Why I Love My Job As A…Director of HR

According to Hallmark and our Google calendar, February is the month of love. But it doesn’t have to be romantic love that we’re talking about. Some people are lucky enough to fall in love with their job.

And that’s what we’re bringing you with our Why I Love My Job As A… series. Real professionals tell us what their job is, why they love it, and—most importantly—how people like you can excel in the industry like they have.

Today, we spoke to Jim Leahy, startup HR (Human Resources) veteran for companies like Seamless, Grubhub, and—currently—WayUp.

What do you do?

I’m the Director of Human Resources at WayUp.

I spend part of my day working to ensure each team at WayUp is set up for success. I work with managers to ensure team members are growing in their roles, I work with team members to ensure they’re engaged and set up for success, and I spend part of my day recruiting new talent to join WayUp to help scale this incredible business.

What do you love about your job?

I love my job because I have the opportunity to find out what makes team members tick. I can sit down with someone to learn about where they see themselves in 5 years, and develop a plan to help them make it happen.

What tips do you have for future HR leaders?

Be authentic, have empathy, and have an inner cheerleader—your success frequently depends on the people you’re serving, and that requires a great deal of trust. Find a mentor or two that you trust and can learn from.

Favorite memory on the job?

I’ve been pie’d in the face at two different companies, one for charity and one as a sales incentive. Hearing the roar of the crowd right before the pie hits you in the face, and the laughter that follows makes everything worth it.