#WISHRM SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT: Leah Roe

One of my passions is increasing awareness of the impact of recognition in the workplace and how it can be a key driver of employee engagement, performance and fulfillment. Cultivating an #AttitudeOfGratitude transcends workplace behaviors and can enhance our wellbeing, perspective and our lives. That's why when I saw the #WISHRM24 session previews, I was drawn to Leah Roe's session "Seen + Heard + Valued: How Prioritizing Recognition Drives Engagement & Success", so I reached out to hear more so I could share with WISHRM conference attendees who are planning which sessions to attend.

Q1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into leadership and culture development.

I’m Leah Roe, Founder of The Perk, a premiere leadership & culture development studio. My background is a little unconventional—I actually started my career as a CPA, & spent time as an auditor of financial institutions, then as an outsourced controller & CFO, until finally landing as the VP of Finance & Operations at a health tech company here in Madison. On my very first day my CEO, Jonathan, came into my office & said “Leah, no one here is doing People Ops…can you do People Ops?” I immediately said “Sure, Jonathan, I can do People Ops!” ….. & then I went to my computer & googled “What is People Ops?” :)?

That was how I was introduced to the world of people, culture, & leadership development, employee experience, high-performing teams, trust, communication, alignment, inclusion, & belonging – ALL THE THINGS! I quickly realized that, while I was a good VP of Finance, my true passion & calling was helping people & organizations thrive through strong relationships, trust, & human-centered leadership.

I am also Mom to the two most amazing humans in the world – Betty & Maisie - & in addition to running The Perk, my husband & I, with some partners of ours, purchased & are restoring the New Glarus Hotel (a boutique hotel & restaurant built in 1853).

Q2. I was drawn to your session because I believe that recognition is critically important.? Can you share why you believe recognition is important? What are the benefits of recognition to ensure employees are?seen, heard, and valued?

Recognition is critically important because it directly fulfills a core human need—the desire to be seen, heard, & valued. When employees feel truly recognized, they are more connected to the culture, more engaged, & contribute their best work. Recognition builds trust, which is the foundation of strong relationships & high-performing cultures.

The data is also really compelling: employees are 5X more likely to feel connected to their company’s culture when recognition is part of the workplace. Not only that, but they are 4X more likely to recommend their company to friends & family (which is your classic NPS score). Recognition drives belonging & leads to tangible business outcomes—companies that create a culture of recognition save millions in annual turnover costs, & get an ROI of 7x for each $1 they spend on recognition practices.?

Moreover, recognition drives higher engagement & performance, & it’s been shown that employees are 56% less likely to look for other job opportunities when they feel recognized. In short, recognition isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a critical driver of trust, belonging, engagement, & ultimately, success for both individuals & organizations.

Q3. Can recognition be "one size fits all" and broadly applied across the organization or should it be tailored and?individualized? Why or why not??

Recognition should absolutely be tailored & individualized. Each person has unique preferences for how they like to be recognized, & understanding these differences is key to making recognition meaningful. For instance, some may prefer public recognition, while others may appreciate a quiet, personal note. By personalizing your recognition approach, you demonstrate that you truly see & understand the individual, which deepens the impact of the recognition. I love to use the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace framework for tailoring recognition to different individuals’ preferences, ensuring that each person feels valued in a way that resonates with them. You can also ask the simple question, “in what way(s) do you most like to be valued or recognized?”

Q4: What can attendees expect from your session that they'll be able to take back to their workplaces??

Attendees can expect to leave the session with practical, actionable tools to recognize their team members in meaningful ways. They’ll learn how to personalize recognition to build trust, strengthen relationships, & drive both engagement & performance. Specifically, they will learn the FBI Model of Recognition, which helps them offer clear, impactful recognition by focusing on feelings, behaviors, & the impact of those behaviors. They’ll also develop an action plan for operationalizing recognition, making it a regular, daily leadership behavior that can transform their team culture.

Q5. Is this your first WISHRM Conference?

Yes! First timer! So excited! Hopefully WISHRM members and attendees will give me some travel tips in the comments!

Q6.? What is the best way for people connect with you?

Best way to connect with me is on LinkedIn (https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/leah-roe/), or you can catch me every month at Culture Community (free webinar & virtual meetup group) where we focus on topics that help us be better leaders & build better organizational cultures.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Leah Roe is the Founder of The Perk: a premiere leadership & culture development studio. She’s a Certified Leadership Coach, revered Organizational Trust Strategist, & dynamic Culture Consultant. Leah's mission goes beyond coaching & consulting; she's here to empower you with the unwavering belief that anything is possible & to make you feel absolutely unstoppable. With a touch of her magic, she infuses fun, celebration, & a human touch into every facet of her work.?

Her session, Seen + Heard + Valued: How Prioritizing Recognition Drives Engagement & Success at WISHRM is Thursday, October 10th at 2:30pm

Wisconsin State Council SHRM #WISHRM #WISHRM24 #SMILETeam #SMILE24 #Recognition #HRCommunity #PeopleOps #HR #PerformanceManagement #EmployeeEngagement #Success #AttitudeOfGratitude