From Crisis to Care: The Case for Trauma Informed Cultures with Stephanie Lemek

Eps. #109 FEBRUARY 11TH, 2025

In this episode of the "HR Mixtape," host Shari Simpson welcomes Stephanie Lemek, Founder and CEO of The Wounded Workforce. With over 16 years of HR experience, Stephanie discusses the importance of creating trauma-informed workplaces. She shares insights on how trauma affects employees and the critical role HR professionals play in recognizing and addressing these issues.

Listeners will discover:

  1. Understanding Trauma: Learn about the prevalence of trauma among employees and its impact on workplace dynamics.

  2. Self-Care for HR Professionals: Discover the significance of self-awareness and self-care for HR leaders to combat secondary trauma and compassion fatigue.

  3. Seven Principles of Trauma-Informed Workplaces: Explore actionable steps to foster a supportive work environment that prioritizes safety, trust, community, and empowerment.

Tune in for practical advice and thought-provoking insights that can help organizations thrive in the evolving workplace landscape.

 

Stephanie Lemek

Founder and CEO

The Wounded Workforce

Guest(s): Stephanie Lemek, Founder and CEO, The Wounded Workforce

Stephanie has over 16 years of experience in various HR roles, spanning various industries and in organizations ranging from large Fortune 500 to growing start-ups. In every role, Stephanie noticed that the workplace isn’t built with everyone in mind. And despite the best efforts of HR teams and leaders, sometimes people still don’t have the proper support to be successful.

With a lifelong mission of helping both organizations and individuals be successful (and at the same time!), there had to be a way to create organizational cultures where everyone can be successful- and that’s where trauma-informed workplaces come in! Through passion and research, Stephanie found that what she was looking for to help leaders, HR, and Talent professionals approach the workplace with an understanding and responsiveness to the traumatic experiences over 70% of adults bring with them to the workplace didn’t exist.

So, she set on a mission to build it herself!

Shari Simpson

Shari Simpson stands at the forefront of the human resources field, blending 20 years of rich experience with cutting-edge educational credentials. With an MBA, MHRM, Certificate in E-commerce Management, and SHRM-SCP certification, she is now pursuing a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation at Purdue. As the HR Mixtape podcast host, Shari shares invaluable insights with industry experts, establishing herself as a thought leader in HR. She is a sought-after speaker at local and national conferences, collaborating with industry leaders to elevate HR, payroll, and business sectors. Beyond her professional achievements, Shari is a proud mother of three sons—one a veteran and two currently serving in the US Navy—a dedicated dog mom and an avid reader. Her 25-year marriage to a fire department Chief adds depth to her understanding of service and dedication.

https://askhrswagger.com
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