550: How to Break Into Human Resources With Serilda Summers-McGee, Workplace Change [Espresso Shots]

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Serilda Summers-McGee is the Founder and Principal of Workplace Change, LLC, a human resources consultancy that guides, advises, and encourages business to achieve external growth and transition, while incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into HR systems. Serilda has been an HR/DEI innovator for over 15 years. She has inspired thousands to create, embrace, and mobilize lasting organizational change. Most recently, Serilda was Chief Human Resources Officer for the City of Portland, Oregon. While serving as the CHRO, she led a bureau of 84 professionals who supported a workforce of more than 10,000. She has held leadership roles for the Portland Development Commission, the Oregon Department of Education, Kaiser Permanente, Partners in Diversity, and Reed College. In 2018, she received Portland Business Journal’s “Women of Influence Award,” and in 2019, she received Portland Business Journal’s “HR Excellence Award.”

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE:

• What entry level jobs to look out for (7:42)
• Why loving people is a prerequisite (10:33)
• Whether your major matters (hint: it doesn’t) (13:56)
• Why law degrees and MBAs are incredibly valuable for HR (16:41)
• Why people of color, especially, should lean into who they are (26:22)
• Why you should check out her book about human resources– Change the WorkGame: Building and Sustaining a Diverse Workforce (27:37)
• What would listeners be surprised to learn about in human resources (28:32)
• If you want to learn more about what Serilda does and how she built her career please tune in to T4C episode #480