As we rejoice Black Historical past Month, for this #ClouderLife Highlight we sat down with Clouderan Kimberly Lewis to speak about her profession journey in human sources, rising up in New Orleans, and the way her expertise in basketball translated to management and profession growth within the office.
Kim is the director of human sources (HR) packages at Cloudera. She manages every thing that occurs on a programmatic foundation in HR that has a technique and a plan. “I work intently with the chief human sources officer on strategic planning in addition to HR management,” she mentioned. She additionally appears to be like at every of the six HR management tracks to establish initiatives and assist management achieve success with pending and ongoing priorities.
Kim joined Cloudera two years in the past. “On the time they have been seeking to fill a strategically targeted function, which was a very good match with my previous background as an HR enterprise associate (HRBP),” she mentioned. In her earlier function, Kim led HRBP groups implementing methods amongst all of the HR areas. She functioned because the liaison between the sector and company, the place she wanted to be an professional throughout all useful areas, growing a mindset for the bigger firm technique.
As quickly as she began at Cloudera there was a direct want for her to implement an initiative across the workforce modifications on account of COVID-19 restrictions. “My very first duty was to supervise the COVID-19 committee at Cloudera,” she mentioned.
“The very best factor about Cloudera is the people who I get to attach with each day, there may be nothing prefer it,” she mentioned, describing her expertise working at Cloudera. “The individuals I meet actually need to do nice work and they’re enthusiastic about it. They’re prepared to sacrifice their time utterly.”
Rising up within the Huge Straightforward was about household, tradition, and new alternatives by way of the love of basketball
Kim grew up in New Orleans in a close-knit, multi-generational household, however felt just like the larger group of New Orleans was additionally household. “The eagerness of the town with a wealthy historical past wrapped in a cultural melting pot and anchored within the annual festivities of Mardi Gras. That is what makes New Orleans so particular,” she acknowledged.
It appeared like from the time Kim might stroll she was concerned with the sport of basketball. Taking part in all through her college days, she later earned a university basketball scholarship. Initially, Kim needed to review structure however selected a college that finest match her athletic aspirations that didn’t have structure as a serious. Then, after taking an employment legislation class she knew HR could be her main, and he or she has had a ardour for it ever since.
With basketball, Kim went on to be a division-two level guard in her faculty years after which turned a referee for semi-pro, and in addition coached at numerous ranges since.
Quickly after faculty, she settled in Atlanta to start out her profession the place she has been ever since. Kim mentioned, “They are saying should you’re in Atlanta longer than 10 years then you definately’re technically from Atlanta. I suppose I now qualify.”
How classes realized on the basketball court docket translate to the office
“Basketball and group sports activities have been a centerpiece all through my life,” Kim mentioned. “Being an athlete could be very a lot part of who I’m and began my management basis. I’m very a lot a servant chief and all concerning the group.”
Kim attracts on classes realized on the court docket to the office. Concerning organizational success, “working collectively accomplishes much more for your self and the group than being a star participant or working as a person,” she mentioned. “Being a fantastic participant is one factor, however you don’t win until you’ve gotten a fantastic group.”
By way of technique, Kim has additionally drawn comparable parallels. “Trying on the larger image versus the now could be one thing I realized years in the past in sports activities,” she mentioned. “You may lose the sport at the moment realizing that there’s a broader or larger objective to win the championship. Equally, in HR, for instance, there are initiatives that we need to do at the moment however should take a step again and have a look at the larger technique to ensure the main points align with our targets.”
These classes additionally carry over to profession growth as she appeared again at her personal profession path. “Not being afraid to fail,” she mentioned. “I realized a few of the greatest life classes when issues didn’t go proper. Having the ability to replicate on what went properly however studying the teachings of what didn’t work and never being afraid to regulate course.” She added, “Like in sports activities should you run a play and it doesn’t work, do you quit on the sport? Or fairly, take a step again and have a look at an alternate approach to assault the scenario and rating?”
One other lesson that Kim attributes to her profession development isn’t being afraid to suppose in a different way or unorthodoxly. “It’s essential in my function to be versatile and open to different methods of doing issues,” she mentioned. “Typically you’ve gotten the very best plans however issues occur that change your trajectory. Our complete business is at all times altering so we have now to be versatile to alter with it in any other case we will likely be left behind.”
Reflecting on Black Historical past Month
In reflecting on Black Historical past Month Kim mentioned, “It’s such an emotional time for minorities as a result of, on the one hand, we replicate on the wrestle, and on the opposite, the sensation of delight for the accomplishments of minorities. All the nice issues that we have now contributed to society and seeing the progress is thrilling.”
“Reflecting as a Black American lady, it wasn’t that way back when girls have been first allowed to vote,” she mentioned. “My mom was at school throughout segregation. Once I despatched my daughters to high school, they’d a alternative that my mom, who is just two generations aside, didn’t.” She provides, “Black Historical past, though a month-long occasion, is as much as us to maintain prime of thoughts on a regular basis.”
The ultimate query: did you remorse not changing into an architect?
“I’m nonetheless obsessed with structure,” Kim replied. “Once I journey, I make it a degree to see the structure of the world, it’s so fascinating to me. I attempt to get to any metropolis that has incredible structure. I’m nonetheless a pupil of structure. I’m additionally an final DIYer. I’ve renovated my house many instances over. However on the finish of the day, my ardour is for individuals, and HR is my approach to contribute.”
As we shut the dialog, we need to thank Kim for contributing a lot to Cloudera and telling her story.
