Railz

As VP of People & Operations at Railz, my role is multi-faceted:

Strategy & Leadership
I work hand-in-hand with our CEO and CTO to devise company strategy and lead its execution. I also establish comprehensive targets for growth and success, taking our business operations and functional areas under my wing.

People & Culture
A key aspect of my role is nurturing our remote team and ensuring our HR processes align with our vision. I'm involved in hiring top-notch talent and creating a culture that truly reflects our core values.

Performance & Development
I oversee the performance process to maintain a high standard across the board. Simultaneously, I drive initiatives for employee engagement, professional development, and wellness, with a keen focus on DEI. Ensuring we run a fair, transparent and equitable organization is at the forefront of what we do.

Talent Attraction & Retention
Part of my mission is to develop our Employer brand, attracting and retaining the best in the field. I work on ensuring we have inclusive practices and employee development programs that cater to our remote-first team.

Business Expansion & GTM
Finally, I lead our business expansion efforts and am actively involved in developing and implementing GTM strategies, ensuring alignment across our CS, Sales, and Marketing teams, all with clear revenue goals in mind.

VP People & Operations

As VP People Operations, my goal is to establish a talent ecosystem that thrives in our fast-scaling startup. Follow along on our startup journey to learn more - oh and yes, we're hiring! Be sure to reach out!

VP People Operations

PostBeyond

As VP of People & Operations at PostBeyond, my contributions were diverse and instrumental in the company's growth and transition phases:

Business Transition & Expansion
I directly oversaw the sale of PostBeyond, actively contributing to due diligence, transition and integration planning. I worked alongside Finance for budget forecasting, variable compensation, and maintaining the data room, among other responsibilities.

People & Operations Management
My role involved workforce planning, including business continuity and contingency planning. I also honed leadership within the organization through coaching and development programs, and managed compensation analysis, budget, and ESOP development.

Talent & Performance Management
I took a lead in talent recruitment, development, and performance management. My contributions ranged from career coaching, establishing performance-focused employee engagement, to succession planning.

Policy Development & Risk Management
I was responsible for developing company policies, managing employee relations, and planning group benefits. Part of my role also involved risk management and enhancing operational efficiency through process and communication analysis.

Tech & IT Development
Lastly, my contributions extended to IT development and tech stack competency improvement, where I played a role in security audits and overall operational efficiency.

This variety in my role at PostBeyond has provided me with a robust experience and a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in scaling a tech business.

VP of People & Operations

As Head of People & Operations at PostBeyond, my role extended across various critical business areas:

Policy Development & Employee Engagement
I developed an employee handbook to offer transparency and clarify expectations. I also implemented a Recognition BINGO program to highlight company-wide wins and boosted our Glassdoor rating from 2.8 to 4.9 stars by shifting towards people-first initiatives.

Compensation & Benefits
I designed a 3-tiered bonus program based on personal, team, and corporate performance and developed a mid-market benchmark for salaries to ensure equity across the company. I also improved benefits offerings to tackle familial needs, mental wellness, and financial literacy, strengthening our total compensation packages.

Stock Options & Recognition
I proposed and executed a plan to implement an employee stock option program. Our efforts were recognized by organizations like Great Place to Work Canada, The HR Awards, and The North American Employee Engagement Awards.

Organizational Values & Representation
I revised our mission, vision, and values alongside the CEO and other executives. Additionally, I represented PostBeyond in the HR space, contributing to panels, podcasts, and webinars on driving employees towards purpose.

Training & Development
I conducted an annual needs analysis with each team member to identify gaps and areas for improvement. I also secured education and training grants for upskilling and contributed to the SRED application.

The diversity in my role allowed me to make a significant impact on both the people and operational aspects of the company.

Head of People & Operations

General Insulation Company

As Operations Coordinator at General Insulation, my responsibilities spanned various functional areas:

Customer Service & Relationship Management
I conducted customer needs assessments, resolved concerns, and provided tailored service solutions. I acted as a liaison, supporting the outside sales team and clients while managing all new requests/inquiries.

Sales & Marketing
I hosted product demonstrations for current and prospective clients, emphasizing product features and benefits, backed by comprehensive market research. I maintained product literature and samples and communicated client activity.

Operational Efficiency & Compliance
I streamlined daily operations through maintenance of our corporate database, managed credit verification and inquiries, and ensured compliance with health and safety and licensing requirements for our staff.

Reporting & Recruitment
I generated reports, spreadsheets, and presentations for leadership and sales teams and led recruitment efforts for warehouse and transport staff.

My role as Operations Coordinator offered me invaluable experience in customer service, operations, and interdepartmental collaboration.

Operations Coordinator

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College

As Clinic Coordinator at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, my role revolved around ensuring smooth clinic operations and an efficient learning environment:

Operations & Staff Management
I oversaw daily operations, managed shift scheduling, and facilitated optimal patient flow. I maintained consistent communication with all centre staff, from IT and administration to security and facilities management.

Internship Management & Training
I facilitated intern orientations, ensuring understanding of duties, procedures, and policies, and conducted periodic performance appraisals. I also facilitated sensitivity training for interns working with patients having specialized psycho-social exceptionalities.

Recruitment & Compliance
I collaborated with management on the applicant interview process, which included reference and background checks. I ensured our clinic's compliance with health and safety protocols, policies, and procedures.

Financial & Inventory Management
I managed billing, cash, and budgetary information entry into our corporate spreadsheet and patient management system. Additionally, I improved clinic functionality and efficiency by managing supply inventory.

My time at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College equipped me with a strong foundation in operational efficiency, people management, and compliance within a healthcare setting.

Clinic Coordinator

Ryerson University

Conducted needs analysis for campus security positions, generating recommendation reports based on findings

Created job description and specifications for new Chief of Security role

Designed unique job advertisement to attract top candidates for various campus positions

Screened resumes and contacted applicants based on qualifications and departmental needs

Conducted structured phone and in-person interviews

Participated on hiring panel with other HR staff

Monitored applicant references after scoring interview

Human Resources Administrative Coordinator (Placement)

As a VP of People & Operations with over 10 years of experience, my passion lies in fostering thriving teams in dynamic, fast-growing environments. At Railz, collaborating closely with the CEO and CTO, I've been instrumental in shaping company strategy, business operations, and nurturing a remote team culture aligned with our core values. My initiatives in employee engagement, professional development, and performance management have led to significant improvements in productivity and satisfaction, reducing turnover rates.

Previously at PostBeyond, I played a key role in the company's acquisition, managing due diligence, transition, integration planning, and budget forecasting. My efforts in developing coaching programs, compensation analysis, and ESOP development cultivated a culture steeped in excellence and innovation.

Recently recognized as a Top HR Pro in 2023 by Foundersbeta and contributing to Railz's achievement on Forbes' Best Startup Employers list for 2024, I am committed to creating workplaces that are not only purposeful and inclusive but also empower individuals for collective organizational success. Blending my background in psychology and organizational behaviour, I thrive on solving complex problems with creative solutions. As a speaker and executive coach, I enjoy sharing my expertise and insights, fostering growth and innovation in the broader leadership community.

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