SPECIAL REPORT
RISING STARS 2018 STEPHANIE SCHIFFMACHER People & culture generalist Nature’s Path
When Stephanie Schiffmacher joined Nature’s Path as an HR coordinator, she noticed a disconnect between team members and HR, which she immediately focused on rectifying. Shortly after, she was promoted to HR generalist, which put her in a position to make more significant changes and improve the trust in HR programs at Nature’s Path. After taking over talent acquisition for the head office and global sales team, Schiffmacher began reviewing past hiring successes and identifying their cultural and team fits. She used this information to develop a program that facilitates more consultation with hiring managers while looking for an even stronger culture fit. In addition, Schiffmacher made sure she was present at all interviews across North America to support managers through the challenging process of adding new long-term hires. Schiffmacher also examined the performance management program at Nature’s Path and worked to simplify the process to allow performance management to support the work of team members. A strong component of her analysis was a drive to increase education around the program’s value, use and benefits. She made changes to the program to clarify the goal-setting process and tie in additional incentives for those who consistently exceed expectations.
CAITLIN MACGREGOR Co-founder and CEO Plum
It wasn’t until Caitlin MacGregor built two businesses that she realized the need to revolutionize talent processes to prepare businesses for the future of work. In 2012, MacGregor co-founded Plum, which combines industrialorganizational psychology and artificial intelligence to offer companies the benefit of predictability and diversity through a talent recommendation engine. MacGregor is passionate about equipping business leaders with the talent data they need to get the right people in the right seats as the workforce shifts in the age of automation. In 2013, Plum was one of 10 women-led businesses selected by Springboard Enterprises NYC to become part of its mytech program. Within the past year, MacGregor has identified a shift in preference for talent based on the insights of Plum’s analysts and customers. “There’s been a rejection of making talent decisions based on skills and knowledge – i.e. where someone went to school or whether they’re proficient in a particular hard skill – and a craving for talents such as innovation, adaptability and communication,” she says. As a result, MacGregor and her team realized the need to extend the talent data Plum offers beyond the talent acquisition stage to include other stages of the employee journey, “including hiring, professional development, high-potential selection, internal mobility and more.”
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ALEXANDRA HALL People operations specialist You.i TV
Since joining You.i TV, Alexandra Hall has been involved in a number of benefit and well-being initiatives. Over the past year, Hall has assisted with the implementation of a new paid time off policy, which allows every employee to take six weeks of paid time off each year. She also helped address administrative inefficiencies resulting from different types of time off and the potential liability from vacation carryovers through effective employee communications, policy creation and change management measures. To drive home the need for well-being, Hall organized an employee wellness fair, arranging for vendors from around the community – from chiropractors and physiotherapists to nutritionists and financial advisors – to visit the office and consult with employees. She also organized workshops on reducing stress in the workplace and helped secure various employee discounts. In addition, Hall took over the health and safety committee, revamped the emergency evacuation plan, and worked to ensure that the company was in compliance with legal requirements.
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6/11/2018 6:18:06 AM