Dr. Jessica Kriegel speaks with Tara Ataya, Chief People and Diversity Officer at Hootsuite, to explore the innovative and people-first strategies that Tara has implemented at Hootsuite to foster a culture of belonging, engagement, and empowerment. Tara shares her approach to navigating the balance between business goals and people-focused leadership, offering insights into the importance of listening, the power of servant leadership, and how Hootsuite has scaled a strong, inclusive culture across a global workforce. This conversation dives deep into the tactics that have made Hootsuite a leader in employee experience and how these strategies can be applied to other organizations. What Is Your Why: Tara Ataya reveals her professional and personal "why," which revolves around leaving every company and the world better than she found it, emphasizing the ripple effect of positive impact through strong human relationships. Balancing Business and People: Tara discusses the tension between achieving business objectives and fostering a culture of belonging and wellness. She highlights the importance of ensuring that employees feel valued, safe, and engaged to drive business success. Scaling Culture Globally: Jessica and Tara explore the challenges and strategies involved in scaling a company culture across a global workforce of 1,500 employees, emphasizing the importance of listening and adapting to regional needs. Listening as Leadership: Tara emphasizes the significance of listening in leadership, sharing how Hootsuite employs surveys, focus groups, and culturally appropriate listening sessions to understand and meet the needs of their diverse workforce. Innovative Culture Strategies: Tara details some of the unique strategies at Hootsuite, such as Perch Days and Hoot Pulse surveys, which foster collaboration, belonging, and continuous engagement among employees. Overcoming Resistance and Building Leadership: Tara talks about the initial resistance to people-focused leadership at Hootsuite and how the leadership team overcame it by hiring and developing leaders aligned with a servant leadership model. Walking the Walk: Jessica highlights the diversity and inclusiveness of Hootsuite’s leadership team and board, discussing how this reflects the company's genuine commitment to DEI. Mental Health and Employee Well-being: Tara shares the comprehensive mental health and wellness initiatives at Hootsuite, including increased mental health benefits, company-wide wellness weeks, and leadership training focused on empathy and support. Future of People and Culture Leadership: Tara reflects on the future of people and culture leadership, considering how these roles can evolve beyond traditional HR and DEI functions to become integral to business strategy. Personal Reflections: Tara offers her thoughts on what’s next for people and culture leaders, encouraging a shift towards more business-focused roles that lead from a people-centric perspective. Tara Ataya is the Chief People and Diversity Officer at Hootsuite, known for her servant leadership style and dedication to creating inclusive, employee-centered workplaces. Tara has been instrumental in developing Hootsuite's innovative culture strategies, making the company a leader in employee experience. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/taraataya Jessica Kriegel: Website: jessicakriegel.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessicakriegel Instagram: instagram.com/jess_kriegel Culture Partners: Website: culturepartners.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/culturepartners/

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