Leading Forward

Empathy, Action & Strategic Change with Cheryl DeSantis, CPO at SmileDirectClub

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EPISODE #3: CHERYL DESANTIS | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER, SMILEDIRECTCLUB- EMPATHY, ACTION & STRATEGIC CHANGE  

Welcome to Leading Forward!  

In today's episode, Christie had the opportunity to sit down with Cheryl DeSantis the Chief People Officer at SmileDirectClub, the oral care company with the first telehealth platform for teeth straightening. With more than 20 years of experience in strategic people and organizational development, Cheryl enables the growth of the business through its team members, striving to maintain SmileDirectClub’s strong company culture through values-based leadership. Cheryl has global oversight of talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, team member relations and engagement, HR information systems, and learning and development for SmileDirectClub’s business across the globe. She also leads the expansion of SmileDirectClub’s international internal organizational structure and framework.   

Leading Forward with Christie Berger

 "Empathy, Action & Strategic Change" 

Highlights from the show:

  • Pivotal Moments and Strategic Change: When the pandemic hit and businesses were forced to shut down, SmileDirectClub made a very quick shift and went “back to their roots,” and offered at-home kits.
  • Themes and Decision Making: “Quick decision making across the whole business.” Meeting weekly allows the team to “assess a problem, make a decision right there and go.”
  • Some organizations are afraid of trying something new and it not working out. However, SmileDirectClub chooses to “test and learn; If we fail, we fail fast and we take something from it. We make very quick decisions by taking out a lot of the bureaucracy.”
  • Power of purpose: “People come to work because they connect with your mission and your purpose.” At SmileDirectClub they believe in “transforming lives through a smile.”
  • Employee Feedback Leads to Organizational Action: Communication, recognition and separating work from life were crucial themes for working remotely.
  • “Create a space,” was a set of guidelines to help promote team members not working more now that they are remote. The organization blocked out “no meeting” times and encouraged team members to take vacation days. This helps promote rest, restoration and then “work time” is more meaningful.
  • Having virtual coffee meetings to start your team’s Monday morning gave team members permission to connect in a different way with their coworkers.
  • Having multiple training sessions on empathy is one way to help team members develop remotely.

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    LEADING FORWARD breaks down professional assumptions through meaningful conversations that remind us all that leading, effectively, can and often does look different for each of us.  Hosted by Christie Berger, LEADING FORWARD will explore how successful leaders thrive, in spite of, and sometimes because of challenge and uncertainty. Each conversation will unveil the unique stories and experiences that will help others expand their own definition of leadership and identify new ways to leverage the opportunities that lie ahead.  

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    Leading ForwardBy Christie Berger
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