Andi Campbell, on Leading a Self-Care Revolution in the Workplace

We recently had the opportunity to meet with Andi Campbell, SVP of People and Culture at LAZ Parking, and picked her brain on some pretty meaty topics. Among these include her nontraditional approach to HR, her secret sauce to success as the only lady leader on the executive committee at her company, and some of her profound points of view on what self-care is really all about.

To listen to the full episode click here, (or the image below), or subscribe to the #EverydayLeader Podcast with me, Kat Rippy, on Itunes!

Here’s some of the skinny from our recent chat with Andi:

#1 Andi’s approach to HR

Andi’s training in Industrial and Organizational Psychology provides her with a unique perspective leading in the HR sphere. Her background allows her to integrate a deeper understanding of organizational systems and human behavior into her strategy, and she tends to take a more consultative approach to solving problems–always asking plenty of questions and empowering employees and leaders to self-manage.

Her colleagues jokingly call her “Claire the Clarifier”, because she can never answer a question without another question!

#2 On succeeding in a male-dominated industry

Andi was frank in sharing with us what she feels has been critical to her success at LAZ, and we just wanted to take a moment to give her props for it!

👏👏👏

She admits to choosing her battles selectively and focuses her energy on important strategy work. When she asserts herself she speaks her truth with conviction, noting that her natural approach is to conduct plenty of due diligence and to be prepared to defend and stand behind her points. Having confidence in her experience and in the solutions she offers undoubtedly helps in holding her own. She has a flexible style and accepts the differences individuals bring to the team. Her knack for engaging easily in a variety of environments while maintaining a clear boundary for unacceptable behavior contributes to her ability to build strong relationships across genders, positions, and backgrounds.

#3 “Self-care is not selfish!”

Andi has a passion for helping her HR as well as LAZ employees at large gain a sense of mindfulness, stillness, and connectedness in all areas of their lives–from the food they eat, their exercise routines, or any other activities that help them manage the stresses associated with the fast pace and other challenges of work. Her values drive her efforts to help all LAZ employees truly show up and be their best selves every day.

Andi personally experienced significant benefits after ridding sugar entirely from her life–she slept better, was more productive, and also became less dependent on the meds she was used to relying on to control her own health challenges. She strongly believes that how we treat our bodies has a grave impact not only on our work but on our lives in general, and so we owe it to ourselves to honor them and to make smart choices about how we choose to nourish ourselves, every.single.day.

#4 On the healthcare crisis

Andi also shared her opinions on the arguably abysmal state of healthcare in our country today, and touched on the ways she has significantly influenced programs at LAZ to reflect what she’s learned along her own journey to leading a more healthful, purposeful, and grounded life. Andi is on a mission to solve the healthcare crisis in America starting right where she is, by breaking through boundaries and ensuring companies take responsibility for the health and wellness of all employees.

====

A uniquely dedicated and highly driven lady, Andi is a force to be reckoned with and we guarantee you’ll be seeing positive shifts in organizations nationwide based on the groundwork she is laying down now. Her strong commitment to taking care of the people working within the organization she serves has a tremendous impact on employee experiences, company culture, and the overall bottom line. I echo her call to leaders everywhere to care enough to be educated, informed, and helpful for the employees they serve so we can ALL be happier, healthier, and more engaged at home and at work!

For these insights and more, listen to the full episode here or subscribe to the #EverydayLeader Podcast with me, Kat Rippy!