As we have fun 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 improvement within the office.
Kim is the director of human sources (HR) packages at Cloudera. She manages the whole lot that occurs on a programmatic foundation in HR that has a method and a plan. “I work carefully with the chief human sources officer on strategic planning in addition to HR management,” she stated. She additionally seems 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 had been trying to fill a strategically centered function, which was a very good match with my previous background as an HR enterprise companion (HRBP),” she stated. 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 skilled throughout all useful areas, growing a mindset for the bigger firm technique.
As quickly as she began at Cloudera there was an instantaneous 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 stated.
“The very best factor about Cloudera is the folks that I get to attach with day by day, there’s nothing prefer it,” she stated, describing her expertise working at Cloudera. “The individuals I meet actually need to do nice work and they’re enthusiastic about it. They’re keen to sacrifice their time fully.”
Rising up within the Huge Straightforward was about household, tradition, and new alternatives by the love of basketball
Kim grew up in New Orleans in a close-knit, multi-generational household, however felt just like the higher neighborhood of New Orleans was additionally household. “The eagerness of 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 said.
It appeared like from the time Kim may 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 check structure however selected a faculty that greatest match her athletic aspirations that didn’t have structure as a serious. Then, after taking an employment legislation class she knew HR can 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 grew to become a referee for semi-pro, and likewise coached at numerous ranges since.
Quickly after faculty, she settled in Atlanta to begin her profession the place she has been ever since. Kim stated, “They are saying for those who’re in Atlanta longer than 10 years you then’re technically from Atlanta. I suppose I now qualify.”
How classes realized on the basketball court docket translate to the office
“Basketball and workforce sports activities have been a centerpiece all through my life,” Kim stated. “Being an athlete may 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 workforce.”
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 stated. “Being an incredible participant is one factor, however you don’t win except you have got an incredible workforce.”
By way of technique, Kim has additionally drawn related parallels. “Wanting on the larger image versus the now’s one thing I realized years in the past in sports activities,” she stated. “You may lose the sport at present figuring out 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 present however should take a step again and have a look at the higher technique to verify the main points align with our targets.”
These classes additionally carry over to profession improvement as she appeared again at her personal profession path. “Not being afraid to fail,” she stated. “I realized a few of the greatest life classes when issues didn’t go proper. With the ability to replicate on what went nicely however studying the teachings of what didn’t work and never being afraid to regulate course.” She added, “Like in sports activities for those who run a play and it doesn’t work, do you surrender on the sport? Or somewhat, take a step again and have a look at another approach to assault the scenario and rating?”
One other lesson that Kim attributes to her profession development just isn’t being afraid to assume in another way or unorthodoxly. “It’s essential in my function to be versatile and open to different methods of doing issues,” she stated. “Generally you have got one of the best plans however issues occur that change your trajectory. Our entire business is all the time altering so we have now to be versatile to alter with it in any other case we will probably be left behind.”
Reflecting on Black Historical past Month
In reflecting on Black Historical past Month Kim stated, “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 pleasure for the accomplishments of minorities. All the good issues that we have now contributed to society and seeing the progress is thrilling.”
“Reflecting as a Black American girl, it wasn’t that way back when ladies had been first allowed to vote,” she stated. “My mom was in class throughout segregation. After I despatched my daughters to high school, they’d a selection 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 high of thoughts on a regular basis.”
The ultimate query: did you remorse not turning into an architect?
“I’m nonetheless obsessed with structure,” Kim replied. “After 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 unbelievable structure. I’m nonetheless a scholar of structure. I’m additionally an final DIYer. I’ve renovated my dwelling 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.
