Episode 14: Building a Future-Focused Workplace: HR Innovations in a Remote World
With Melissa Cooper
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Key Takeaways
This week’s exciting episode of the Leading Real Change podcast includes insights from Melissa Cooper on her career journey and the evolving landscape of global employment led by Globalization Partners. Here are 10 key takeaways:
Passion for Account Management: Melissa discovered her love for account management and international business, finding her place in the work world.
Pioneering the Employer of Record Industry: Melissa joined GP, led by Nicole Sahin, who founded the employer of record industry in 2012, enabling global hiring without setting up individual entities.
Balancing Motherhood and Career: Melissa emphasizes the positive impact of supportive management during maternity leaves, leading to elevated roles upon return.
The Power of Working Mothers: Melissa applauds the hard work and time management skills of working mothers, highlighting their contributions to the workforce.
Results-Oriented Approach: GP values outcomes over hours worked, encouraging productivity and discouraging the outdated nine-to-five mindset.
Triple Bottom Line Philosophy: GP's values are rooted in treating employees well, resulting in excellent customer service and positive shareholder impact.
Remote Work Strategies: GP adopts a remote-first approach with collaboration hubs, emphasizing meaningful breaks, and implementing flexible time-off policies.
Employee Choice and Well-being: GP focuses on employee well-being with golden hours, minimal meeting Mondays, and conscious connections, promoting work-life balance.
Circles of Care: GP introduces supportive circles of care, providing a safe space for employees to discuss challenges, ensuring a sense of community and support.
Progressive Parental Leave: GP offers a minimum of 16 weeks of maternity leave globally, complemented by 10 weeks of parental leave, showcasing a commitment to supporting new parents.
Melissa expresses excitement about the future, foreseeing opportunities to influence best practices in global employment, and emphasizes the importance of progress over perfection in the constant juggling act of being a working mom.
Guest Bio
Melissa Cooper is G-P’s chief operating officer. As a trailblazing COO, Melissa has spent her career breaking barriers, paving the way for women in leadership and changing the global employment landscape.
Melissa is the second employee of G-P and worked alongside G-P’s founder Nicole Sahin to create and electrify the employer of record (EOR) model and industry –enabling companies to expand operations rapidly and compliantly around the globe. Melissa’s unparalleled expertise on the global employment landscape has been critical to G-P’s rocket ship growth.
As chief operating officer, Melissa is responsible for scaling the company’s business operations, operational governance and cross-functional initiative management.
Prior to joining G-P, Melissa worked at High Street Partners, where she managed the international operations and expansions for hundreds of companies hiring in countries spanning the globe. After working in the client services division of High Street Partners for several years, Melissa led the charge to streamline the firms’ operations and billing processes.
Melissa has a broad understanding of global business compliance issues, including employment law in multiple countries, international accounting and local compliance requirements, with over 15 years advising CFOs, controllers and HR directors of venture-backed and public companies expanding their international operations.
Melissa earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fairfield University. Originally from Boston, Melissa resides in Carlsbad, California, with her husband and two children.
