Total Read Time: 10 Minutes

By Susan Mendrala

Amplify Accelerator Alpha Cohort Alum, Charlie Cohort Participant, and Community Catalyst Volunteer

October 1, 2021

As people leaders and HR practitioners, we have been grappling with the ways our lives have changed, inside and outside of work, over the last 18 months. Simultaneously, we are working to meaningfully address and enact change on topics of intensifying urgency such as Environment, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG), and the intersection of these topics with Social Justice and modern Human Capital Management strategies. 

We are living through a tipping point – helping to propel it forward, fast. 

And we are called to make our mark, on behalf of the people and teams we serve, to co-create a better future of work for all. 

I came across Lars Schmidt’s Redefining HR (Kogan Page), published last January when the title auto-populated as part of recommended reading while title-scrolling. As part of my master’s program in positive organizational development and change, I’d been devouring an unending list of thought leadership on human-centric organizational strategy and transformation. 

This book though looked different – and it was. “Why is the pace of change so astonishingly slow as it relates to what many organizations profess to be their greatest asset?” I’d often pondered, frustrated. Written during COVID, by someone who’d had been asking the same questions (and curating research and answers from forward-thinking people leaders the world over), so much of Schmidt’s fresh perspective resonated. “Man, would I love to discuss these topics with Lars and others like him,” I thought. 

Schmidt has since expanded the offerings under his Amplify umbrella to include both learning cohorts and the Amplify Accelerator Community. 

Danielle Crane, Vice President, Global HR at OneStream Software had been looking for a “community with progressive thought leaders,” when she connected with Schmidt on LinkedIn. “I signed up [for Accelerator] because I felt confident that doing so would increase my network of people on a similar mission - to change the way we look at the people function globally.” 

Balbina Knight, Director of People and Projects at Thrive Digital had been following Lars on Twitter as part of a “classroom” of thought leaders she’d curated for herself on the social platform. “Following Lars’ journey to build the Amplify community got me excited. I hadn’t been able to find this type of course or community elsewhere. A place where I could learn alongside peers working toward the same goal; creating a better world of work.” 

“The past year and a half have been one of great learning for me in this space – and I did most of my learning alone, on the fly, consuming content online and testing things out,” shared Jimena Zubiria, Vice President of People and Communications at The Venture City. “The Amplify Community has been an opportunity to not only expand my knowledge, but to grow my own community and network. And let me tell you, it has NOT disappointed on either front!” effused Zubiria.  

Amplify Cohorts provide intimate opportunities for learning in key elements of the modern HR operating system, from people operations to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to analytics. The cohort experience provides a forum to solve some of the biggest challenges faced by participants as part of a four-week mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning. The programs are supported by guest instructors who are leaders in change and in their respective fields (check out the impressive list of previous and current guest instructors here). 

The intent of the Amplify Accelerator Community is to provide ongoing support to modern people leaders in expanding their networks, thinking – and to foster meaningful connection. 

Based on my own, and my Accelerator peers’ feedback, the Amplify Community is unlike anything that exists in the space. 

Noah Warder, Head of People at Guusto, recently shared, “Being a part of the Amplify community has been a tremendous boon to my professional growth, and let's be honest, sanity. Having a group of People leaders to connect with, collaborate, and lean on during these challenging times has been invaluable.” 

With over three hundred members and growing, the community is both diverse and engaged, “There are so many amazing people communities out there (Culture First, People Geeks, LifeLabs, Resources for Humans), and I appreciate being part of all of them! The difference for me with Amplify is that it feels like I’m in a more intimate forum with my colleagues where we can call on each other for support to work through struggles, problem-solving, and brainstorming, but it’s also a place where we can hold space for each other when needed, to get through that day or that week,” Knight offered candidly. 

The Right Connections Can Change Your World.

A firm believer in the power of network equity to propel learning and career growth, the power of the Amplify experience according to Schmidt, is the quality and longevity of the relationships forged, “This group of peers, and community will last long beyond a cohort’s conclusion.” 

What exactly is network equity? According to Schmidt, “It’s the ability to develop and craft a diverse network that compliments your skillsets and covers some of your gaps, so it allows you to tap into that knowledge and expertise when you need it.” And this is exactly what Amplify delivers. 

“The investment in Amplify has beyond delivered on my expectations,” remarked Knight. “There’s such a vast global community that’s being built within Amplify and that ability to connect with others, however you prefer, exists and it is accessible as part of the experience.”

Zubiria says she has found a space with Amplify that goes both ways, “where I know I can ask for help without judgment, and I can also give in return, knowing I can add value.” 

Mutual trust and support are key elements of the Amplify experience for members, “Energy management for all of us working in People & Culture and HR is especially sacred considering the last 18 months,” Knight acknowledged. “However, Amplify is that one community, outside work, that I feel energized by. The community has also been a comforting space to come together with other leaders who are experiencing the same struggles, and to not feel alone in that. Amplify has been my virtual ‘shoulder to cry on,’ when needed, on those tough days!” emphasized Knight. 

Stephanie R. Smith, Vice President of People and Culture at Tagboard, joined Amplify in July and credits participation for a burst of professional growth, “[Amplify] has made me a better leader and team member for my team at Tagboard and provided me with a community [in which] to use my voice and leadership in this space,” shared Smith. 

Smith says she has seen a return-on-investment through the relationships and expertise available through the community.

Zubiria estimates that she has benefited from advice, or a resource shared by a fellow Amplify Community member “at least once or twice a month [since joining in May].” Zubiria continued, “the impact has been huge for me. There have been a few community members that stand out for their incredible generosity in sharing their knowledge, resources, experiences, and best practices whenever anyone asks for support, so I'm truly appreciative of this. Shout out to Balbina Knight, Noah Warder, Ciara Lakhani, Thuy Le, and of course Lars himself, just to name a few!”

“Amplify has been built during the toughest time in the People industry, so I feel it is also a place of refuge and connection that is hard to find in other communities. Lars really does set the tone for collaboration, gratitude, and innovation and I think it is a big part of why the community is thriving,” reflected Zubiria. 

Participation. Co-creation. Innovation. 

This past May, Knight was part of the first Amplify learning cohort (a.k.a. the Alpha cohort – shout out, fellow Alpha alums!). Since then, Knight has played a leading role in engaging the community through its community Slack channel. Knight has recently stepped into an official volunteer role leading the Amplify Community Catalysts, a group of Amplify Community volunteers and Cohort alums. 

“I feel the biggest thing that’s impacted my daily work from this community is the pay-it-forward mentality as well as reaching out to offer help,” shared Knight. “My hope for current and future members is that each person feels that they can make this space their own and fit it to what their individual needs are. I would also hope that people feel this is a space that enriches and enhances their leadership as a people leader, but also that they’re able to meet new awesome people and make meaningful connections!” Knight continued. 

The rewards of Amplify’s open-source approach have reverberated across the growing community as the network expands and ideas are shared and exchanged. “I am so grateful for the open-sourced approach, it saved me time and pushed me to be even more creative and open in my approach to leading our people strategy,” commented Crane. 

Schmidt’s commitment to open source and to empowering co-ownership of the community he has worked to build is modeled throughout its membership and Community Catalyst leadership, “It’s one thing to ask for help, it’s another to give it,” commented Knight. “All of the help offered in this community has been absolutely sincere. It really has helped me bring more of that sincerity and support into my own work to ensure I’m offering help to others at our organization; making sure that I’m a giver, not only a taker!” reflected Knight. 

In thinking about both the power and potential to make positive change that the Amplify Community represents, Warder offered, “This community has the potential to really help set the tone around the HR and People profession and what will become the norm for forward-thinking organizations.”

Warder continued, “With the collaboration, safety, and transparency that this community holds for its members, it will continue to foster People professionals who will move the needle for what it means to be a modern People professional. This will impact how organizations begin to create more inclusive, impactful, and data-driven HR and People teams.”

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