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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In this episode of Who Hired This Person?, host Kaitlyn sits down with Bandana Seehra, the Human Resources Director at Martello Group. With a strong background in HR and a passion for improving employee experience, Bandana shares her insights on hiring, team development, and creating a workplace where employees thrive. She discusses the challenges of recruitment in today's saturated market, the importance of onboarding, and the strategies that have strengthened retention at Martello Group.

🔹 Finding a Career in HR:

Bandana shares how her mother inspired her to pursue HR and how her journey led her to the property management industry, where she found the perfect intersection of her passion for people and real estate.

🔹 Balancing HR Responsibilities:

As an HR leader, Bandana wears many hats. She discusses how prioritization, realistic expectations, and seeking support are key to managing hiring, team development, and aligning HR with business goals.

🔹 Challenges in Recruitment & Staffing:

With an overwhelming number of job applicants, Bandana highlights the difficulty of filtering through resumes and the importance of finding candidates who truly align with job qualifications and company values.

🔹 The Impact of Hiring Decisions:

Bandana explains why hiring managers should wait for the right fit instead of rushing to fill positions. A wrong hire can disrupt team dynamics, while the right hire can elevate the organization.

🔹 Hiring for Culture vs. Qualifications:

Bandana prioritizes cultural fit over credentials, emphasizing that communication skills, adaptability, and teamwork are often more valuable than degrees.

🔹 Onboarding for Employee Success:

From pre-hire communication to personalized training methods, Bandana details how Martello Group ensures new employees feel supported and set up for success from day one.

🔹 Improving Employee Retention & Satisfaction:

As the first HR Manager at Martello Group, Bandana implemented initiatives such as employee surveys and open office hours to create a culture of open communication and trust, leading to stronger retention rates.

🔹 Advice for HR Leaders:

Bandana stresses the importance of mentorship and expanding professional networks to navigate the challenges of HR leadership.

🔹 Coaching Hiring Managers for Better Onboarding:

She highlights the need for HR professionals to coach hiring managers, ensuring they can effectively onboard and support new employees.

✅ Prioritizing cultural fit can lead to stronger, more cohesive teams.

✅ Effective onboarding begins before the first day and should be tailored to each hire’s learning style.

✅ Open communication and feedback loops can significantly improve employee satisfaction and retention.

✅ HR professionals should actively support and train hiring managers to enhance the hiring process.

✅ Expanding your professional network and seeking mentorship is invaluable for HR leadership growth.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Bandana Seehra on LinkedIn
• Website: https://www.martello.group/

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In this episode of Who Hired This Person?, host Kaitlyn speaks with Angela Torres, Human Resources Director at ICAN, a nonprofit focused on after-school programming for underserved communities. With her extensive background in HR, Angela shares her journey from operations to leading HR at ICAN, offering valuable insights into nonprofit HR challenges, the importance of cultural fit, and creating a supportive work environment.

Key Lessons Covered in This Episode:

🔹 From Operations to HR Leadership:

Angela talks about her transition from operations to HR, emphasizing how she discovered her passion for recruiting and employee engagement and how it shaped her HR approach today.

🔹 Nonprofit vs. Corporate HR:

Angela compares her experiences in corporate HR to her work in the nonprofit sector, explaining how nonprofit HR is mission-driven, values employees deeply, and requires wearing many hats to make a difference.

🔹 Impactful Hiring Practices:

She highlights how ICAN’s hiring process prioritizes cultural fit and mission alignment over just qualifications, showing how the right mindset is key to creating a positive and effective work environment.

🔹 Increasing Retention in Nonprofits:

Angela shares her experience increasing ICAN’s retention rate by 30% in her first year. The key strategies? Streamlining the hiring and onboarding processes and ensuring a seamless cultural introduction from day one.

🔹 HR as a Department of One:

As a department of one, Angela discusses the challenges of managing multiple HR responsibilities and the importance of seeking help, prioritizing people over policies, and taking care of one’s own mental health.

🔹 Mental Health and Workplace Culture:

Angela explains how prioritizing mental health in the workplace, through policies and programs, has helped foster a culture of self-awareness and support at ICAN.

🔹 The Importance of Self-Awareness in HR:

Reflecting on her career, Angela offers advice on embracing one’s journey, the power of self-confidence, and the value of asking for help to grow in HR leadership.

🔹 A Memorable Hiring Success:

Angela shares a heartwarming story about a college student she hired, mentored, and helped find their true passion, leading them to a successful career in HR—proving the lasting impact of mentorship in HR.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Nonprofit HR is all about mission alignment and cultural fit—skills can be taught, but passion for the mission is non-negotiable.

✅ Streamlining hiring and onboarding processes is crucial to increasing retention, especially in the nonprofit sector.

✅ As an HR leader, self-awareness and self-care are key to setting a good example and leading a healthy, sustainable work culture.

✅ Hiring for potential, mentoring, and offering growth opportunities can lead to lasting success stories and meaningful careers.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Angela Torres on LinkedIn
• Website: https://www.icanaz.org/

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