M. Tamra Chandler
Founder, CEO
PeopleFirm
Excellence in Leadership
As Founding Partner and CEO of PeopleFirm, Tamra Chandler brings 24 years of experience guiding clients through strategic programs. Since launching in 2008, PeopleFirm has built a reputation as a go-to partner for defining people strategies, advancing talent management programs, enhancing organizational performance, and driving adoption for strategic change programs.
But in the last 12 months, Chandler says PeopleFirm really hit its stride. "This maturity can be seen in the way we work together, the solutions we have developed, our geographic expansion, the clients we serve, and the national recognition we have received for our work and our culture," she says.
"Given that we launched PeopleFirm in the heart of the worst economy most of us have ever seen, I am incredibly proud of what we have built in the last six years. For me, our greatest accomplishment has been assembling a great team of dedicated people geeks who work hard but still manage to have a lot of fun."
Speaking of fun, Chandler says she absolutely loves the work she's doing to redefine the ideas and practices related to leading teams, building high performing organizations, defining people strategy, rethinking talent management, and managing change saturation.
"I can often be heard noting that our field is over-analyzed and under-executed, so we are out there trying to turn that tide," she says.
"With our clients at our side, we are building and implementing thoughtful and actionable solutions based on what research tells us, not on the industrial-era thinking that has driven employee programs for too many years. I am having a great time challenging how we do things to create great employee experiences and build compelling organizations."
Chandler will be the first to admit that there is no one right answer in this space, "but there are some bad ones we have lived with for years," Chandler says.
"There is nothing as satisfying as cutting through the complexities to find the right approach to a problem at the right time."
As far as winning the Top 25 Award, Chandler says it's recognition that PeopleFirm is standing out in its space. "For the firm, it is a validation of our work, our solutions, and our points of view," she says. "And for me, it is a recognition of six years of risks, thought leadership, and very long hours."
What's the biggest factor to your success?
"I'm what I affectionately call an 'old dog consultant.' I have lived and led consulting teams through Y2K, the dot.com boom and bust, post 9/11, the downfall of Arthur Andersen, the advancement of Hitachi Consulting, and now the launch and development of PeopleFirm. Throughout my career I've seen certain themes repeat—themes that have contributed greatly to my success. The most important of those themes has to do with treating people with respect, doing no harm in the way you lead, and putting yourself out there honestly. The truth is that I have never completely fit in. I graduated as a female electrical engineer with pink hair in the 1980s, and I was one of few Andersen Partners to score high for eccentricity, yet I have always been OK with being a bit outside the norm. It is who I am, so it is how I show up."
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.