10 Questions with Kia Painter, 2024 C2HR President
After serving on the C2HR Board of Directors since 2021, Kia Painter, EVP & Chief People Officer at Cox Communications, took the helm as our 2024 President. She brings with her a passion for human resources and 25 years of experience. We asked Kia to share a defining moment in her career journey, her well-being playbook, ways she stays on top of industry trends and the most valuable advice she ever received.
If you could solve for one HR challenge in the year ahead, what would it be?
“Keeping ahead of all the change and potential disruptions companies and their employees face. The impact of technology on its own is enough to keep HR teams on the grind, then you layer on economic and societal pressures that HR teams must help leaders and employees navigate---buckle up. HR teams that can “see around corners”, react, and adapt will enable their businesses to excel and thrive through their talent practices.”
You started your career at Cox as an HR assistant and are now EVP & Chief People Officer. What attributes or qualities helped you to successfully climb the HR career ladder?
“I believe attributes such as open mindedness, fairness, and execution-focused are traits that helped me earlier in my career as an HR professional. Over time, I have shifted to being more outcome-focused (less activity; more getting right things done). Being compassionate, empathetic, and courageous are personal attributes that I have been flexing as I have ascended to higher levels of leadership.”
What words of advice would you share with someone early in their HR career?
“Try different areas of HR. HR is a multifaceted function with several disciplines. Take on leadership roles even if it means starting with your community projects. Build a track record of getting things done with others. Do not worry about visibility so much as being strategic about signing up for the projects (especially the tough, not so glamorous ones) that showcase your skills and how you deliver.”
Is there a moment or period of time that particularly stands out over the course of your 25-year HR journey?
“My stint leading compensation. I was not confident when I went into the role which helped me focus on hiring the best people and being comfortable that they would know more than me. My credibility would come through effective team and people leadership. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and set me on a trajectory to ascend into a Chief People Officer role.”
How do you create healthy boundaries between your work and homelife? What habits help you manage stress?
“Since summer of last year, I have made a habit of journaling to clear my head before I head to bed at night. When I have had several weeks of high stakes activity, I schedule time to go on a mini-trip to reflect and recharge. The key is knowing when to call time for yourself. I am still working on learning how to be better at this.”
Do you have a personal motto or a famous quote that resonates with you?
“I am all about continuous growth. ‘You Learn by Living’ by Eleanor Roosevelt is one of my favorite books; I just reread it to kick off 2024. And my personal motto can be summed up in one of her famous quotes: “People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously.”
What is the best advice you ever received and who gave it?
“Sometimes preparation presents as luck…so stay prepared and be ready. It’s something one of my former bosses said to me.”
How do you stay abreast of trends and developments in human resources?
“The C2HR site and community have a great deal of content including the HR Learning Series which are webinars featuring our partners and members. Additionally, I leverage many content aggregator sites such as HR Brew, Morning Brew, and Axios to get real time information on emerging trends or “hot topics”. I also Read, Read, Read (or Listen for my Audible lovers).”
How has your involvement in C2HR made you a better leader?
“My involvement has helped me maintain a very broad perspective about different trends, challenges, and opportunities happening in our industry, especially in the talent space. I am able to share insights and perspectives with my team and business leaders.”
Name one HR focus/goal/trend that will take priority in the coming year. What market forces will drive its importance?
“HR teams must help leaders acquire and retain the talent needed to sustain core businesses while also venturing into new markets/ventures. This involves greater workforce planning, understanding where to tap into talent pools and skill sets as well as upskilling current employees to prepare them for the advances in job design (A.I and automation) and in ways of working.”
