Carina Cortez on Transforming Your HR Career: From Entry-Level to Strategic Leadership

Carina Cortez, Chief People Officer at Cornerstone On Demand, shares her HR career journey from an entry-level role at Visa to leading strategic initiatives at PayPal. Mentorship, continuous learning, and passion drive her success. Cortez emphasizes the importance of HR business partners focusing on strategic initiatives and creating positive employee experiences. In this episode: We look at the HR landscape, focusing on Carina Cortez, Chief People Officer, HR business partners, strategic management, employee experience, and internal mobility. Tune in for insights that can shape your career and transform your approach to HR. Key Takeaways: Mentorship thrives when it’s organic, with mentors who challenge and encourage growth. Practical experience and continuous learning are crucial for HR professionals, especially in compliance and strategic management. HR has evolved from personnel departments to strategic roles focused on managing knowledge workers. Discovering your passion within HR is vital; exploring various roles can help identify your strengths. HR business partners must prioritize strategic initiatives over routine tasks to drive organizational success. Internal mobility and taking calculated risks are key to professional and personal growth. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:57 The Value of Mentorship and Continuous Learning in HR 05:54 The Shift from Personnel Departments to Strategic HR 09:00 Exploring Different Areas within HR to Find Your Passion 17:26 Carina's Entry-Level Role at Visa 20:20 The Role of HR Business Partners 23:33 HR's Focus on Providing Value 25:21 Increasing Engagement through Internal Mobility 30:55 The Importance of Taking Risks in Your Career Connect with Carina on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carinacortez/ Learn more about Cornerstone here: https://www.cornerstoneondemand.com/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices