Sophie John
Sophie John is currently the HR Manager at Cedenco Foods. Human Resources magazine caught up with her to gain an insight into her world.
it was the perfect mix of people and business strategy.
cases, and how they are managing that change as a business.
3. What advice would you give to HR practitioners just starting their career?
6. What’s something that not many people know about you?
The advice I would give is that it’s all just about people – if you’re committed to doing the right thing by people and supporting them to succeed, that’s what really makes a great HR practitioner. 4. What has been a highlight in your career to date?
It’s definitely hard to pick only one highlight! I work alongside our local 1. What do you do in your current tertiary provider, Eastern Institute role to help your organisation of Technology, supporting the HR be successful? students. I enjoy bringing them on site and talking about the practical In my role as HR Manager for day-to-day work of an HR practitioner Cedenco Foods, I cover three and getting them involved in projects manufacturing sites across where possible. I would never have New Zealand. In a nutshell, my got into the positions I have without role involves all things people! We someone giving me a chance like have amazing managers within our that, so I feel very lucky to be in a business, so I am fortunate that a lot position to pay it forward. A great of my role is working on the ‘above sense of pride for me is also when we and beyond’ aspects of HR. A big deal with the less positive sides of HR. focus of mine at the moment is our new Wellbeing Programme, Oranga, It might seem like an odd highlight, but I pride myself in ensuring which will enable us to support our processes are carried out not only people to focus on their all-round legislatively correctly but fairly and wellbeing. It’s a big passion of ethically. I am also a firm believer mine to find out what people want in thinking about how you would from their roles, beyond just the want a member of your family to be pay cheque, and to work with the treated in those situations. Getting business to try to achieve that for feedback that the process was made them. Retention is a big focus, so if we can give people that little bit extra, more comfortable, less stressful, and more dignified for people gives me a it’s a no brainer! boost that I’ve made a difference for 2. What attracted you to pursue someone during a difficult time. a career in HR? 5. What do you most value about I actually began my study towards HRNZ membership? being a chartered accountant, Being the sole HR Manager on site, because I had always been good I find it really great to connect with with numbers. Alongside that, I other HR practitioners, to bounce always had a passion for people, ideas around and hear what’s with a big interest in psychology and working for them. A particular benefit social sciences. When I completed is discussing current events, whether the base HR papers within my that’s legislative changes or recent Bachelor in Business Studies, I knew
It took me seven years to finish my business degree! I was a young mum and was (and always will be) determined that my daughter will see how far you can go in life if you put the work in. I began studying online when she was three months old, and I chipped away one paper at a time until I was in a position to increase to full-time study. Looking back, it feels like those years flew by, so I’ve started again with my Bachelor in Psychology! 7. If you could have dinner with three people living or dead, who would they be and why?
Three is so few! I would love to sit down with Richard Branson – I admire him as an entrepreneur and enjoyed his book Screw Business As Usual. I’m sure he could teach me a thing or two about doing good in order to do well in business. I would have to throw my brother, Alec, into the mix. I admire everything he’s done in his life and, being Melbourne-based, our dinners are too few and far between! And to keep the evening from falling into too much business talk, I’d bring along Miranda Hart for a few belly laughs. I know that’s already three for dinner, but maybe David Bowie could just sing for us in the background? 8. What’s your happy place?
My happy place is in the car! I have always felt the car is sort of an ‘in-between’ space, where I’m in between work, home or anywhere else with responsibilities or pressures. For me, it’s a chance to switch off from all of that and just focus on the road.
AUTUMN 2020
HUMAN RESOURCES
13
