We recently connected with Mindy Honcoop and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mindy, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Growing up in a close-knit religious Dutch Immigrant community, I faced unique challenges when my parents divorced when I was five. Despite the difficult circumstances, I saw my mother’s resiliency and the power of community support, which inspired me to strive for more. As a student, I was bullied and underestimated, but these experiences only ignited my determination to make a difference.
When I stumbled across a paragraph in my psychology book about social work, I knew this was the perfect fit for me. Combining my passions for community dynamics and helping people, I set out to become a social worker. During my college program, I took on two years of internships and discovered I enjoyed equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge they needed to progress without me. However, I realized that I could make a greater impact on community health by utilizing the social work lens in Human Resources.
This realization has shaped my career path for the past two decades as I’ve focused on human resources. I have been driven to automate processes, streamline inefficiencies, and empower people to drive positive change in their workplaces and communities. It is incredibly rewarding to witness the ripple effect of healthier workplaces on the larger community.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
With more than 20 years of experience in Human Resources and a deep passion for helping others reach their full potential, I am committed to creating positive and transformative work environments. I have held leadership roles in several organizations, from interim Head of People at Care.com to Chief People Officer at TCP Software and HR leadership roles at Spiceworks Ziff Davis and Expedia. My time at these organizations has honed my expertise in all facets of human resources, allowing me to adopt innovative approaches that catalyze change and elevate workplace dynamics. I am passionate about helping organizations identify gaps and propose targeted HR operational solutions that align with business strategies. In my free time, I am also a co-founder of the Austin Women in Agile meetup, which champions diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. I am excited about the possibilities of the future of HR, and I stay at the forefront of new technologies and shifting workplace norms to continue creating impactful workplace cultures. This is why I enjoy advising HR Technology founders in the People Tech Partners program.
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?
Reflecting on my journey, three essential qualities, skills, and areas of knowledge stand out as having an impact:
Resilience and Adaptability: The ability to adapt to change and persevere through challenges has been instrumental in my journey. From navigating personal hardships to overcoming professional obstacles, resilience has allowed me to focus on my goals despite setbacks. I advise those early in their journey to cultivate a growth mindset. Embrace risk as opportunities for growth, and view failures as learning moments. Surround yourself with a supportive network that encourages your development, and be open to learning from every experience. Don’t be afraid to raise your hand and try something out.
Curiosity and Continuous Learning: Curiosity has been a driving force in shaping my path. Continuously seeking new knowledge and perspectives has enabled me to innovate, adapt to changing landscapes, and remain relevant in a dynamic field. To those starting, I recommend fostering a hunger for learning. Engage in lifelong learning through formal education, mentorship, or independent exploration. This will expand your skill set and enrich your understanding of the world around you.
Empathy and Relationship Building: Developing strong relationships and fostering empathy have been central to my success. Connecting with individuals from diverse backgrounds has broadened my horizons and allowed me to understand their needs deeply. This skill has been pivotal in building bridges with colleagues, clients, and community members. People often mention that my superpower is connecting people with others to catalyze positive outcomes. As newcomers embark on their journey, I encourage them to prioritize empathy and relationship-building. Invest time understanding others’ perspectives, actively listening, and fostering genuine connections. These skills will enrich your interactions and enhance your ability to collaborate effectively.
To those in the early stages of their journey, I offer the following advice:
Embrace Challenges: Difficulties are opportunities in disguise.
Seek Learning Opportunities: Keep your curiosity alive.
Cultivate Empathy: Empathy is a valuable tool for building meaningful relationships and understanding the needs of others.
Stay Resilient: Persevere through setbacks. Your journey will have ups and downs, but your ability to bounce back and adapt will be a defining factor.
Define Your Purpose: Reflect on your passions and values to uncover your purpose. This clarity will guide your decisions and actions as you progress.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
My primary challenge currently revolves around effective marketing for my business, Agile in HR. While I hadn’t initially intended to start my own business, circumstances aligned to bring Agile in HR to fruition. Departing from my role as a Chief People Officer, I was provided opportunities for advisory and consulting work from former colleagues and contacts. This organic growth led me to establish the foundation for Agile in HR.
Despite the positive momentum gained through word-of-mouth referrals and engagements, articulating my precise scope of services and offerings takes a lot of work. As someone with a versatile skill set and deep expertise in various aspects of HR, I adapt to the client’s needs. This agility has merits but has also posed a challenge in presenting a focused and coherent brand image.
What ignites my passion is HR operations, particularly creating a digital and agile mindset within HR teams to drive strategic alignment with key business objectives. I like the opportunity to instill consistency, alignment, and streamlining within organizations. However, communicating this specific value proposition and the unique benefits I bring as an advisor and fractional leader is complex.
I am creating a comprehensive website to address this challenge to showcase my offerings. I hope the website shows my expertise, services, and the distinctive value Agile in HR brings to organizations.
I am also gaining additional tools and resources to serve my clients better. I am working to become certified in DiSC and Five Behaviors individual & team assessment (based on Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team). I envision incorporating this into my advising and facilitation work to drive individual and team health.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://agileinhr.my.canva.site/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyhoncoop/
