Christina Alletto is the Chief People Officer of Tzadik Management, an industry-leading Multi-Family Property management company based in Miami. Christina is also the President of JM Real Estate, Inc., a commercial management, leasing and sales company based in Brevard County. Christina heads the Human Resources, Marketing and Training Departments.
Favorite Quote: “The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do.” — Anonymous
Fun Fact: Die-hard Cleveland sports fan
How do you unwind after a long day of work? I like to sit on my patio facing the ocean and enjoy a good glass of wine. I also enjoy spending time with my kids and my bearded collie, Theo.
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them? Being a young female professional starting a career in a male-dominated field did present its challenges. I had to learn how to navigate and use my talents to pave my way. I also worked hard to find good mentors who were willing to share their knowledge. I was fortunate to find an excellent male mentor who helped me shape my future. In gratitude for the guidance I received, I have always made it a point to help others grow and find their path – it is important to pay it forward. In more recent times, COVID-19 certainly brought a new wave of challenges and an opportunity to use my experience in new ways.
What has been the most monumental moment of your career thus far? After more than 40 years, I can earnestly and unequivocally say that I still love what I do. I still wake up every day excited to come to work and eager to tackle my projects. The realization that I chose a career path which I am continuously enthusiastic about has opened my eyes to ongoing growth opportunities and has given me a renewed desire to stay the course.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? Get all the education that you can. This doesn’t necessarily mean learning at college. Find a mentor and ask questions about what they do and how they do it. I make it a goal to always be learning something and I share this advice with my team members across the board.
What qualities make for an outstanding HR professional? Put your people first. If you don’t, no matter how much money you’re making, you won’t be successful in the end. People will do so much for you and will jump in when things get hard if you put them first. It’s all about making sure your people feel cared for.
How have you adapted your HR skills to COVID? The biggest thing was learning to be adaptive, not reactive. I had to quickly adapt to find ways to keep people engaged and encourage them to give their all and come into the office when 80% of the workforce was working from home. Working in property management, the service we provide cannot be relegated to long-distance contact. Our residents count on us to be there to safeguard their homes and loved ones, and this type of service requires being physically present. It was important for our employees at all levels to be reminded of the role we play in helping others while at the same time making them feel safe, appreciated, supported. These tasks seemed to pivot by the minute, so adaptability was paramount. As a result, we successfully had 97% of our people come into the office every day, giving 100% to our stakeholders, and staying healthy in the process.
What are some misconceptions about HR and how do you combat them? That HR professionals are the bad guys – that people need to “watch out” for us instead of seeing us as a resource. Counteracting this perception must be embedded in the company culture. At Tzadik, we base our culture on core values founded on team collaboration and open communication. I strive to assure our team that I am always there to support them.
What do you like most about working in HR? I love that I get to make a difference in people’s lives. Whether it is through mentoring, helping them grow, or building our company culture, in my role, I help others. Their success, their victories become mine as well. I share their challenges and get great satisfaction from seeing them move past obstacles.
