In this episode of Who Hired This Person?, host Kaitlyn sits down with Carey Petersen, the Director of Human Resources at Innovate Auto Finance. With years of experience navigating HR in a high-growth, multi-state organization, Carey brings candid insights into what it really takes to build effective teams—often by learning the hard way.

From onboarding missteps to discovering what makes a “culture fit,” Carey shares stories that highlight the trial-and-error nature of HR leadership and how she’s evolved her hiring strategies over time. This episode is packed with real talk on coaching hiring managers, recovering from bad hires, and giving second chances when it matters most.

🔹 Starting HR from Scratch:

Carey shares how she built HR at Innovate Auto Finance from the ground up—what worked, what didn’t, and what she wishes she’d known when she started.

🔹 Hiring Flops and Fixes:

Not every hire is a hit. Carey discusses lessons learned from hires that didn’t work out, and how she’s adjusted her approach to spot red flags earlier in the process.

🔹 Culture Fit vs. Skill Set:

Carey explains how she identifies strong culture fits—even if they don’t have every technical skill—and why attitude and alignment often outweigh experience.

🔹 The Art of Second Chances:

In a field that values fresh starts, Carey reflects on when giving a candidate a second chance paid off—and when it didn’t.

🔹 Coaching Hiring Managers:

From rushed decisions to unclear expectations, Carey talks about how HR can coach hiring managers into better, more thoughtful hiring practices.

🔹 Onboarding That Actually Works:

Carey shares what she’s doing to overhaul onboarding at Innovate Auto Finance and how even small tweaks can make a huge difference in early employee retention.

🔹 Multi-State Hiring Challenges:

Hiring across different states comes with its own legal and logistical headaches. Carey offers tips for staying compliant and consistent.

🔹 Supporting Employee Growth:

Carey highlights the importance of internal mobility and how HR can advocate for development pathways even in lean organizations.

• Don’t rush a hire—culture fit and clarity around expectations are critical.
• A failed hire is a learning opportunity, not just a loss.
• Coaching hiring managers pays off in fewer missteps and stronger teams.
• Onboarding needs to be intentional, not just a checklist.
• Second chances work best when they’re grounded in honest conversations and clear boundaries.

For career opportunities at Innovate Auto Finance, email:

📧 humanresources@innovateauto.com

Website: https://www.innovateauto.com

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