Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim DiStefano.
Kim, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Becoming an entrepreneur was initially more about necessity than it was anything else. I had been through organizational downsizing twice within 5 years and made a decision after the second that I needed to have more control over the direction of my career and my life. After the second reduction in force, I took the summer off, spent it with my children and traveled a bit but I also spent time thinking about what would be next. I had a passion for coaching people to better their best and learning and development so I knew I would stay in human resources. I reached out to a couple of my mentors (my personal board of directors) and we started the conversation about my desire to launch a consulting business. I realized after I launched the business that all those sessions where they challenged my thinking and leaned with me into the discomfort of entrepreneurship, were preparation for how difficult getting started really would be because getting registered, creating branding, all that was easy but knocking on doors, learning how to keep knocking when no one answered or they answered and said, “no” was the hard part. However, when you create a product that you believe in and you know without a doubt that it adds value, you just keep knocking until you get that, “yes”. I learned an important lesson during the first three years: anything is possible as long as you’re willing to work incredibly hard and you commit to staying on a learning continuum. Equally important, I learned that your work will speak for itself, when you’re committed to delivering with a spirit of excellence because many of my clients across the country and in a variety of industries are due to referrals and I don’t take that lightly. Ultimately, working hard and persevering through the closed doors or the ones that are open, just not to you, is what will keep you moving forward. You have to dig deep and tap into your grit and moxie. With that mindset, I’m running two businesses, spend much of my time volunteering/speaking in middle and high schools and working in ministry because I believe in the power of transformation and equipping people with the tools that are critical to their success, personally and professionally.
Has it been a smooth road?
It most certainly has not been smooth but I probably wouldn’t appreciate the wins as much if it were an experience without challenges. Navigating the politics of business as an owner has been a learning experience. It certainly has had its ups and downs but every denial, every detour, every delay has only made me stronger and more determined to be successful because I am confident about the consulting solutions and the learning modules I design and facilitate. Moving to Houston, a considerably larger city than Cincinnati adds another level of complexity, I believe however, that when you are where you’re supposed to be, no matter what challenges you encounter, they work themselves out so all you have to do is stay focused on the goal and be adaptable and agile in your approach as you encounter challenges.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Oracle HR Consulting – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As you know, we are in the field of Talent Optimization. We partner with our clients to assist them in acquiring the best fit for their culture and through our learning and education tools/modules, we help them create and maintain a culture that supports advancement and healthy retention.
We’re proud of our client roster and the transformative work we’ve done with them across the country and in the different sectors (construction, education, finance, government, professional services, etc.). We approach each client, from small businesses to Fortune 500 organizations with the same spirit of excellence and commitment that speaks to our passion for what we do as well as honors their vision and values.
We listen to our clients with intentionality at every level of the organization, we immerse ourselves into the client’s culture so we understand them, what they need and what would work best in their environment so the solutions we provide are value added and sustainable.
Our service offerings are as follows:
ACQUISITION – We provide end-to-end talent acquisition support which includes:
Strategic Recruitment Support; Interview Guides; Candidate Selection Assessments;
Employee On-Boarding and Orientation; Employee Success Planning
ACCOUNTABILITY (Compliance) – We ensure that you are compliant with State and Federal laws and regulations
HR Audits (Including I-9 Audits and Corrections Strategies); Policies and Procedures
Employee Complaint Investigations; Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA Audits)
ADVANCEMENT AND RETENTION – We partner with you to unlock untapped potential in your greatest asset: your people.
Executive Coaching; Employee Opinion Surveys; Internal Job Evaluation and Analysis; Performance Management; Regretted Loss Interviews and Analysis; Training Design, Development, Delivery and Evaluation
o Agile Leadership; o Change Management; o Emotional Intelligence
o Performance, Image, Exposure (Employee Branding); o Inclusion, Diversity & Equity;
o Workplace Violence Prevention; Culture of Respect and Ethics in the Workplace;
o Workforce Development (Career Pathways Academy)
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Houston’s energy! There is so much going on all the time for everyone at every stage of life. More than anything, I love the diversity; the blend of people and their cultures/customs that keep you in a state of constant curiosity and ultimately learning.
I probably like the traffic and the way everyone drives at the speed of light least. In Cincinnati, honking your horn to get someone moving is a guaranteed side-eye. LOL. I’m getting better at navigating the highways. GPS and Siri have become my best friends and I’m beginning to understand the traffic patterns a little more.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 832.422.5330
- Email: oraclehrconsulting@outlook.com
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
