Meet The Disruptors: Kim Hughes of DisruptHR Philadelphia

 

Who are the people that are taking the lead in disrupting the future of work?

They’re the official Disruptors (Organizers) of DisruptHR events held in cities around the world.

Each week, we’ll introduce you to one of these intelligent, inspiring, and beautiful people (okay, pick two) who have stepped up, and volunteered to organize a Disrupt HR event in their city.

Kim Hughes – DisruptHR Philadelphia (Disruptor #60)

Website – www.ert.com (BTW, we’re hiring!) 🙂

LinkedIn – Kim Hughes

Twitter – @kimhughes1279

Who are you, and what do you do in your “day job”?

Kim Hughes, Manager Talent Acquisition at ERT.

How did you first hear about DisruptHR?

A friend of mine was a huge fan and was following the movement closely. I was looking to get more involved in disruptive HR activities, and taking the profession to the next level, so I was hooked on the concept from the start.

Why did you decide to raise your hand and become an organizer for DisruptHR events in Philadelphia?

That same friend and I were meeting with other like-minded individuals who had a real appetite for an HR group outside of the panel and symposium format. We decided the time was now – and Philadelphia needed this – so then DisruptHR Philly was born!

How many events have you organized?

Our first was in May 2016, second in November 2016, and our next will be on May 11, 2017.

We sold out the first two at 250 people plus, and we’re hoping for the same attendance for our third!

What types of people/industries attended your event?

We have a little bit of everyone, which is what makes this forum so great!

We’ve had HR cat ladies, CEO’s, folks in transition, start-up types, and everyone in between.

What are you most proud of that has come out of being involved with/organizing DisruptHR events?

I’ve met some amazing individuals who have truly inspired me to do my best work. But more importantly, I think we have created an opportunity for folks to make meaningful and impactful connections that have changed the way HR is viewed.

What kind of feedback have you received from those who attended prior DisruptHR Philadelphia events?

We’ve gotten some really great feedback overall. At our first event, someone said to me they came with no intention of enjoying another HR mingling event, but the topics and energy in the room left her changed. I may have cried…

What is your favorite DisruptHR Talk, and why?

Hands down, one of my favorites was from our second event. Bruce Marable (Co-Founder & CEO Employee Cycle) gave an awesome talk on engagement and marketing within HR – “Why Marketing Should Be HR’s Big Brother”. Great delivery and a powerful message!

Why Marketing Should Be HR’s Big Brother | Bruce Marable | DisruptHR Talks from DisruptHR on Vimeo.

Based off of the Talks and conversations at your events, what do you feel are the areas with the biggest opportunity for disruption?

I think the biggest opportunity is to really disrupt HR departments in larger companies. I think start-ups and smaller organizations are often more open to exploring potential and taking risks, where larger, more established/profitable ones have more of an “if its not broke, don’t fix it” mentality. They need us the most!

What excites you or frustrates you about the future of work, your career and/or DisruptHR?

I think it’s both a frustration and an excitement – every disruptor I meet moves me to action and changes the way I am doing things in my day-to-day, and gets me thinking about what a different future could look like. It can be absolutely exhausting!

However, this was really missing for me pre-DisruptHR, and I’m so grateful to have a different lens of perspective now.

Follow What’s Happening With DisruptHR PHiladelphia:

DisruptHR Philadelphia Community Page

DisruptHR Philadelphia Twitter Profile (@DisruptHR_PHL)

DisruptHR Philadelphia Facebook Page

#DisruptHRPHL Twitter mentions

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