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| MEMBER PROFILE - SHANEEN ARGALLDirector of Human Resources at Arnold Bloch Leibler HR Minds President. HRMinds Board Member since 20181. How did you get into HR?My career began in employee relations, and I ended up working for a national employer association. While I enjoyed the work, much of it involved advising on disputes, and advocating in defence of employers dealing with complex employment issues. Having learnt what could go wrong, I was drawn to human resources where the focus was on creating positive workplaces to prevent intractable disputes arising in the first place.2. Did you start your HR career in the legal industry, or move into it from another industry?I had been working in the higher education sector, alongside smart academics and lawyers and was constantly learning from them. Much of the work I was doing was interpreting legislation and advocating in tribunals. It was a professional service environment with very high standards, so it wasn’t too difficult to transition to a law firm into an HR Manager role. That said, I remain forever grateful for the opportunity I was given by the HR Director who took a chance on me at the time. I wasn’t your typical home-grown kind of candidate.3. What stands out as a career lesson learned that you’ll never forget?One invaluable lesson that stands out in my career relates to effective decision-making. When I reached a level of autonomy that required me to make significant decisions, I struggled with balancing the fear of making wrong calls on high-stakes issues and exercising the agency given to me. Initially, I tried to second-guess what my supervisor would do if faced with the same decision to make. One day, she advised me to trust myself, explaining that we wouldn't always agree on everything and that she had my back. From that moment on, I realized that I needed to have my own sound and logical foundation for the decisions I made. I learned to critically evaluate how my decisions would stand up if challenged. Playing devil’s advocate in this way really helped me become a quick decision maker. 4. What advice would you give to an HR professional starting their career?Pay attention and be curious. Seek to understand the context of your work and take it all in. Be a sponge. I am constantly surprised by how what may have appeared an irrelevant or insignificant task undertaken in the past has equipped me for what I have needed as my career has unfolded.5. What do you see as the biggest emerging issue for HR practitioners in law firms?Agility. It’s never been more important to be open minded, to try new ways of doing things and to remain relevant.6. What speakers, thought leaders, or professional development advisors do you follow?I follow Simon Sinek, Adam Grant and Amy Edmondson. I also subscribe to the Harvard Business Review which is a great way to stay on top of contemporary ideas and emerging trends.7. How do you balance work?I would be lost without my yoga and meditation!"HR Minds has provided
me with a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. Our board of volunteer directors is an inspiring
group of people and I could not be more grateful for their enthusiasm and the time they dedicate to running program of
events." |
