OLAKUNLE SALIU EMPLOYEE AND LABOR RELATIONS MANAGER
Olakunle Saliu sees himself as a problemsolver. As a child, he often used to pull apart electronics, examine what each piece did and then put them back together to create something new. That’s the mindset he brings with him to Graham Windham, a child welfare nonprofit in New York City. “What I like to do is analyze things: break it down, understand what each part is and then figure out how to put it back so that you can have either a more efficient or more effective unit,” he says. Saliu holds numerous responsibilities as Graham Windham’s employee and labor relations manager. He handles and mediates complaints and grievances, is the go-to person for discussing union matters and manages workplace investigations. He’s also involved in improving and monitoring the organization’s performance and evaluation system. “I’ve found that my role is centered around essentially being a professional solution-finder,” he says. But what Saliu has been most passionate about are some of his special projects, like creating a training program to help employees across the organization develop skills to become managers and leaders. Discussions about the initiative began in 2018, and Saliu took on the task of spearheading its implementation and curriculum. His broad perspective helped him understand how best to craft that initiative. “I’m in a unique position where I speak to managers, and I know what their concerns are,” he says. “And I speak with our front-line staff and I know what their concerns are.” – K.D. PUBLISHER'S SECTION
JERMAINE SEAN SMITH ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC WORKFORCE INITIATIVES AND EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services Jermaine Sean Smith has been with children’s services provider HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services for nearly all of his professional life, serving in both leadership and front-line care positions. That broad experience has given Smith a deep understanding of youths’ needs and helped him craft sustainable programs that empower and educate young people. In his current role as the organization’s associate vice president for strategic workforce initiatives and external partnerships, Smith is crafting a workforce development program that gives youth transitioning out of foster care exposure to different career paths. Having known many of these kids as they’ve grown up, he
says, makes them feel comfortable turning to him and other coaches for help finding employment opportunities. The most rewarding part of Smith’s work is seeing young people grow up and live happy, successful lives. He’s worked hard to develop a culture at the nonprofit where youth feel comfortable stopping in to play games and get mentored. Smith says he’s been disheartened at times when a young person he’s developed a relationship with experiences hardship. But he gets through those moments by focusing on the longterm ripple effects of his work and programs. “Whether they come to use it a day later or five years later, I understand that I’m planting seeds in young people’s lives that’s coming to fruition one day,” Smith says. “I know I’m going to pop into their mind at some point, our coaches are going to pop into their mind, our team.” – S.D.
“I’m planting seeds in young people’s lives that’s coming to fruition one day.”
OLAKUNLE SALIU; KYLE LYNCH OPTICS; JA'DE IMAGERY
Graham Windham
