Meet Leigh Henderson

We recently connected with Leigh Henderson and have shared our conversation below.

Leigh, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
I learned very early on that I would most likely be the only person in the room that looked like me because I was a 5’11 female in junior school – hard not to stand out! I owe the awkwardness of my childhood a great deal now that I’m an adult because I learned how to be comfortable being different very early. As I moved through college and into the workforce, rarely did I notice that I was the only female in a room (incessantly) or the only Hispanic in the department. I became numb to the reality that I was always standing out because I literally always stood out! At this point, I only notice when someone tries to put me down by calling out one of my differences and then it hits me like a ton of bricks – “Oh, that’s right…I’m unique in this space.”

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
With nearly 20 years in Corporate America supporting 5 different Fortune 100 companies as an Human Resources (HR) executive, I’ve experienced firsthand the effects of a toxic workplace. That’s why I started HRManifesto. Focused on tragic work realities and inspired storytelling, the goal of HRManifesto is to unify followers around the shared human experience of work – its joy and heartaches – and provide approachable coaching on the socials to how to successfully survive the workplace and maximize professional success. I help people leave their toxic job for a job they’ll love.

Late last year, I joined up with my creator friends Ashley Herd (@ManagerMethod) and Jamie Jackson (@humorous_resources) to co-host a podcast called “HR Besties”. HR Besties is all about unveiling the hidden truths of HR, dispelling misconceptions and myths of the field, in order to help all workers maximize their career success! Join our weekly staff meeting for your dose of workplace revelations, wrapped up in laughter and insight, and an amazing community that’s all about making work better – together. Listen wherever you get your podcast and visit our website at www.hrbesties.com for sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes fun.

I’m also excited to share that I’ll releasing my first book in late Spring of this year and plan to kick off my own personal podcast this summer!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Authentic. What you see is what you get with me and everyone always knows where they stand – I won’t make you guess! I love being my authentic self wherever I go, even though it comes with some adversity and consequences. It took me awhile into my career to be comfortable standing out because frankly that’s frowned upon in most organizations or at a minimum others will be threatened and react. But I finally realized that all the things others were putting me down about were actually my gifts. What’s unique about you makes you special and those things are your differentiators! No wonder why people will try to get you to mute yourself so that they don’t feel so “less than” in your presence. My thinking is, if a person doesn’t value me for who I am, then they don’t deserve me.

Transparent. Although I’m absolutely an oversharer and that can get me in trouble at times, I don’t mind because my open nature helps me build real and lasting relationships built on trust and respect. This superpower is how I’m able to easily influence, support, and coach others. They let me in and I always feel so privileged when others allow me to help them. The other aspect of this is that I’m very blunt about what I do and don’t know. I always say – I may not know how to do something, but I’ll be relentless in finding out who does! And I do. I have never believed it’s my job to know everything, nor do I want to. I want to focus on doing the things I’m great at and enjoy and then seeking out other experts to go on the journey with me. Collaborating by focusing on strengths is the fun part!

Curiosity. I have an innate passion for understanding others and love solving puzzles. So these two interests really come in handy in my field of HR! But being naturally curious has absolutely contributed to me success because it’s rare that I make assumptions. Instead, I focus on developing relationships, figuring our behaviors, and asking tons of questions. Seeking context and additional information helps me make better decisions not only for myself, but for my clients, leaders, and workforce. It’s rare any work product has a quick turnaround. Take your time to learn about others and strive to keep yourself continually informed.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always open to collaborating with respected brands and companies that I believe can offer and contribute something helpful to my followers.

Along with content creation on the socials, I also love to do conference keynotes and private company speaking events. Please reach out if you’d like to hear me speak live!

Did you know that HR Besties Podcast is taking their weekly staff meeting on the road? That’s right – please connect with the podcast ([email protected]) if you’d like us to perform live podcasting at your event, company, or conference.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Mayfields Photography – Elijah Mayfield (www.mayfieldsphotography.com) Lola Scott Art – Lola Scott (www.lolascottart.com)

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
Is the public version of you the real you?

We all think we’re being real—whether in public or in private—but the deeper challenge is

Highlighter Series
Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?

We asked some of the most interesting entrepreneurs and creatives to open up about recent

Highlighter Series
Life, Lessons, & Legacies

Through the work we do we are incredibly fortunate to find and learn about so