NAAHP Blog

Tell us about yourself

I believe in living life with a purpose.  Therefore, I seize upon multiple opportunities to give back to my community, both professionally and personally.

As a seasoned Employment Attorney and HR Professional, I find solutions to workplace challenges by: providing advice and counsel on employee relations issues; conducting investigations; and ensuring that my company, AXA Equitable, continues to develop cutting edge workplace policies.  I travel often to deliver trainings on various employee relations issues.

Personally, I engage in a number of philanthropic efforts.  This has ranged from my support of the arts, to my work on various projects and committees in my community, to the foundation of a charity (www.livingmeasure.org) aimed at raising capital through fundraisers for other charities of choice.

What led you to pursue your career?

Throughout my academic career at Cornell University, I held paid positions working with Cornell’s Peer Educators in Human Relations (PEHR) program. First as an Intern, then as a Staff Member, then finally as a Co-Facilitator and Assistant Professor, I led workshops related to discrimination against protected classes, or the “-isms”, i.e. racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism, etc. These workshops were open to professors, students and members of the Ithaca community. The classes were subsequently launched as a course at Hobart William Smith Colleges. Today, the class has expanded to a minor at the college, and there are nearly 50 courses offered within the minor.

How were you able to get started?

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, I became admitted to the New York State Bar. I worked as an employment lawyer for two prominent management side Labor and Employment Law firms: Epstein, Becker & Green and Littler Mendelson. In these capacities, I handled litigation and provided advice and counsel to clients.  While at Littler Mendelson, I spent several months partnering with a Human Resources Consultant in auditing the Human Resources’ practices of a client art auction house. While further developing my enthusiasm for preventative work, this assignment also served as my entrée into high level Human Resources work.

When did you realize that you were making real progress with your career?

I transitioned from Littler Mendelson into the role as the Head of Human Resources at Riverbay Corporation, a property management company with 1100 employees. As a leader, I managed an Employee Benefits Manager, a Recruitment Manager, an Office Manager and two Administrative Assistants.  During my time at Riverbay, I also implemented a number of initiatives, including a new Employee Orientation program, a new Employee Handbook, and company wide Diversity, Supervisor and Customer Service Trainings.  Additionally, I handled day-to-day Employee Relations issues, such as investigations, advice and counsel, and consultation on performance management and terminations. During my time at Riverbay, I also earned the Senior Professional in Human Resources Certification.

What have been some of your professional highlights?

Following Riverbay, I joined AXA Equitable as its Director of Employee Relations.  During my time at AXA, I’ve received several distinctions, including appointment in 2011 to AXA Equitable’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council (DIAC) – a team comprised of 15 individuals from a variety of business areas and locations who support and advise AXA’s CEO and the CEO’s direct reports in driving business excellence through diversity and inclusion.  I served as the Chairwoman of the DIAC’s Second Annual Diversity Summit in October 2011.

In 2010, I was nominated for and accepted to AXA Equitable’s LEAD program, an opportunity for senior project sponsors to “engage top talent throughout AXA Equitable with diverse skills and points of view to solve business challenges” through a team project that results in a presentation and recommendation to the CEO and his direct reports.

In 2009, I was nominated for and accepted to AXA Equitable’s Building Future HR Leaders Program – an opportunity for top Human Resources talent to gain mentorship, executive coaching and leadership training by senior leaders at AXA Equitable.

I engage in a number of philanthropic efforts.  In recognition of these efforts, I was nominated for AXA Equitable’s Darwin Davis Award – an award created to “celebrate employees who demonstrate selfless and extraordinary contributions to the betterment of their local communities, inspiring others to follow their models.”

What have been some of the challenges you’ve had to face?

I am a highly results-oriented person.  Through my professional training and experience, I have come to realize that in a corporate environment, process is often as important as results –sometimes even moreso.   Learning to focus on process as much as results has helped contribute to my professional success.

Do you personally know other Haitians in your field?

I know many Haitian lawyers, and would love to meet some senior Haitian Employee Relations professionals!

Do you feel as though you’ve helped break barriers?

I am fortunate in that many barriers have already been broken by those who came before me.

What do you feel is next for your career?

To continue the senior Employee Relations work that I am doing, while challenging myself to learn more and continue growing and adding value to an organization.

What would be your advice to young people who want their careers and lives to have an impact?

Identify what you want to do.  Not what others say you should do or what you believe is expected of you.  You can identify what you want to do by asking a lot of questions.  Ask people who are already well into their careers what their experiences have been.  Volunteer to help them.  Shadow them.  Try to understand what the job is really about (i.e. not a televised image of what it is).  Evaluate yourself, take personality tests at your school and see if you may be a good fit for the type of work that you are interested in doing.  My point is this – if you like what you do and are good at it, you will have impact because you will do the work with passion, which means you will do more than what is required of you.  All work, if done with ambition and passion, has the potential to have positive impact on others.

What do you think can be done for Haiti to develop financial assistance without having to be reliant upon others in times of crisis?

I believe that the development of a sustainable economy is key.

Do you believe a campaign highlighting the positives of Haiti would be worth exploring to take away the stigma of it being impoverished?

Absolutely.  Haiti has a rich and storied history, and maintains the potential for tourism.  Tourism is not only important from an economic standpoint, but it also reduces the potential for Haiti to become culturally isolated.  I believe that cultural exchange is essential to change and progress.  A positive campaign can be aided by, or result in, tourism.

Would you recommend NAHP to Haitian students and professionals? Why?

Yes.  It is important that Haitian professionals network and share their experiences and opportunities.  NAHP provides a valuable opportunity to do this.