Possessed of a passion for all things HR, Serena (Aroon) Morphy, CHRP was presented with the 2015 Rising Star Award at the 2015 HRMA Conference + Tradeshow in Vancouver last April. While having honed her HR skill set at Aerotek Engineering, ProActive Personnel and Concord Security Corporation, it was not until Morphy stepped  aboard with SNC-Lavalin that she was able to apply the breadth of her experience.

Tapping into the company’s “We Care” value statements, her efforts helped staunch significant morale and attrition issues—and we later used as the platform to launch a formalized model in Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Brazil. Having since moved her expertise to Interfor to explore a new industry, Morphy is also a member of HRMA’s Coastal Vancouver Advisory Council and a strong contributor to Dress for Success, where she donates her time and HR expertise to coaching clients through their job search.

Who or what is your original and/or ongoing HR inspiration?
I find myself constantly inspired on a daily basis by the HR community. It’s really hard to single out just one person as I have been very fortunate to have been directly supervised by some amazing leaders that I have been able to call both mentors and friends—individuals that I still talk to on a weekly basis despite that we no longer work together. All have invested a lot of time in helping me to become who I am today.

They continue to be my soundboard, give guidance and constantly push me to grow and drive my own results. Most have also had 20+ years of experience which has helped me to learn from their lessons, and I look up to them and what they have accomplished in their careers—their tact, relentlessness in driving results and their ability to offer creative solutions. All of them have invested a lot of time in helping me to become who I am today.  They all have the common ability to get the best out of people in a manner that comes across  so effortlessly that it is truly inspiring. They don’t need to be seen as a leader or come from a place of authority, and they have all given me the utmost trust.

I am also inspired by those that I volunteer with, members of the HRMA and Dress for Success. Some are right out of school and some are seasoned professionals, but the common theme is that they all live incredibly busy lives and still devote the time to give back. It inspires me to do the same regardless of what else I have on my plate. They have taught me that you can never be too busy to impact others in a meaningful way.

How do you perceive the leadership role of HR?
This question could have a different answer depending on how you look at it. There are people that are in leadership roles that lead other HR professionals, but my interest is on the side of HR that leads the business. It is the most buzz-worthy topic in HR these days, and everyone is fighting for a seat at the table.

I believe HR is building more credibility with the business in recent years and we are slowly moving away from being perceived as  transactional. Strong HR leaders add value to the business and are engaged in the overall strategy of the business before developing a strategy for HR.

What does it take for HR to become a better business partner?
Stop forcing HR. Take a step back and think how our contributions or ideas are going to positively impact the business, rather than how it is going to impact HR.  Is it going to reduce time and cost? Is it going to increase quality?

You only have the ability to determine the answer to those questions if you listen, listen, and listen some more. The more you listen, the more you will understand. The more you understand, the more credibility you will have. Credibility will eventually lead to your ability to influence.

What milestone or challenge has defined the past year for you in HR, and similarly, what lies ahead?
This year has been a whirlwind.  After receiving the Rising Star award, I started a new position with Interfor which has granted me the opportunity to learn a new industry and geographic region which brings lots of challenge and reward. In addition, I was invited to participate in the planning committee for the 2016 HRMA Conference. It was a great opportunity to work with some senior professionals in selecting some speakers that can provide some valuable insight to all of us.

If you were not a Rising Star in the world of HR, what would you be doing?
In addition to HR, I also teach ballet, which has always been a passion of mine from an early age. I’ve also got a background in event planning from weddings to corporate events which I also really enjoyed. Both have somehow brought me to the path of HR and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

(PeopleTalk Winter 2015)