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

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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