Meet Stacey Lewis | Founder/CEO/Chief Influencer of HR Interrupted.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stacey Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stacey, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Honestly, I am not a fan of the phrase, “Work/life Balance”. For me, that typifies, that one is more important than the other. I prefer “Life/Work Blend”. I start with the word life, because I want to inspire folks to live AND work, not WORK then live. Secondly, when the relationship between the employer and employee is one of trust, substance and open communication, there is no need for a balance, but a more harmonious blend. What do you mean by that, Stacey? Meaning what is important to an employee (e.g., family, personal time, professional development), should be equally important to the employer, and vice versa. What is important to the employer (e.g., strong deliverables, employee engagement) should be important to the employee. There lies the blend.

With that said, early in my career, I lacked balance, blend, whatever you want to call it. I didn’t have a role model around me to show me what a balanced/blended approach to work looked like. A few years ago, my oldest daughter shared with me that while she had an amazing childhood, with all of the stuff to prove it, she only remembered me always working. She said she remembers me leaving early and coming home late. Every morning, she would say, “Good morning Mami, do you have to work late tonight.” I would respond, “No.” She would reply, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Unfortunately, she was typically right. This conversation has stayed with me for a very long time. I promised myself, that whenever, I was in a position of influence and authority, I would 1) make sure I created a work environment for my team that inspired and supported a blended life/work approach and 2) take heed and give myself permission to move to the front of the line.

Today, I am an advocate of employers looking at their policies, practices and procedures to ensure they are reflective of blended life/work approach. This includes but not limited to being mindful when scheduling early morning or late evening meetings. Not sending late night or weekend texts. Encouraging open lines of communications. Conversely, employees should be mindful to disconnect when they leave the office. The work will be there when you return. Be mindful and present when you are with those who matter the most. They can feel and see when you would prefer to be somewhere else (probably) work, rather than with them.

Bottom line: The first step to Life/Work blend is having open and honest conversation with your employer regarding the desired support you need, while continuing to submit strong and effective work deliverables.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As the proud Founder/CEO/Chief Influencer, HR Interrupted., is a consultancy boutique committed to collaborating and curating business leaders and HR influencers who have true GRIT to unapologetically disrupt those old school workplace ideologies, policies and practices that quite frankly are no longer applicable for today’s thriving workforce. We help our clients reimagine the People, Business and Culture experience for their most valuable asset – their employees.

Bottom line, the days, and times of making folks feel like they should be happy to have a job, or they are just a number are long gone. Just look at the 4.6 million workers that walked away from their jobs in August of 2021 for what they describe as, the better. Additionally, Twitter recently experienced a mass exodus of employees because they were fed up. For some, better, means being unemployed rather than staying in an unhealthy situation. If that is not evidence enough that the workplace is being interrupted and disrupted, think again!

As someone who spent 30 plus years in corporate, the shift from employee to entrepreneur was critical. As a business owner, you are responsible for everything! Whether the ship sails or sink, it’s all on you. Let me be clear, being an entrepreneur is amazing! Along with owning real estate, it is a step towards building generational wealth. However, without the appropriate training or considerations, the transition from employee to owner could be catastrophic. Folks considering Entrepreneurship should consider the following training/conversations: Financial literacy, Creating and Protecting the Brand, Understanding and Managing Risk, People and Culture 101 and Life-Long Learning.

What makes me proud about the HRI brand is what we stand for. I modeled my company’s philosophy and marketing strategy after the late Steve Jobs. One of the key marketing principles of Apple is doing a few things WELL. Thus, there is the Iphone, Ipad, Ipods and Computers. Obviously, as of late, Apple has moved into the TV/Streaming space. However, to Steve it was important that they mastered some key product with state-of-the-art technology and unmatched precision. This is the model for HRI. I focus on three key areas: Developing impactful and sustainable DEI strategies, inspiring leadership and team conversations (coaching), conducting organizational reviews to identify actions to disrupt the workplace status quo and facilitating HR Interrupted Boot Camp for early and mid-career HR professionals and business leaders to learn the basics. If the prospective organization’s mission, vision and values does not align with HRI’s, I am always willing to make a recommendation to another entity. As the CEO, I must always protect the brand!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Wow, being a native to California has its privileges! I am a true conversationalist. I love to just talk and hear the thoughts, ideas and perspective of others. So when my peeps come to town, we would definitely hit Disneyland AND Knott’s Berry Farm (for THE best chicken), I absolutely love breakfast, so we will hit The District on Crenshaw for Shrimp and Grits and the Sunrise Cafe in Lakewood for an amazing Spinach, Egg and Cheese omelet. We will do Sunday brunches at Fixins in DTLA for catfish, mac and cheese and red beans and rice; and the Tavern Kitchen and Bar in Newport Beach for the yummy Christmas burrito. . We have to go to the Hollywood Bowl for dinner and a great concert. Of course we will go to LACMA, MOLA, CAAM and The Getty. We all know that when you come to Cali, you have to go to the beach, so sun and surf, here we come. Oh, let me not forget, we have to visit the Farmers market, grab a latte at Tierra Mia and knock down a few pins at Bowlero. Last but definitely least, our last night will be dinner at Los Compadres. The Caldo de Pollo is amazing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I love this! I absolutely love this! My life has been richly blessed and enhanced by so many amazing footprints. However, these trailblazers, guardians, mentors, angels on earths and reasons are the reasons why I am who I am! First, to the ONE who does ALL things well, thank you for love, favor and grace. To my hubby of 30 years, thank you for allowing me to do what I do. I do it for you! To Kennedy, Karrington and Kyle, simply – you are my reasons! To my mother, for showing me what hard work and determination looks like. To my sister, for always living out loud. To Syliva F, for hiring me for my first professional job. To Tony R, for inspiring me to be great in all that I do. To Mr. Bernard, for reminding that my family IS the priority (Rest in Power). To Mark W, for challenging me to look inward and make the adjustment. To Renee H, for showing me that smart women can run things. To Bill G, for taking a chance on me, and setting me up for continued greatness. To Margaret H, for standing by and supporting me while I soared AND sometimes sank professionally. To Mario C, for trusting me with the Port’s most valuable asset – the PEOPLE. To JD, for SEEING me. To Bishop and Mother J, for always, always praying for me and mine.

Website: www.hrinterrupted.com

Instagram: @hrinterrupted

Linkedin: HR Interrupted

Facebook: @hrtinterrupted

Image Credits
Amazing Women – Tiana Sanchez Beat the Bias – Indeed DEI – Hacking HR