Interviews from HR Innovator magazine

		Dana Ardi Human Capital Partner JPMorgan Partners New York, NY The best part of my job is when I really help people raise the bar on their thinking and give them a fresh perspective on the road that they’re traveling and some of the other paths that can be taken.

		Coleman Peterson HR Chief (retired) Wal-Mart Bentonville, AK When you see how people pull together in their community at work, you can say there is a genuine kindness and caring in this society and this world.

		Jeff Perkins Founder Kessler Partners Portsmouth, ME When a company needs an HR function that’s nimble, flexible, capable, and creative, and the individual HR executive has those qualities – and then they have the good fortune of finding each other – that’s a rare and wonderful opportunity for both of them.

		Jim Wall National Managing Director, Human Resources Deloitte Touche Wilton, CT Take complex situations and render them simple. We have a tendency to take simple situations and render them complex. Acknowledge and deal with the complexities, but try to translate all that into meaningful action.

		Peg Wynn Vice President, Worldwide Human Resources Xilinx San Jose, CA We get these notions of respect mixed up. We think that respect must always be kind and gentle. And that's clearly an important part of it. But authentic and truthful is also part of being respectful.

		David Russo Chief People Officer PeopleClick Raleigh, NC If HR is not in a position to influence and to nurture the soul and philosophical perspective of leadership about doing the right thing, then it doesn't really matter what else it does.

		Tiane Mitchell Gordon Director, Diversity and Inclusion America Online, Inc. Herndon, VA You don't have to have a formal position to be a leader, or be anointed by the higher ups. You lead because that is what you do.

		Bruce Ferguson Vice President, Talent Acquisition Exult Irvine, CA I’ve always found myself interested in hearing what other people have to say. They generate new ideas for me and I take advantage of that.

		Tom Van Berkem Chief, HR WellPoint, Inc. Thousand Oaks, CA Never assume your learning is done.

		Arte Nathan Senior Vice President/Chief HR Officer Wynn Resorts Las Vegas, NV Never give up on your dreams. Always dream. Always try. Don’t accept the traditional common wisdom. It won’t help you.

		Susan Bowick Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Workforce Development Hewlett-Packard Palo Alto, CA You’re going to have to deal with a lot of conflict and change and situations where there is no cookbook. So you have to be very well grounded, have a sense of humor and objectivity, and not be seen as a political player.

		Ann Rhoades President PeopleInk Albuquerque, NM The Great Promise of HR is that you can have a huge impact on any organization. When you understand that, you act differently. You make better choices. And you are more confident in taking risks and daring to speak the truth – even if it means your job is on the line.