In this episode of Who Hired This Person?, host Kaitlyn sits down with HR expert Toyia Jewett, whose career spans workforce development, human resources, and over a decade of teaching high school Spanish before making her return to HR. With her unique background, Toyia offers fresh insights into the power of onboarding and why first impressions make or break employee retention.

🔹 From the Classroom to Corporate HR:

Toyia shares her journey from workforce development to education and back to HR, explaining how her teaching experience shaped her approach to employee training and onboarding.

🔹 The Onboarding Pitfall Most Companies Overlook:

Many businesses treat onboarding as a one-day event instead of an ongoing process. Toyia explains why a structured, long-term onboarding plan leads to higher retention and engagement.

🔹 How Bad Onboarding Leads to Early Resignations:

Toyia recounts a real-life example of two new hires who had vastly different experiences—one thriving and one quitting within weeks—shedding light on the consequences of inconsistent onboarding.

🔹 Bridging the Gap Between Orientation and Integration:

What’s the difference between orientation and true onboarding? Toyia breaks down how companies can move beyond paperwork and PowerPoints to create a culture of belonging from day one.

🔹 The Role of Leadership in New Hire Success:

Onboarding isn’t just an HR function—it requires buy-in from managers and company leaders. Toyia shares actionable steps leadership can take to ensure employees feel welcomed and supported.

🔹 Why Unconscious Bias Impacts Onboarding More Than You Think:

Toyia discusses how biases can affect how new employees are trained, included, or overlooked—and what organizations can do to ensure fair and inclusive onboarding experiences.

🔹 Small Changes That Make a Big Impact:

From personalized welcome messages to structured 30-60-90 day plans, Toyia shares simple yet effective strategies to improve onboarding without overhauling entire systems.

✅ Onboarding should be a long-term investment, not just a one-day event.

✅ Leadership plays a critical role in making new hires feel valued and integrated.

✅ Consistency in onboarding reduces turnover and increases employee success.

✅ Bias—whether conscious or not—can shape onboarding experiences and impact retention.

✅ Small changes, like mentorship programs and structured training, can transform how new employees adjust to their roles.

Links & Resources:

• Toyia Jewett on LinkedIn

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