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 growth within the office.
Kim is the director of human sources (HR) applications at Cloudera. She manages all the pieces 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 have been seeking to fill a strategically targeted function, which was an excellent match with my previous background as an HR enterprise accomplice (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 sphere and company, the place she wanted to be an professional throughout all purposeful 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 as a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions. “My very first duty was to supervise the COVID-19 committee at Cloudera,” she stated.
“One of the best factor about Cloudera is the those that I get to attach with day by day, there’s nothing prefer it,” she stated, describing her expertise working at Cloudera. “The folks I meet actually wish to do nice work and they’re enthusiastic about it. They’re prepared to sacrifice their time fully.”
Rising up within the Huge Straightforward was about household, tradition, and new alternatives by means of 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 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 might stroll she was concerned with the sport of basketball. Enjoying all through her faculty days, she later earned a school basketball scholarship. Initially, Kim wished to check structure however selected a faculty that finest match her athletic aspirations that didn’t have structure as a serious. Then, after taking an employment regulation 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 school years after which grew to become a referee for semi-pro, and in addition coached at numerous ranges since.
Quickly after school, she settled in Atlanta to start out her profession the place she has been ever since. Kim stated, “They are saying for those who’re in Atlanta longer than 10 years then you definitely’re technically from Atlanta. I suppose I now qualify.”
How classes discovered on the basketball court docket translate to the office
“Basketball and crew 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 in regards to the crew.”
Kim attracts on classes discovered on the court docket to the office. Relating to 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 ideal participant is one factor, however you don’t win until you have got an ideal crew.”
By way of taking a look at technique, Kim has additionally drawn related parallels. “Trying on the greater image versus the now’s one thing I discovered years in the past in sports activities,” she stated. “You would possibly lose the sport right this moment figuring out that there’s a broader or greater aim to win the championship. Equally, in HR, for instance, there are initiatives that we wish to do right this moment however should take a step again and take a look at the larger technique to verify the small print align with our objectives.”
These classes additionally carry over to profession growth as she seemed again at her personal profession path. “Not being afraid to fail,” she stated. “I discovered a number of the greatest life classes when issues didn’t go proper. Having the ability to mirror 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 quit on the sport? Or moderately, take a step again and take a look at another option to assault the scenario and rating?”
One other lesson that Kim attributes to her profession development just isn’t being afraid to suppose otherwise or unorthodoxly. “It’s necessary in my function to be versatile and open to different methods of doing issues,” she stated. “Typically you have got one of the best plans however issues occur that change your trajectory. Our complete business is all the time altering so we’ve to be versatile to alter with it in any other case we might 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 mirror on the wrestle, and on the opposite, the sensation of pleasure 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 lady, it wasn’t that way back when girls have 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 barely 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 turning 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 world, it’s so fascinating to me. I attempt to get to any metropolis that has implausible structure. I’m nonetheless a scholar of structure. I’m additionally an final DIYer. I’ve renovated my dwelling many occasions over. However on the finish of the day, my ardour is for folks, and HR is my option to contribute.”
As we shut the dialog, we wish to thank Kim for contributing a lot to Cloudera and telling her story.
