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Biggest Challenges Faced By a People Programs and Operations Lead at Alphabet

Michelle's biggest challenge as a People Programs & Ops Lead at Alphabet, and throughout their HR career, is the artistic, rather than scientific, nature of the field; finding the best approach requires navigating diverse contexts, preferences, and leadership expectations, making educated guesses and learning through "trial by error."

Problem-solving, Communication, Leadership, Decision-making, Adaptability

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Michelle Lowry

People Programs & Ops Lead

Alphabet Inc. Company

University of California, Davis

N/A

Psychology

Aerospace, Aviation & Defense, Technology

Human Resources (HR)

Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student

Video Highlights

1. Michelle's role involves a blend of art and science, requiring adaptability and creative problem-solving.

2. There's no one-size-fits-all approach in HR; solutions must be tailored to specific contexts and individuals.

3. Trial and error is an essential part of the learning process in HR, as it's not a field with a single set of definitive answers.

Transcript

What is your biggest challenge in your current role?

The biggest challenge in my current role, and I'd say in any of my roles in HR, is that HR is really an art, not a science.

What I mean by that is there's not one way to do things. It's not a math equation where there's only one correct answer.

There are many different contexts, many different people with different preferences. You have a leadership team whose vision for the company you need to represent. You also have the employees, and you want to ensure they are pleased.

So, you're never going to please everyone. You really just have to think about doing what's best for the specific context you're in. Sometimes you're making an educated guess, and the only way to learn is through trial and error.

I think the fact that it's an art, not a science, can make the days harder.

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