Michelle McBride CMHRNZ

What led you to a career in HR/ the position that you are in currently?

I started my HR life in a large teaching hospital in Adelaide, South Australia. I originally worked as an HR Administrator before deciding I really wanted to become qualified and involved in Union Negotiations and Employment Relations (and ultimately work as an HR Manager). I subsequently took up part time study to move into an HR Consultant role and progressed my career from there. It certainly was a steep learning curve, but one I grabbed with both hands! I enjoyed getting underneath all the rigor that was part of negotiating employment terms and conditions and I liked the formality of attending Industrial Commission chambers. This early HR period in my life provided me a great foundation for resilience, reading people and understanding how to see the bigger picture to get the right outcome. I also got exposed to working with a wide and diverse range of individuals, from clinicians to support teams. I became adept at building relationships quickly and started to appreciate the different skills required that make up an organisation.

What do you love about working in HR?

There are so many things I love about HR. The big picture piece of growing talent and capability is where I get the most satisfaction. It’s great to see someone join a company where I have influence and support them to be more than they thought they imagined they could be! I can’t think of another profession where I can get alongside someone and be part of helping them achieve their goals, regardless of their profession. I also hugely enjoy the culture and values side of my role. I relish being part of an executive team and providing my ideas and guidance on what might be the next best step to maintain a positive culture and one that everyone wants to be part of.

Knowing that the frameworks and processes my team puts in place contributes hugely to the performance and success of a business is very satisfying, particularly in a client service function. Above all, if I can leave work at the end of the week knowing I have made a positive impact on someone, that makes me feel happy.

 Are there any specific highlights of your career that you wish to share?

I think we’ve all had many highlights and some lowlights (those things we would do differently). I have been fortunate to have many highlights that make me feel proud of the work I do. However, the aspect of my career which gives me the most pride is values and culture work. I still hold close to me the values I implemented in one organisation more than 10 years ago.  The values have stood the test of time and are testament to the organisation’s ongoing commitment to both their clients and employees. More recently I enjoyed the transformation and change work I was asked to complete. I was instrumental in making people changes and the way teams were set up. This period of my career enabled me to think about all aspects of change and work with individuals and teams to support the future of work.

 What are your thoughts on Chartered Membership? How do you feel about being a Chartered Member?

Being a Chartered Member is an acknowledgement of my commitment and dedication as an HR professional. It is encouraging that HRNZ stands behind individuals to recognise individual track records and supports HR professionals to keep developing.

What motivated you to work towards becoming a Chartered Member?

I decided a few years ago that I could access and reach out to like-minded individuals within the HRNZ fraternity to share ideas (and gain answers as I needed them). I was subsequently pleased to learn that becoming a chartered member would not only provide access to a great network, but also provide recognition for the dedication to our profession.

What are your next steps in terms of your career now that you are a Chartered Member?

I’ve been a Chartered Member since 2017 and through that time, I have had the opportunity to participate in working groups to help grow the HRNZ network. It is exciting to continue to be part of the future of HRNZ and contribute, connect and work alongside other similar people.