In this episode of Who Hired This Person?, host Kaitlyn sits down with Lakythia Ferby, Human Resources Director at Queens Community House. Lakythia shares her experience leading HR for an organization with over 40 locations, serving everyone from infants to older adults across Queens. With a passion for staff development and a data-driven approach, she opens up about hiring challenges, defining culture fit, and coaching both employees and managers for success.

🔹 Falling Into HR with Purpose:

Lakythia’s entry into HR was accidental—but it quickly became intentional. She explains how being the go-to person for onboarding and discipline sparked a passion for staff development and coaching.

🔹 Starting Strong as a New HR Director:

From day one, Lakythia focused on listening, learning, and visiting all program sites to understand the needs of both managers and staff. Her first 90 days were all about building trust and identifying areas for improvement.

🔹 Hiring Beyond the Résumé:

She shares a recent example where the most “qualified” candidate on paper didn’t land the role—reminding us how critical personality and team fit can be, even late in the interview process.

🔹 Defining a True Culture Fit:

At Queens Community House, a great hire is someone who’s solutions-focused, passionate about giving back, and sees clients as people with agency—not as problems to fix. Lakythia explains how those values guide their hiring.

🔹 Getting Clarity on Uncertain Candidates:

When unsure about a candidate, Lakythia leans into communication—aligning with hiring managers to determine what’s truly a “must-have” vs. a “nice-to-have,” and avoiding unnecessary disqualifies.

🔹 Coaching New Managers Through Hiring:

Her advice to first-time hiring managers? Focus on values and coach ability. Not everything can be taught—but many skills can, as long as the person aligns with your culture and mission.

🔹 Why Coaching Matters in HR:

Lakythia loves supporting employees and leaders alike. From training supervisors to digging into exit interview data, she sees HR as a way to empower people and help teams thrive.

🔹 Advice She Wishes She Got Sooner:

“Don’t just keep doing—pause and reflect.” Lakythia shares her practice of scheduling “not-doing time” to reset and stay focused, especially during high-pressure moments.

✅ Fit matters just as much—if not more—than qualifications on paper.

✅ Great HR starts with listening and asking the right questions.

✅ Reflective time is essential to avoid burnout and improve decision-making.

✅ Culture fit includes values like empathy, empowerment, and community.

✅ Hiring managers need coaching too—especially when making their first hire.

Links & Resources:

🔗 Connect with Lakythia Ferby on LinkedIn