We recently welcomed our new Chief People Officer (CPO), Laura Smith. Read on for an introduction to her and to learn more about why she decided to join 1E.

Tell us a little about yourself

Well, I'd say that I didn't find my career in HR—it found me! I started working for BlackBerry, where I ventured into a very junior HR position. In this role, I really learned my craft, supporting employees across EMEA. I then joined Tesla, where I spent over five years. This role took me all over the world with some amazing opportunities to grow and help scale the business.

What do you enjoy most about your line of work?

I always say that being in HR makes you a success enabler. I've worked my way through my career to where I am today with the support of some great people and opportunities. I've been in organizations that have allowed me to be successful. Having been a student of those paths and opportunities, I'm driven by, and enjoy the challenge of helping businesses create that for others and unlock talent – maybe even where you wouldn't expect it!

What motivated you to join 1E?

Digital employee experience (DEX) for sure. As an HR leader, to work for a company developing a product that directly impacts the workforce and focuses on outstanding employee experience is a dream. Secondary to that is the team I've come in to work alongside—there's a real sense of fun, and also a very strong bias to action. Everybody is full of energy, focused, and very very passionate. It felt really compelling to be a part of.

Why do you believe DEX is important?

We live in a digital world, and whether you're an employee working from home, in a hybrid model, or in an office, we depend on our digital environment to get the job done. Whether it's paying people, uploading information, or sharing information, everything revolves around digital experience. And having a strong DEX platform is part of the DNA that we live by in society today. It's a non-negotiable. So, making sure it's safe, reliable, and robust has never been more important.

What are you most excited about for the next year?

We're very fortunate that we have a presence on three major continents… I'm very excited about continuing to build our global community, aligning our global mindset, and hopefully continuing to positively impact the lives of employees in companies globally. Working with international teams and experiencing different cultures has always been a highlight of my role, and I can't wait to see what Team 1E has in store.

Do you have a fun fact about yourself?

I suppose the most interesting thing about me outside of work is that I have a little team of horses who I spend most of my time with. They compete in international eventing and show-jumping and are mostly ridden by a French rider. The practice has taught me a lot, not just about animals but about people too, and what it means to extract performance.