Tori Whaley, aPHR

Advocate Health

Managed leave of absence department general inquires, answering and researching claims while providing an exceptional employee experience in an organization of 20,000+.

Built and launched a process framework for a longstanding policy, working cross-functionally with management and a third-party vendor to deliver smooth employee payment operations.

Trained team members to navigate and master a complex, multi-step leave of absence process by breaking down difficult concepts into clear, actionable steps.

Audited closed claims, ensuring compliant and complete closure, supporting successful employee transitions back to work.

Established comprehensive SOPs for essential departmental processes, addressing foundational gaps and providing clear guidance for new employees.

Reviewed and updated website content, removing outdated language and aligning updates with standards across business groups.

Developed and launched process improvement teams to address outdated, complex policies, creating actionable tasks from findings to drive measurable change.

Human Resources Coordinator, Leave of Absence

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

Delivered compassionate, concierge-level leave guidance to 20,000+ union and non-union employees across 21 states, building trust, reducing confusion, and ensuring a positive experience.

Resolved complex LOA cases with empathy and precision, increasing employee satisfaction and strengthening confidence in HR processes.

Partnered with 50+ executives, HRBPs, and stakeholders in 2023 to navigate challenging leave scenarios while advocating for employees through reasonable accommodations and return-to-work options.

Created user-friendly templates, policies, procedures, and process maps that streamlined HR operations, improved accessibility, and reinforced understanding of technical data.

Collaborated with Legal, Payroll, and Absence Management leadership to ensure compliant, fair, and employee-centered outcomes.

Processed weekly payroll for employees on LOA with 100% accuracy, streamlining workflows to guarantee timely and compliant payments.

Reviewed 2,000+ OSHA files for accuracy and legal adherence, ensuring compliance and mitigating organizational risk.

Facilitated interactive processes with empathy, assessing unique employee needs to deliver equitable outcomes and making separation decisions when necessary.

Liaised with third-party vendors through weekly meetings to address unclear claims, ensure proper handling, and strengthen accountability.

Wrote SOPs, letter templates, and a brochure to aid in understanding technical concepts. Created associated process maps in Visio for SOPs.

North Texas Community Foundation

Included Front Desk Administrator duties plus:

Strengthened internal IT support by learning troubleshooting skills, reducing outside vendor reliance, bringing a chronically over budget line item back within budget.

Partnered with stakeholders to overhaul 30+ outdated policies and procedures, streamlining operations and improving clarity for employees navigating internal processes.

Led cross-functional team to optimize a multi-departmental procedure, reducing procedure completion time.

Developed and cultivated a StrengthsFinder culture by designing team-building activities, creating peer-recognition programs, and facilitating workshops that increased collaboration, employee engagement, and performance alignment with individual strengths.

Trained staff and executives on collaboration best practices for a more inclusive culture.

Selected and implemented video-conferencing hardware for two conference rooms; coordinated install and trained staff.

Handpicked video conferencing equipment, one for primary and another for secondary conference room, overseeing timely installation and training staff.  

Reviewed weekly check deposit reconciliation with Finance to ensure accuracy and transparency.

Championed the recognition of Juneteenth as a company holiday, aligning organizational policies with cultural values and reinforcing employee belonging.

Operations Associate / Employee Experience Specialist

Allied with senior leadership to evaluate employee satisfaction via employee survey I created, shaping strategies that strengthened the workplace culture.

Served as the first point of contact for calls, emails, and visitors, delivering professional, attentive support, ensuring positive experiences.

Designed and led a comprehensive employee experience program spanning development, recognition, events, and retreats that reduced turnover by more than 60%.

Welcomed and onboarded new hires, streamlining system setup and acting as a trusted resource.

Orchestrated company events end-to-end successfully, including planning, logistics, vendor coordination, and on-site management, renforcing comapny dedication to staff.

Streamlined administrative operations by improving organization systems, optimizing database management, supporting projects which improved team productivity, all enhancing the employee experience.

Guided employees through complex LOA cases with compassion and precision, improving satisfaction and trust in HR processes.

Ensured accuracy of a 20,000+ contact CRM, enhancing reporting reliability and supporting data-driven decision making.

Enhanced workplace efficiency and culture by maintaining supply chains, managing kitchen and reception needs, and ensuring clean, welcoming common areas.

Served as primary liaison for vendors and building partners, fostering strong relationships, addressing concerns proactively, and ensuring timely resolution of all issues.

Created a sense of camaraderie and inclusion during the challenges of COVID through online events and activity groups.

Front Desk Administrator / Employee Experience Specialist

As a single mom I wanted to be present for my son. I traded marketing plans for a brush and bowl, becoming a hair colorist, spending most of my years at Neiman Marcus. A meticulous, creative problem solver, I actively listened to clients and provided white glove customer service. 

Trained regularly locally and attending conferences across the USA including New York City.	

Developed personal brand through customized processes and design as well as targeted customer experiences.

Utilized social media including Instagram and Facebook to drive business through examples of work.

Entrepreneur - Hair Color Specialist, Corporate Break

The HR team player you wish you had. People Champion | Leave & Accommodation Ninja | Employee Experience Passionista | Dazzling Communicator | Strategic Business Writer | Policy & Procedure Developer

I spent 15 years as an elite hair colorist in top Dallas salons, including Neiman Marcus, where I learned how to listen, earn trust, and deliver unforgettable experiences.

Today I bring that same mindset to my next company. I know that when employees feel supported, they create better customer experiences, and when customers feel valued, the business thrives.

I’m at my best tackling tough projects, solving problems others avoid, and building programs that make a real impact.

If you want someone who understands how employee and customer experience work together to drive success, let’s connect.

Benefits & Absence Management Partner

• Advocate for employees during the FMLA & ADA process
• Oversee FMLA & ADA process in over 20 states, including New York, Washington, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
• Collaborate with regional and local teams to ensure employees are safe and under state and local laws
• Work with unions to ensure employment agreements are being applied
• Manage a spreadsheet detailing all active, future, worker's compensation, and modified work. 
• Calculate wages for employees on leave, submitting to payroll weekly
• Initiate and administer the employee separation process

PepsiCo

International Beverages - Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) cluster looking after the Power of One ((Beverages & Snacks/Foods) capability agenda in Company Owned Businesses, Franchise/Bottlers(South, East, West, Central and Northwest Africa) and Market development/Foods.

Additional responsibilities:
1. Green Teams Lead for SSA
2. Safety Lead / Co-Ordinator

Selected to attend the Global PepsiCo Accelerated Leadership Program

PO1 Commercial Capability Manager - International Beverages - Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) Cluster

Leading and managing Commercial Projects in West East Central Africa 
Leading the Africa Middle East South Asia Sector Bottler Capability Councils in 2023 and 2024
Leading the West East Central Africa (WECA) Business Units Green Teams 💚 in 6+ countries across Africa. 
Leading the Organization Health Survey for the AMESA Commercial Capability Team 2023 with 

•	Provides input at a project level into the analysis, design, and development of programs, and technologies to validate that they are compatible with our standard delivery models.
•	Conduct qualitative assessment & Diagnostic of Sales Force through route rides & interviews
•	Work with the Sector team on Designing Capability building programs for each channel (viz., Traditional Trade, Modern Trade, AFH, & New Channels, Emerging channels) to help businesses achieve their desired results
•	Align & Execute Sector learning strategies, programs, and technologies, leveraging market resources as needed. Review the implementation and establish corrective plans as necessary.
•	Support Sector Centre of Excellence in the development of tailor made Curriculum to optimize Curriculum and learning techniques
•	Work with HR and IT to integrate the Sales Capability agenda into PEP learning Management systems
•	Lead the Translation & Localization of Sector Content to BU
•	Ensure AMESA wide Sales BPTs implementation
•	Deploy Sales Capability Training modules on a Train the Trainer basis(FOBO) or factory direct for COBO / COSO
•	Leverage , and help design the BIS to drive accessibility and develop new embedding techniques to maximize ROI (Gaming,  E-Learning , video)
•	Execute AMESA Wide program deployment Calendar Management & Dashboards & reporting

Commercial Capability Manager: West East Central Africa (WECA) - Food & Beverages

Capability Manager for the Traditional Trade & Wholesale for PepsiCo (Snacks, Essential Foods, Groceries and Grains- Legacy Pioneer and Simba). 
- Commercial Capability Lead for Traditional Trade for strategy, execution, change management and training of major projects in Traditional Trade and Wholesale in PepsiCo SSA's biggest Business Units.

Commercial Capability Manager for Power of One: Snacks & Bakeries: Traditional Trade & Wholesale

- Project Lead in the development and design of the 4 levels of PepsiCo Simba Sales Academies 
- Dealing with reward and recognition programs and communication specialist 
- Managed Sales Capability function to maximize capability and job expertise of more than 1000 sales professional across all channels, including sales supporting cross functional teams to ensure sustainable growth.  
- Set Sales Capability Strategy with 360 degree assessment including the results of People & customer satisfaction surveys, Global Competency Assessments, Market Competition results to measure impact. 
- Coaching and Certification processes designed align with training curriculum to sustain behavioral change. Implementation of Learning Management System and maximize the effective field communication. 
- Led Health and Safety Program in Sales Training curriculum 
- Supported PepsiCo transition journey with Field Programs 
- Implemented various leaning tools such as online learning, field coaching, social media, visual aids, daily sms reminders, certification used to maximize learning 
- Led customer Engagement Program and organize customer visits with Customer teams.

Sales Capability Manager: South Africa (Africa Middle East South Asia Sector: AMESA)

Developing 3 Sales Academy's from Foundation to Intermediate to Masters. 
Established and leads the sales development and sales capability agenda across SSA and Africa
Work within different business units and commercial teams and provide, share, train and develop best
practices in developing frontline and key accounts sales capabilities in line with the short and long term business strategy 
Developed the Sales capability strategy for Commercial 
Lead sales development and capability for senior Sales Managers and Frontline- owning coaching, training & development of sales programs and change management communication and management
People Development - worked closely with BU sales teams & identify their development & training   
needs and recommend programs for their development 
Sales Technology Development - staying up to date with global sales technology tools 
Projects or Ad- Hoc assignments - Performing other related duties on projects and assignments as  
 directed by the Strategy and Transformation Director   
Virtual classroom facilitator/trainer with LiveClicks*

Sales Capability Development Training Manager: Africa: Beverages, Snacks & Nutrition (ESSA)

• Developed a competency framework  for Key Accounts and 
  Field Sales Positions and linking the competencies to training courses as well as developing 
  training content for the courses.  
• Applying Sales Capability Audit 
•Developing Induction Programmes 
•Filming, editing, producing presenting Sales Training Videos
• Training needs analysis development 
•Developing E-learning via Articulate 
•Manage training and coaching in the Sales function of over 800 Sales , marketing, Key Accounts and 3rd Party Merchandising  Managers and employees (Leadership and Junior levels)
•Define and execute sales training curriculum 
•Plan, co-ordinate and manage representative training 
•Conduct training needs assessments 
•Manage the investment/resource allocation and manage the budgeted spend effectively.

National Sales Training Manager

o Business strategy and diagnose organisation and people development requirements
o Translate capability requirements into a 3-year People Development strategy 
o Implementing Learner Development Programmes and other agreed curricula to support the strategy 
o Local & global curriculum, development plans 
o Manage internal and external stakeholders 
o Deliver facilitator-led programs as per the annual development plans
o Identify leadership related capability needs and to manage the deployment of appropriate  frameworks and resources
o Identify key skills development stakeholders and optimise relationships, maintain visibility and accessibility, working in close collaboration with them to realise objectives and deliver value to the business
o Respect and integrate diverse views by seeking input and incorporating them into decisions

Organisation and Management Development Manager: Sales and Corporate

ABI Bottling (Pty) Ltd

Define learning strategies and solutions to support business goals and improve individual employee performance
• Conduct a Performance Needs Analysis, analyse and interpret the HRD strategy and develop a Training Plan and Budget.
• Synthesize and integrate macro-skills development legislation and requirements.
• Define, evaluate and integrate best-in-class learning methodologies and processes.

Drive the successful implementation of learning strategies
• Facilitate the implementation of learning solutions.
• Manage Trainees and Learnerships.
• Implement and maintain consistently high quality assurance standards across all HRD initiatives.
• Facilitate and align organisational change efforts.
• Align and integrate HRD initiatives with other HR processes.

Evaluate and assess the impact of HRD initiatives on individual and business performance
• Evaluate HRD practices, processes and outputs.
• Co-ordinate and oversee assessment and moderation processes.

Manage administration and reporting related to HRD for the region 
• Manage and co-ordinate HRD administration.
• Record, analyse and communicate training data and trends.

Head Office Learning and Development Manager: ABI, The Soft Drinks Division of SAB PTY LTD

The South African Breweries

** Won the Learning and Development Specialist of the year in 2006/2007 with South African Breweries 

To create and sustain a progressive learning environment by providing an effective service to the value chain focused on the acquisition of competence and performance improvement.

Key responsibilities:
- Manage Competence programmes
- Develop training material
- Implement training
- Development and implementation of training material

Custodian of departmental training records i.e. Workplace Skills Plan & Annual Training Report, ensuring that these are
readily accessible and adhere to legal requirements.
Where training has occurred, updates relevant training records and, where appropriate, the SAP systems.
Interacts with individuals to resolve problems relating to training records and provides information relating to queries.
Regularly reviews training records to ensure information integrity and accuracy.
Manage training resources and budget
Coaching and development of Sales teams on learning and development processes and systems

Divisional  Learning & Development Manager for Sales: ABI & South African Breweries PTY LTD

**Won the Coca-Cola / ABI Award for Best Account Manager of the year 2005/2006. The award recognises excellent and stable volume growth and excellent Customer Service Ratings with all my customers from National Accounts to the rural General Trade. 

To implement a market driven differentiated service that builds
sustainable competitiveness within clearly identified channels which
delivers sustainable growth in brand equity, sales volume, market share,
competitive advantage and corporate reputation.

My Major tasks in this position were:
•	Identified and implemented new business opportunities

•	Optimised customer service
•	Formulated account reviews
•	Formulated account plans
•	Managed and optimised accounts
•	Managed and maintained assets
•	Generated orders
•	Executed promotions
•	Managed cash and credit accounts
•	Compiled competitor report

Account Manager : National Accounts and General Trade 

University of Johannesburg

Duties: Marking of examination scripts and assisting students with subject related issues.

Student Assistant

Servest SA

Administrative Assistant (Gremick Security now Servest)

An authentic business partner & leader with a breadth and depth of L&D and change management (HR and Commercial)  and building sales capability expertise in FMCG, the ability to work in complex stakeholder management, experiences of managing cultural diversity & a focused change mind set, being able to demonstrate resilience to change, agility & being able to  strategize in the complex FMCG environment. 

I have 20+ years work experience in FMCG (Beverages(Soft Drinks & Alcohol); Nutrition; Snacks; Bakeries; Call Centers; Refrigeration/Manufacturing) working across all Commercial and Head Office Support functions as well as all Sub - Saharan Africa, West & East Africa Countries, UK and Europe

I am also a Sustainability PepsiCo Positive Green Teams Lead & PEPfluencer for WECA

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Tori Whaley, aPHR

Bronwyn H.

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