How to Start Leading from the Front with Craig Thomas

Our guest today is Craig Thomas! Craig grew up in Jamaica and is now an HR Specialist in Nova Scotia, Canada. An amazing connector of people with a very diverse educational background and professional career, Craig’s true industry expertise lies in change management, Training and Development, DEI, and employee retention strategies. Prior to working in HR, Craig spent 19 years in the Banking and Finance industry specializing in risk management, Credit adjudication, and Banking Operations. He is also a certified trainer and educator, teaching at the University level for over 15 years. And to round out his impressive and one-of-a-kind experience, Craig served a program manager for a key International Donor Agency, USAID, where he provided guidance to regional, national, and community-based organizations in Jamaica and the Bahamas on matters related to Grant Funding policy, operations, and capacity building initiatives.

Talking Points: 

• How Craig found many role models growing up in Jamaica
• Craig's history from finance to HR
• What does it feel like to be in-between leadership and employees?
• Overcoming stigmas of a finance background working in HR
• Tips to lead from the front
• What is the role of culture in HR?
• Company values versus individual values
• Equality vs. Equity
• Craig's work in the education sphere
• The importance of financial literacy for HR and employees
• What disciplines should all HR practitioners be well-versed in?
• Craig's experience with LeggUP
• How to be strategic with networking
• Be alive while living! 

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Resources/Links: 

• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdthomas/
• Connect with our host, Tom, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomfinnleggup/
• Follow Talent Empowerment on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talent-empowerment-podcast/
• Visit our sponsor, LeggUP: https://www.leggup.com/

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Thank you for joining the Talent Empowerment podcast and we hope this conversation lifted you up so you can lift up your teams and organizations. Let’s get back to people and culture together. We’ll see you on the next episode!