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.
Meet Chris Bailey – DisruptHR Cayman (Disruptor #29)
LinkedIn – Chris Bailey, GPHR, SHRM-SCP
Twitter – @AnythingOverIce
Blog – Anything Over Ice
Who are you, and what do you do in your “day job”?
By day I’m a director at PwC within the People & Organsation practice for the Carribbean region – which simply means I healp PwC clients get the absolute best from their human captial.
By night – I’m Batman. You can find some of my interests on my blog Anything Over Ice. 🙂
How did you first hear about DisruptHR?
I was lucky. I managed to convince the illustrious and completely horse mad, Jennifer McClure to come and speak at an HR Conference in Cayman.
To be fair it was not a hard sell – Caribbean, Ritz Carlton, cash, and some fab people. She was in. Jennifer and I got to talking (possibly over wine), and she told me about DisruptHR. I immediately said I’m doing one, and I begged her for a license. Twelve months later DisruptHR Cayman happened.
Why did you decide to raise your hand and become an organizer for DisruptHR events in the Cayman Islands?
I hate the fact that HR gets the bad rap. We are the “no” people, the gate-keepers, or the policy police. I strive in all that I do to help companies perform at optimal levels to add value and improve profitabilities.
At present, with 5 generations in the workforce, there is always new knowledge, great technologies, and massive opportunities for HR professionals to add value. However, we have to stand up and be noticed, so putting ourselves out there is a must do. DisruptHR seemed like a very appropriate platform to share, inspire and have some fun, whilst creating a fabulous learning environment. Hence, for me it was a no brainer.
How many events have you organized?
Just the first of many – May 2016. We had over 150 in attendance!
What types of people attended your event?
We had a massively diverse audience, from financial services, tourism, law firms, public sector and industry. We encouraged the c-suite to take part, and they did with a number of CEO’s and COO’s present.
What are you most proud of that has come out of organizing a DisruptHR event?
Whilst we had pro speakers at the event who always speak on point and with great messages, I was blown away by our local talent. They held their own on that stage, gave some great insight, and proved that we have excellent HR professionals right here in our own town. That made me feel good that this sort of shared collective experience will continue and be supported.
What kind of feedback did you receive from those who attended your first DisruptHR Cayman event?
Sometimes the simple ones are the best. I received a number of emails full of appreciation for putting the event on with a simple “thank you”.
But one comment in particular stood out – “I loved the fact that you didn’t preach one thing. I saw and heard 12 very different talks, each had meaning, and was a genuine expression of wanting something to change. I can use it all!”
What is your favorite DisruptHR Talk, and why?
“Preserve, Collect & Amend” by Robin Schooling at DisruptHR Cleveland. Her opening is just classic, and the message is great!
Preserve, Collect & Amend | Robin Schooling | DisruptHR Talks from DisruptHR on Vimeo.
I also love the one by Dr. Graeme Close from DisruptHR Cayman – “The Single Best Diet. Are We Searching For A Unicorn?” For any HR pro involved in well-being, this is a must watch.
The Single Best Diet: Are We Searching For A Unicorn? | Dr. Graeme Close | DisruptHR Talks from DisruptHR on Vimeo.
Based off of the Talks and conversations at your event, what do you feel are the areas with the biggest opportunity for disruption?
Wellness programs. Do they really work? Also, how to be disruptive without getting fired. 🙂
What excites you or frustrates you about the future of work, your career and/or DisruptHR?
We answer a lot of the same questions, and seasoned HR folk need to not become complacent as we train the next crop of HR peeps. Just because we’ve been talking about millennials for the last 10 years, that doesn’t mean that its a done topic. Our workforce is always evolving, so we have to keep passing on knowledge learned, and revisiting past topics to simply update them.
Involve more junior HR folk in the strategy discussions. Let them see how it works. We’ve spent the last decade or more getting HR to the board table, and now we need to ensure that those who come after us keep that seat. Education is key, as is adding value that is meaningful, tangible and reliable.