Meet Amber – the ultimate champion of workplace wellbeing. With a deep love of psychology, her people-first approach to HR is second to none.
She is a lifelong learner, loves a good cup of coffee, and looks forward to power walks with her dog. Read more about her HR journey below.
<img decoding="async" src="https://humanihr.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/TeamSpotlight-AmberBranny-800px-HumaniHR-210817-001.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt="Team Spotlight - Amber Branny" loading="lazy">1. Have you always wanted to be in HR? Tell us a bit about your career journey to land where you are today.
I did my undergrad degree in HR and Psychology. I thought having a business background would support a future direction, but I deeply loved psychology. I then studied Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion in a grad program and landed a great position within Human Resources at a large corporate company. It wasn’t until I was within that company that I realized all the different areas of focus within HR, and throughout my time there I grew my knowledge and understanding of all aspects of HR to support a larger audience.
2. HR specialties/areas of focus/passions?
Learning and development is a strong passion of mine; I really love to watch and observe human behaviour. I specifically enjoy coaching to help employees rethink current perspectives and how to navigate through challenges. I love helping clients build strategic training programs that will have positive impacts on the success of their team. Lastly, I’m passionate about mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. It’s so important that we as HR practitioners share and educate today’s leaders on how to effectively support mental health initiatives and balance within even the most fast-paced, high performing organizations. We must continue to normalize these issues within our teams and in workplace cultures by building educational tools around emotional intelligence and resilience.
3. Career mentor/role model? Who and why.
There isn’t just one, but a handful of coaches and mentors that have supported my growth and development over the years. My mentors have had a profound impact on my learning and career trajectory, and they continue to educate me as I chase my dreams of one day becoming a leader in my field. I think being a lifelong learner is so important.
4. Looking ahead, what does the future of the HR function look like to you? How will workplaces shift and change?
I believe we are already starting to see a shift in power where value is placed on employees early on, and that will continue to prove true. With that change, employers will need to give HR a seat at the table from the start, rather than seeing and engaging the HR function as an afterthought.
I also believe there will be a bigger push for employee flexibility so individuals can support their family, or tend to personal responsibilities outside the workplace.The workplace is continuously evolving and I believe strategic HR business partners will only continue to support progressive growth and shed light on how to ensure you are providing a great place to work.
5. The impact you hope to have on client workplaces?
I want to be a trusted strategic partner for my clients, but I also love doing work behind the scenes to raise the profile of leaders within their teams. Knowing that employees feel supported, valued and seen allows for more effective, cohesive workplaces. I get a great sense of satisfaction when people are benefiting from the work we do as they feel valued, more engaged and everyone wins!
6. Words to live by? (Could be a motto, HR mantra, favourite quote etc.)
“Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey.” - Roy T Bennett
7. Your go-to, mid-week pick-me-up?
I love a good cup of coffee and a nice power walk with my dog!
