ZZZ: DEIB council

    Coming soon get in touch

  • ZZZ: careers

    check out our open positions I enjoy working at Enspira because it provides an environment to make a tangible impact daily. Being here has accelerated my growth and experience as a professional and, most importantly, as a person. I am fortunate to work with a tremendously experienced, cultured, and diverse group of professionals who push me to bring my best every day. Working here has allowed me to be as fearlessly innovative as possible to solve challenges and create the Enspira way. â 

  • Contact Us

    hbspt.forms.create({ region: "na1", portalId: "42783486", formId: "a5bb4972-9f09-49dd-a6e3-6aa55673f4d5" });

  • Articles, Blogs & Roundtables

  • Case Studies

  • ZZZ: frequently asked questions

    Nunc id elit eget tellus accumsan porttitor. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse ut elit sit amet sapien sodales dapibus. Duis ut accumsan diam. Phasellus venenatis augue eget mattis elementum. Donec dictum sem a turpis malesuada convallis. Proin lacus sem, molestie ut dapibus id, hendrerit ut risus. Integer vitae turpis id risus efficitur commodo. Aenean aliquam enim porta molestie consequat. Sed posuere lobortis ante in mattis. Nulla auctor ligula vel iaculis tincidunt. Etiam ut nunc odio. Pellentesque a lectus tempor, pharetra ligula ut, sagittis justo. Donec non purus faucibus, molestie dolor quis, rhoncus urna. Nullam

  • Insights

  • ZZZ: our services

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nullam suscipit in nulla sed tincidunt. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Duis tincidunt felis a enim semper porttitor. Proin libero nunc, venenatis ac justo eget, tincidunt malesuada metus. Pellentesque id erat vestibulum, ornare risus id, egestas diam. Aliquam vitae dui non libero porta scelerisque in ut urna. Maecenas molestie, nisl sit amet rhoncus pharetra, libero risus faucibus metus, vitae feugiat velit quam sit amet orci. Cras volutpat erat a diam euismod commodo. Curabitur maximus congue fermentum. Ut nisi dolor, egestas a massa ac, cursus

  • ZZZ: advisory board

    letâs connect!

  • ZZZ: Our Customers

    [gslogo id=1] I have had the distinct pleasure of partnering with Kurt and the Enspira team on a pivotal talent management project for our growing organization. Throughout our collaboration, Enspira has served as a trusted consulting partner while functioning as an extension of our People and Culture team. From the very beginning, they have effectively engaged with key stakeholders across the organization to gather input and diverse perspectives while truly listening and assessing the evolving needs of our growing organization. Enspiraâs demonstrated range of expert knowledge and decades of

  • The LEAD3R Team

  • What We Do

    We start by understanding your current position and key inflection points. Then, we identify your strengths and opportunities to help you succeed during change and transition. Our approach leads to high-impact leadership, people, and culture solutions tailored to your organization. supercharging Human Capital solutions for our customers We find you the best talent who will take your people and business to the next level. Whether youâre looking

  • Home

  • Sample Page

    This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I'm a bike messenger by day, aspiring actor by night, and this is my website. I live in Los Angeles, have a great dog named Jack, and I like piña coladas. (And gettin' caught in the rain.) ...or something like this: The

  • Privacy Policy

    LEAD3R is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In this privacy policy ("Privacy Policy"), we explain how LEAD3R collects, uses, discloses and protects the Personal Information you submit to us, including, for example, when accessing and using LEAD3R websites, attending a webinar, responding to surveys, applying for job offerings, or otherwise interacting with us. Our Privacy Policy has been drafted to comply with applicable data privacy laws. As used in this Privacy Policy, âœLEAD3Râ, "we," "our" and "us" means LEAD3R and its affiliates. âœPersonal Informationâ generally has the same meaning as personal data or personal identifiable information (PII). Personal

Services

News

  • LEAD3R and Enspira join forces. Enspira founder Kurt Landon to become Chief Customer Officer.

    TUSTIN, CA, January 9, 2024 â HUDDL3 Group announces today the acquisition of Enspira, a Human Resources (HR) consulting and executive search firm, and Enspiraâs subsequent merger with LEAD3R, a HUDDL3 Group Company, effective January 2nd, 2024.  The acquisition is HUDDL3âs latest investment in talent as it continues its global expansion under the LEAD3R business unit. HUDDL3 Group CEO and founding partner Dane Groeneveld and Enspira CEO & Founder Kurt Landon identified a clear alignment of values and complementary capabilities when they were introduced in late 2022.  Through this acquisition, both companies will continue their meaningful and impactful work so far

  • Transformational Growth Through Teamwork. HUDDL3 Group Expands Search and Advisory Team Under LEAD3R Brand.

    TUSTIN, CA, December 5, 2023 â Effective October 1st, Dane Groeneveld, Founding Partner of majority shareholder HUDDL3 Group, stepped into the CEO role of LEAD3R. Over the past 12 months, Groeneveld has delved into the human capital ecosystem through his podcast, âœThe Future of Teamwork.â This inspiring journey has led HUDDL3 Group to commit significant investments in talent, partnerships, and acquisitions to propel the global expansion of the Executive Search and Advisory practice under the dynamic LEAD3R brand. As part of the expansion, LEAD3R recently welcomed three new partners to the team. Marc Salamone, a distinguished clean tech search professional, will

  • Enspira's Founder and CEO, Kurt Landon, Spotlighted in the San Francisco Bay Times

    Enspira's Kurt Landon is featured as part of the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) Member Spotlight in the SF Bay Times. GGBA is the nation's first LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. You can read below or find the full article here on the SF Bay Times website. Enspira, a Certified LGBTQ+ Business, is an innovative human resources consultancy. This year Enspira ranked 325 on the 2023 Inc. 5000, Inc.âs annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economyâs most dynamic segmentâits independent, entrepreneurial businesses. The recognition

  • Enspira Ranks No. 325 on the 2023 Inc. 5000

    With Three-Year Revenue Growth of 1,746 Percent, Enspira Ranks No. 325 Among Americaâs Fastest-Growing Private Companies NEW YORK, August 15, 2023 â Enspira, an innovative human resources consultancy, announced today it ranked 325 on the 2023 Inc. 5000, Inc.'s annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segmentâits independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Due to Enspira's extraordinary three-year growth, the firm ranked No. 5 in Washington, No.13 in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas area and is the 15th fastest-growing human resources company. This recognition is

  • Second time firm receives certification, reaffirming its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

    Dallas, TX â July 17, 2023 â Enspira, an innovative human resources consultancy, is proud to announce its recertification as a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Supplier Diversity Initiative.  Enspira received its original certification on June 21, 2021. The NGLCC is the business voice of the LGBT community and serves as the nationâs exclusive certifying body for LGBT-owned and operated businesses. âœAs a member of the LGBTQ community and Founder and CEO of Enspira, this recertification reaffirms our dedication and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

  • Standing in Solidarity and Action with the LGBTQ+ Community

    Dear Colleagues, Once again, a horrific mass shooting has rocked the LGBTQ+ community. I am outraged, and my heart breaks for the victims, everyone who lost a loved one at Colorado Springsâ Club Q and the entire LGBTQ+ community in the aftermath of this senseless act of violent extremism. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, these killings hit too close to home for me. We cannot tolerate living in fear in the communities where we live and work. Sadly, these devastating acts of hate and violence have accelerated in the past several years and threaten our progress in striving

  • Mogul, INC. Names Enspira's Leesa Hill a Top 100 Leader in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in 2022

    LOS ANGELES, CA - Enspira today announced Leesa Hill has been named by Mogul, Inc., the worldâs leading diversity recruitment and HR tech company, to its 2022 list of âœTop 100 DEIB Leaders in 2022.â Hill is Senior Director and head of Leadership Effective and DEIB at Enspira, an innovative, LGBTQ-owned Human Resources (HR) services, talent acquisition and technology firm. The list identifies 100 exceptional individuals who are paving the way in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives this year. More than 600 people were considered for the list. âœWe believe it is important to honor individuals who work toward valuing and respecting

  • Enspira Named One Of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces Of 2022

    Recognition highlights how the HR industry leader reimagines workplace culture. LOS ANGELES, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Enspira, a comprehensive HR consulting firm fueled by global cross-industry experience offering inclusive, innovative and insightful organization and talent solutions, announced that the company has been named to Inc. Magazine's Annual Best Workplaces List. Enspira is an HR firm that practices what it preaches to clients, while offering a range of generous benefits to its employees, including flexible work policies, employee share ownership, paid parental leave, volunteer hours and home office stipends. "We're honored to receive this recognition from Inc. along with other incredible organizations,"

  • Enspira White Paper: Uniting AI and Human Intelligence to Combat Hiring Bias

    Artificial intelligence recruitment tools hold great potential and can significantly benefit recruiters, but leaning too heavily on machine learning alone can produce biased hiring decisions. LOS ANGELESâFebruary 1, 2022âEnspira, a boutique HR consulting firm fueled by collective, global and cross-industry experience, today published a white paper, âœHuman Led, AI Assisted: Uniting Artificial and Human Intelligence to Combat Hiring Bias.â The publication closely follows the launch of a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) initiative to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging tools used in hiring and other employment decisions comply with federal civil rights laws that

  • Enspira Launches New Talent Acquisition Business, Appoints Alan Mait as President

    LOS ANGELES â Enspira, a breakthrough HR consulting firm fueled by global and cross-industry experience, is expanding its capabilities and services with the formation of a new Talent Acquisition business. Enspira uses its proven, insight-driven methodology to drive company performance through co-created pragmatic people solutions and a roadmap for a company's success. With Search, customers will have more convenient and greater access to highly sought-after individuals in its talent search. To lead the new business unit, Enspira has selected Alan Mait to serve as President of Search. Alan is a seasoned HR executive search leader with more than 20 years in

  • Enspira Launches New Insights and Research Division to Promote Understanding of the Evolving Role and Impact of Human Resources

    (LOS ANGELES, CALIF.) â Enspira, an innovative human resources (HR) consultancy and technology firm, is excited to announce the formation of a new division focusing on insights and research in the realm of human resources. As part of Enspiraâs mission to reimagine and revolutionize the HR space, this division will publish white papers and studies covering innovative, disruptive, and groundbreaking topics in the field to help companies better understand the evolving role and impact of human resources. Always with a human-first approach, Enspiraâs insights will enable organizations to activate and engage their individual talent, bolstering retention, idea generation and company performance.

  • ENSPIRA Earns Certification as LGBT Business Enterprise® from National LGBT Chamber of Commerce

    âLOS ANGELES, CA â June 23, 2021 â Enspira, an innovative human resources (HR) consultancy and technology firm, today announced receiving certification as a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Supplier Diversity Initiative. The NGLCC is the business voice of the LGBT community and serves as the nationâs exclusive certifying body for LGBT-owned and operated businesses. âœAs a member of the LGBTQ community and Founder and CEO of Enspira, I am proud to see our firm become Certified LGBTBE through the NGLCC, the

  • 5 Top Priorities For Industry Leaders as They Navigate a Post-COVID World - Enspiraâs Leesa Hill is Quoted

    â Enspira's Leesa Hill (she/her) talks about how leaders need to continue to learn how DE&I plays a role in employeesâ lives through remote work in "5 Top Priorities For Industry Leaders as They Navigate a Post-COVID World." Read the article here.

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Discussion - Expand Your Market Success, Build Talent Pipelines, Foster Existing Staff Growth - Enspiraâs Rebecca Harris is moderator

    Gain insights from industry leaders on the importance of engaging your executive team to commit to a meaningful strategy of diversity, equity and inclusion. Facilitate internal business growth and external-facing life science solutions through innovative strategies to drive D&I impact from any position in your organization. The event is hosted by BioProcess International US West and Enspiraâs Associate Director of Human Capital, Rebecca Harris is moderator for this insightful session. Register & learn more here: https://informaconnect.com/bpi-west/agenda/2/#diversity-equity-and-inclusion-discussion-expand-your-market-success-build-talent-pipelines-foster-existing-staff-growth_3-00pm

  • Enspira and Hundreds of Business Leaders Sign Open Letter to Congress Calling for Paid Family and Medical Leave

    Tuesday, March 23, 2021âCOVID-19 has pushed millions out of the workforceâmostly women. Paid family and medical leave is one tool to bring them back and keep the economy moving. In a powerful statement of support for working families across the country, Enspira and over 175 brands and business leaders signed onto an open letter to Congress, calling for a public policy solution for paid family and medical leave. In a recent report, Paid Leave and the Pandemic, employers reported that paid leave policies ensure greater employee morale and workplace satisfaction, reduce rates of attrition and turnover, and support recruitment. Paid leave

  • ENSPIRA Secures Investment and Development Partnership with Mission8 to Create Next Generation HR Technology

    Partnership to unite artificial intelligence with Enspiraâs HR expertise to support businesses from startups to Fortune 500 âLOS ANGELES, CA and ALEXANDRIA, VA â March 10, 2021 â Enspira, an innovative human resources (HR) consultancy and technology firm, today announced an investment and technology development partnership with Mission8, a venture studio. Mission8âs significant investment will support Enspiraâs next-generation HR technology development efforts. They will also serve as a strategic advisor to fuel Enspiraâs overall mission and rapid 400% year-over-year growth. Enspira will work with Mission8 to design and develop, through its new business unit,

  • Now available: Recording of our March 10th âœPropelling Gender & Racial Equity in STEMâ virtual event!

    â For those of you who attended our March 10th virtual event, âœPropelling Gender & Racial Equity in STEM,â we hope you found it valuable in your diversity, inclusion and belonging journey. In case you missed any part of the event or would like to listen to it again, see the full recording below. Youâll also find other valuable anti-racism resources, women's resources, and more on our website. Our sincere thanks to our wonderful and inspiring panelists Alpna Seth from Nura Bio; Erin

  • ENSPIRA Reaffirms Its Dedication to Working Parents and Their Families

    Firm signs âœInvest in Parentsâ Pledge and Encourages all Employers to Commit to Advocate, Support and Protect Working Parents Given Their Unique Challenges LOS ANGELES, CA â December 1, 2020 â Enspira, an innovative human resources consultancy, today announced it signed the "Invest in Parents" pledge to reaffirm its commitment to advocate, support and protect working parents to enable them to remain in and thrive in the workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted working parents' home and work lives, especially working moms of small children. Many are juggling work from home, in-home schooling and childcare,

  • Kurt Landon, CEO of Enspira, Speaks About the Talent of Tomorrow and Upgrading Capability

    Last month, Enspira and ChapmanCG co-hosted a virtual People and Culture Lab to its collective HR networks. This excerpt recording from the event features Enspiraâs CEO, Kurt Landon, who shared his talent of tomorrow perspectives as part of the Labâs theme: Reinventing, Reimagining and Reinvigorating HR. Kurtâs particular focus was on the importance of upgrading people manager capability & effectiveness. According to Kurt, without great people managers, everything else in the employee experience and talent management spectrum is suboptimal.  Managers are responsible for hiring the right people, managing performance, engaging and retaining their teams and developing their people. Kurt explains that the

  • ENSPIRA Receives Corporate Excellence Award from Corporate Vision Magazine for âœMost Outstanding Human Resources Consulting Firm in 2020â

    Corporate Vision Magazine | 2020 Corporate Excellence Awards United Kingdom, September 30, 2020 â Corporate Vision (CV) Magazine announced today that Enspira, an innovative HR consulting firm, has been awarded the title, âœMost Outstanding Human Resources Consulting Firm, 2020,â as part of its 2020 Corporate Excellence Awards. The Corporate Excellence Awards were launched by CV Magazine to showcase the companies and individuals committed to innovation, business growth, and providing the very best products and services to clients across a wide range of industries. This award was judged purely on merit by our in-house team

  • Jessica Valentin from Enspira talks about "The Hybrid Workplace" of the Future

    Jessica Valentin and Matt Chapman, Founder of ChapmanCG and co-creator of Thrive HR Exchange speak about the importance of the way people business leaders 'show up' during this time, with more of their interactions being under scrutiny; both good and bad. They also talk about organizing your workplace for the "hybrid" part-virtual / part-physical workplace model of the future. Click to watch

  • ENSPIRA named to The Silicon Reviewâs "50 Best Companies to Watch in 2020"

    Hamilton, New JerseyâEnspira, an innovative HR consulting firm, has been recognized as one of the âœ50 Best Companies to Watch in 2020,â by The Silicon Review. Enspira was featured on the cover of the magazine. The Silicon Review â˜50 Best Companies to Watch 2020â program identifies companies that not only have the most innovative, diversified and reliable solutions, but also have a self-evolving and self-adaptable quality to best serve ever-changing needs and bring more value to customers. The full list is here. âœWe are honored to be recognized by The Silicon Review for our custom and pragmatic HR

  • ENSPIRA Marks Second Anniversary With More Than 600% Year-over-Year Growth and Diverse Team of Human Resources Experts

    LOS ANGELES, CA â July 27, 2020 â Enspira, an innovative human resources (HR) consulting firm, marks the second anniversary of its founding with substantial employer demand for its services, resulting in more than 600 percent growth year-over-year and a significant expansion of its consulting team of HR experts. Founded in 2018, Enspira works with employers ranging from start-ups and nonprofits to large publicly traded companies across industries, geographies and sectors on a spectrum of HR needs, including talent strategy and planning; performance management; employee engagement and retention; manager capability and effectiveness; diversity, inclusion and belonging; HR optimization and technology platforms,

  • Kurt Landon, CEO of HR Consulting Firm, Enspira, speaks about Navigating a Path to the Top Job

    â For a while now, we have seen a growing trend of HR leaders craving the exposure and influence that the top job brings, earlier in their career. But are they ready? Are there key ingredients and experiences needed to better make that transition? In this ChapmanCG podcast, Managing Director, Alan Mait speaks with Kurt Landon, CEO of HR Consulting firm Enspira to discuss some of the key things you should be thinking about on your journey to the CHRO position. And perhaps even finding career satisfaction via a different route altogether. Click here for the Podcast link.

  • ENSPIRA Creates Innovative New Offering for Employers; Launches Personalized Coaching for First-Time and Frontline People Managers

    Firm Appoints Robyn Powell, Accomplished Business Leader and Management Coach, to Lead Its People Manager Coaching Offering LOS ANGELES, CA â June 29, 2020 â Enspira, an innovative human resources (HR) consulting firm, expands its manager capability and effectiveness area of expertise with the debut of its new People Manager Coaching Offering. The innovative coaching offering, which can be delivered virtually and/or in-person, is designed for first-time and frontline people managers, providing the practical skills, tips, and tools to be effective managers and future leaders. Enspira is now uniquely positioned to provide employers with

  • Enspira Honors & Celebrates LGBTQ PRIDEðŸ³ï¸â🌈 Month

    Dear Colleagues, As a member of the LGBTQ community and an HR leader, I have spent much of my career advocating for marginalized communities and that felt right and seemed like enough. But the events over the last few weeks have opened my eyes to why intersectionality matters now more than ever. My community would not be where we are today if it were not for the efforts and courage of Marsha P. Johnson, Bayard Rustin, Phill Wilson and countless other Black LGBTQ pioneers. Author and self-described feminist and lesbian, Audre Lorde, once said, âœI write for thoseâ¦who do

  • Our Commitment to Anti-Racism

    Dear Colleagues, George Floyd. Tony McDade. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Their lives, and far too many others, weigh heavily on our minds. Like many of you, we are appalled and hurting from the senseless murders and violence, deeply saddened by the unrest playing out in our streets, and frustrated that our country is still steeped in systemic racism. At Enspira, we stand together for belonging, acceptance, dignity, differences and humanity. Injustices against Black Americans have gone on for generations. Yet now, we must all have a renewed sense of importance to state that âœblack lives matter.â Black Lives Matter. George

  • ENSPIRA named âœOne of the Top 10 Workforce Management Consulting/Service Companies in 2020â

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2020 Enspira Named to HR Tech Outlookâs Top 10 Workforce Management Consulting / Service Companies â 2020 FREMONT, CAâEnspira has been recognized as one of the âœTop 10 Workforce Management Consulting/Service Companies â 2020â by HR Tech Outlook magazine. âœWe are delighted to select Enspira as one of the Top 10 Workforce Management Consulting/Service Companies â 2020,â said Hanna Wilson, Managing Editor of HR Tech Outlook magazine. âœWe are honored to be recognized by HR Tech Outlook for being at the forefront of providing Workforce Management consulting services that make an organizational impact,â said Kurt

  • ENSPIRA Bolsters Team to Address Human Resources Consulting Needs of the Financial Services Industry

    Crystal Riley Appointed to Lead ENSPIRAâs New Financial Services Practice; Brings Unique Combination of Global Human Resources, Financial Services and Business Expertise PALM SPRINGS, CA â February 27, 2020 â Enspira, an innovative human resources (HR) consulting firm fueled by hundreds of years of collective, diverse and deep cross-industry experience, today announced the appointment of Crystal Riley as Human Capital Director and Associate Partner to lead and grow its new Financial Services Practice. The new practice expands Enspiraâs portfolio of consulting services to address the HR needs of banks, commercial real estate organizations, investment management groups,

  • THRIVE is Now ENSPIRA, With Expanded Human Resources Consulting Capabilities

    HR Expert Jenna Cohen Joins ENSPIRA to lead New Practice Dedicated to Serving Nonprofit Organizations PALM SPRINGS, CA â December 18, 2019 â Enspira, an innovative Human Resources (HR) consulting firm fueled by hundreds of years of collective, diverse and cross-industry experience, today announced it is changing its name from Thrive to Enspira and expanding capabilities, with the latest appointment of Jenna Cohen, as Vice President and Partner, to lead and grow its new Nonprofit Organizations practice. "This is a pivotal time in our companyâs evolution. In our first year, we have grown more than

Case Studies

  • Mentorship Leads the Way for NorthWest Research Associates

    The Organization: NorthWest Research Associates NWRA is a scientific research organization with expertise in the geophysical and space sciences, whose mission is to excel in basic and applied research by providing a working environment designed to support every scientist's and engineer's success. It has 80-100 employees between its corporate headquarters and research offices in Seattle, WA, Boulder, CO, and Monterey, CA. Led by Joan, NWRA president and a senior research scientist in coastal oceanography, and Don, an original NWRA founding member, executive VP, and senior research scientist in fluid dynamics, NWRA provides a structured environment for researchers to support their proposal writing process,

  • A Passion- and Empathy-Driven Search for GreenLight Fund

    The Organization: GreenLight Fund GreenLight Fund (GreenLight) addresses barriers to economic mobility for children, youth and families in high-poverty urban areas by creating local infrastructure and a consistent process to: identify critical needs implement innovative, entrepreneurial programs that have measurable impact, and galvanize local support to help programs reach and sustain impact in new cities Since its inception 17 years ago, GreenLight has grown to 30 employees and 10 sites across the U.S., with plans to expand to additional cities in the next few years. The organization's unique approach, dubbed the GreenLight Method, begins by engaging

  • Creating a Successful and Sustainable Mentorship Program Framework

    The Organization: CarGurus Founded in 2006, CarGurus is an automotive research and shopping website where visitors can compare local listings online. Using proprietary technology, search algorithms, and innovative data analytics, it provides unbiased insights on pricing, dealer reputation, and vehicle history, and helps dealers connect with prospective buyers. CarGurus approached Enspira about developing a progressive approach to empowering its workforce and providing focused resources to underrepresented employees. The Need: An ERG and Mentorship Refresh Following Enspiraâs initial conversations with CarGurus, one key initiative stood out: revamping its mentorship program strategy and building a standardized framework. CarGurus had offered valuable mentorship

// //