Summary:

Stacey Harris is a seasoned HR leader (24+ years) across HR management, benefits, talent acquisition, payroll, and HRIS. She’s known for calm, measured leadership in high-stakes moments—and for building teams where it’s safe to “say the thing” even when titles are in the room.

In this episode, Stacey walks through a “messy moment” at a nonprofit with an international footprint: a senior executive made a racially biased remark about African Americans’ writing ability during a meeting. Stacey—an African American HR leader—led the investigation, navigated the power dynamics, protected the employee, held leadership accountable, and later reflected on what she’d do differently: slow down, speak directly, and lead with courageous humanity.

Chapters:

00:00 – Meet Stacey: 24 years in HR and the “department of one” mindset

03:20 – The incident: a senior exec’s biased comment in a team meeting

06:40 – First response: validating the employee, defining the ask, next steps

10:00 – Investigation under power imbalance: calm, facts, accountability

13:25 – What I’d do differently: add courageous, person-to-person candor

16:40 – Leadership tax: emotional load, rest as recovery, not a luxury

19:55 – Slowing down: documenting wins, acknowledging impact, gratitude

23:10 – Building the team culture: “say the thing,” challenge with care

26:30 – Mentors, safe spaces, and practicing tough conversations

29:10 – Advice to rising HR pros: mistakes, voice, and status-quo jiu-jitsu

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Stacey Harris: linkedin.com/in/stacey-harris-ms-hrm-mba

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka