Liem is a native Floridian with a passion for my family and sports (Go Gators!) She started her HR career in Talent Acquisition, before moving into a Generalist role where she found my true passion: combining her love of Talent Acquisition with Talent Development & Management as an HR Director.
Favorite Quote: “Be the fire they can’t put out.” — Kelly Merbler
Fun Fact: I am obsessed with the color pink.
How do you unwind after a long day of work? I always enjoy experiencing new local restaurants, whether it’s dining in or takeout, and spending quality time with my husband.
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them? Right after college, I missed out on an HR Generalist opportunity due to the tragic events of 9/11. I turned my focus to an opportunity in Workers Compensation to break into the HR world and pursue my passion. From there, I was able to move into Talent Acquisition as a recruiter. A few years later, I was given an opportunity to work in a hybrid role as Talent Acquisition and HR Manager. I surrounded myself with talented HR Directors that mentored me and grew my skillset in Human Resources, which afforded me the opportunity to land my current role at ChenMed as Regional HR Director.
What has been the most monumental moment of your career thus far? Being promoted to the Regional HR Director, at ChenMed, has afforded me the opportunity to expand my scope of responsibility, grow and lead a team of talented Sr. Human Resources Business Partners across multiple states all while being a key influencer in talent acquisition, talent management and talent development.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? When building a team, hire people stronger than you and surround yourself with the best and brightest talent. As a leader, always look for ways to help grow your team members so they get promoted.
What qualities make for an outstanding HR professional? Compassionate, innovative, adaptable, influencer, and partner.
How have you adapted your HR skills to COVID? COVID has reinforced the need to be compassionate towards employees who are dealing with difficult circumstances involving this pandemic. I’ve also become more strategic when advising the business in dealing with less-than-optimal staffing levels and navigating through operational challenges in a virtual work environment.
What are some misconceptions about HR and how do you combat them? I have to remind people that we are not the “police” or “principal’s office.” I learn and understand the business so that I can collaborate with my stakeholders and employees, so that they see me and the team as true business partners that can help them develop solutions that are fair to all.
What do you like most about working in HR? I love creating personal and professional relationships and knowing that I can make an impact on their career. I also enjoy being strategic so I can help our business partners engage in innovative and creative ways to achieve our goals and be successful.
