Building a Human-Centered Workplace with Shama Walji

Host: Carrie Tuttle Guest: Shama WaljiCarrie is joined by Shama Walji, Director of Human Resources at Royop Development Corporation. A human-centered HR professional and CPHR, she has a passion for developing organizational culture, employer branding, and occupational health and safety. She describes how she joined at a time post-Covid when Royop’s fragmented culture needed structure and “scaffolding” to support growth, and has now doubled the team size to over 80 employees and counting. Shama explains how values like “respectful collaboration and entrepreneurial mindset” became more than just words, and how new initiatives in health, wellness, and team training helped bring employees together—and keep them engaged. Shama points out how they are gender-balanced and culturally diverse, not by design, but by focusing on hiring the right people for the job. She explains how intentional recruitment and bias checks set the foundation for meaningful Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).She is proud of the “Canada’s Best Managed” award, won for environmental, social, and governance standards—and she’s excited to keep building on that success. Listen in for more on how she’s been helping reshape a 60-year-old company’s culture from the inside out. QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:"There's power in the pause.""Some of the best HR work will never be shared because itlives in stories that can’t be told.”"Clear is kind."EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:Shama emphasizes the importance of understanding organizational culture before implementing changesBuilding relationships within the team is crucial for effective HR managementValues should align with both personal and professional lives for better buy-inAn entrepreneurial mindset can lead to innovative practices within a companyClear communication is a key aspect of effective leadershipHR professionals must balance administrative and compliance duties with employee supportInvesting in employee development leads to higher retention ratesDiversity in leadership roles can positively impact company cultureAI can enhance HR processes but requires careful policy managementContinuous improvement in health and safety practices is essential for employee well-beingLINKS FROM EPISODE:Learn more about Royop @ Website: https://royop.com/Shama Walji on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shama-walji-b5825457/----------Like What You Heard?Don’t forget to subscribe or follow us on YouTube or your favorite podcast service, so you never miss an episode!Want to be an expert guest? ⁠⁠APPLY HERE ⁠