Obviously CHRO Karen Weeks

Karen Weeks is the founder of Shine at Work, a coaching company geared toward setting people up for career success. She is also the Chief People Officer at Obviously, the innovation influencer agency. When we spoke to Karen, she had only been at Obviously for a week, and she spilled the tea on how she landed the job and how she’s adjusting to her new role. We also discuss the changes she’d make to Obviously’s onboarding process, why she prioritizes relationships above all else (and how she builds them in a new environment), and how to gently rock the boat at your new job while “proving yourself” as a new employee. Karen believes that you cannot be interviewed without asking questions, and she outlines some of the questions that potential recruits should be asking. Then, we learn about Shine at Work, the importance of “why” in their intake process, common characteristics of successful clients, and the trends that Karen sees being adopted by many in the future of HR.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Karen landed her new job and how she’s settling into her role at Obviously.
• The changes she’d make to Obviously’s onboarding process after going through it herself.
• How she went about building relationships at her new job and what she prioritizes.
• The balance between gently rocking the boat and trying to prove yourself as a new employee.
• Who Karen listens to and engages with first when trying to understand a new company.
• How she prepared for the interview for her current role.
• Finding the problem: the questions you should be asking in your recruitment interview!
• How Karen feels when recruits don’t ask questions in their interviews.
• The ins and outs of the company she founded, Shine at Work.
• A peek into Shine at Work’s intake process and the importance of “why.”
• Perseverance and other traits of success.
• The trends and technologies Karen sees flourishing in the future of HR.

Quotes:

“Strong managers make you, as a leader, stronger.” — @career_changers [17:56]

“What’s the right time to work with us? – When you’re trying to think about what to do. The reason for that is because you’re honestly in a better place emotionally to go through that decision-making.” — @career_changers [25:57]

“I always want people to be running towards something, whether that’s an internal opportunity, staying where you are and re-engaging, or changing jobs. Doing it before you’re at the breaking point is actually the healthier time to do it.” — @career_changers [26:29]

“If you’re working with a personal trainer and you hit your weight goal or your marathon goal – you don’t usually stop working them – They help you stay in shape. That’s what we also do with folks. Your career is a journey. We can partner with you along the way as well.” — @career_changers [28:03]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Karen Weeks on LinkedIn

Karen Weeks on X

Obviously

Shine at Work

Talk Talent to Me

Hired