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 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) applications at Cloudera. She manages every thing 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 have been seeking to fill a strategically targeted position, which was 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 sphere and company, the place she wanted to be an skilled throughout all practical areas, creating a mindset for the bigger firm technique.
As quickly as she began at Cloudera there was a right away want for her to implement an initiative across the workforce adjustments resulting from 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 individuals 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 Massive 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 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 might stroll she was concerned with the sport of basketball. Taking part in all through her faculty days, she later earned a university basketball scholarship. Initially, Kim needed to check structure however selected a college that finest match her athletic aspirations that didn’t have structure as a significant. Then, after taking an employment regulation class she knew HR could be her main, and she or he 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 start out her profession the place she has been ever since. Kim stated, “They are saying in case you’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 courtroom translate to the office
“Basketball and staff 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 in regards to the staff.”
Kim attracts on classes discovered on the courtroom 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 important participant is one factor, however you don’t win except you have got an important staff.”
By way of taking a look at technique, Kim has additionally drawn related parallels. “Wanting on the larger image versus the now’s one thing I discovered years in the past in sports activities,” she stated. “You may lose the sport immediately realizing that there’s a broader or larger objective to win the championship. Equally, in HR, for instance, there are initiatives that we wish to do immediately however should take a step again and take a look at the larger technique to verify the small print align with our targets.”
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 few 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 in case you run a play and it doesn’t work, do you surrender on the sport? Or relatively, take a step again and take a look at an alternate option to assault the scenario and rating?”
One other lesson that Kim attributes to her profession development is just not being afraid to suppose in another way or unorthodoxly. “It’s vital in my position to be versatile and open to different methods of doing issues,” she stated. “Typically you have got the very best plans however issues occur that change your trajectory. Our complete trade is all the time altering so we’ve 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 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 girl, it wasn’t that way back when ladies have been first allowed to vote,” she stated. “My mom was at school throughout segregation. After I despatched my daughters to highschool, that they had a selection that my mom, who is simply 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. “After I journey, I make it a degree 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 pupil of structure. I’m additionally an final DIYer. I’ve renovated my residence many occasions over. However on the finish of the day, my ardour is for individuals, 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.
