Melissa Albrecht is the director of human resources for Wabash, a leader of connected solutions for the transportation, logistics, and distribution industries. As part of her development plan, the VP of HR & Safety suggested that she consider attending The HR-Executive Suite Connection, which he had attended the year before. After looking into the program curriculum, she decided that it was the perfect way to take her career to the next level.
What were your objectives going into the program? Were they met?
As an HR professional, I've had the opportunity to take part in a lot of learning experiences. But for my own personal development, my manager wanted me to focus on how to connect the strategic side of the business with HR. I went into the program with three goals: being open to learning new tools, understanding how to connect HR with strategy, and networking. The program exceeded my expectations.
What surprised you about the program?
I would say that the group connection was definitely a surprise. I saw the program agenda beforehand, so I knew the overall expectations as far as the group work. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to form connections with people over such a short period of time. The networking was amazing! There were eight of us in my group, and I appreciated that seven countries were represented. Just like the diversity of our group, the diversity of thought and background added a lot of value to the learning experience.
How did this program change or influence your approach to leadership?
I was impressed with the caliber of the professors. I particularly appreciated all the practical tips and tools that I brought back to my company. I have used them with my manager to identify some of the gaps and challenges that we are experiencing as a business, not just as HR, and to show the role that we can play in asking vital questions.
Learning new ways to approach strategy was helpful. I also try to talk to my team on a regular basis about the topics we discussed in the course, including the Trust Triangle and different styles of communication. I've used several of those practical tools to help visually describe what I’m talking about, which has been effective in leading my team.
What advice would you give to someone considering taking the program?
Invest the time. Plan to disconnect from your work and personal life as much as you can. You won’t get the most out of the program if you’re not investing the time and truly present. So really dive into the experience while you're here. And when you return to your job, be very intentional about how you apply what you learn. Keep it fresh and top of mind, so you don't lose it.