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 assets, 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 assets (HR) packages at Cloudera. She manages all the pieces that occurs on a programmatic foundation in HR that has a method and a plan. “I work intently with the chief human assets officer on strategic planning in addition to HR management,” she stated. She additionally seems at every of the six HR management tracks to determine 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 position, which was a very good match with my previous background as an HR enterprise associate (HRBP),” she stated. In her earlier position, 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 a direct want for her to implement an initiative across the workforce adjustments as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. “My very first duty was to supervise the COVID-19 committee at Cloudera,” she stated.
“The perfect factor about Cloudera is the people who I get to attach with every day, there may be nothing prefer it,” she stated, describing her expertise working at Cloudera. “The folks 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 Massive Straightforward was about household, tradition, and new alternatives via the love of basketball
Kim grew up in New Orleans in a close-knit, multi-generational household, however felt just like the larger neighborhood of New Orleans was additionally household. “The fervour 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 wished to check 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 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 turned a referee for semi-pro, and in addition 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 in the event you’re in Atlanta longer than 10 years then you definitely’re technically from Atlanta. I assume 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 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 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 important participant is one factor, however you don’t win until you may have an important workforce.”
By way of taking a look at technique, Kim has additionally drawn related parallels. “Trying on the larger image versus the now’s one thing I realized years in the past in sports activities,” she stated. “You would possibly lose the sport right this moment understanding that there’s a broader or larger purpose to win the championship. Equally, in HR, for instance, there are initiatives that we need to do right this moment however should take a step again and take a look at the larger technique to ensure the small print align with our objectives.”
These classes additionally carry over to profession growth as she appeared again at her personal profession path. “Not being afraid to fail,” she stated. “I realized among 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 in the event you run a play and it doesn’t work, do you hand over on the sport? Or relatively, take a step again and take a look at another technique to assault the state of affairs and rating?”
One other lesson that Kim attributes to her profession development will not be being afraid to assume in a different way or unorthodoxly. “It’s vital in my position to be versatile and open to different methods of doing issues,” she stated. “Typically you may have the perfect plans however issues occur that change your trajectory. Our complete trade is at all times altering so we’ve to be versatile to vary 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 battle, and on the opposite, the sensation of satisfaction for the accomplishments of minorities. All the nice issues that we’ve 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 at school throughout segregation. Once I despatched my daughters to highschool, that they had 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 changing into an architect?
“I’m nonetheless enthusiastic about structure,” Kim replied. “Once I journey, I make it some extent to see the structure of the realm, 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 house many instances over. However on the finish of the day, my ardour is for folks, and HR is my technique to contribute.”
As we shut the dialog, we need to thank Kim for contributing a lot to Cloudera and telling her story.
