Join   Log In
  • Startup Jobs
  • Recruit
  • Discover
  • Blog
    Trav J. Walkowski, PhD, SHRM-SCP

    Trav J. Walkowski, PhD, SHRM-SCP

    Strategic mission control leader, evolving the People function of startups and scale-ups. 🚀

    Chief People Officer | People analytics expert | Dog person 🐶

    Management Wisconsin University of Wiscons...
    tjwalkowski.com
    There was a problem loading your content.
     
    About
    Achievements

    SHRM-SCP Certified
    See certifications at https://www.credly.com/users/tjwalkowski/badges

    Describe the most impressive thing you've done.
    Skills
    Human Resources Human Resource Management Leadership Employee Engagement Employer Branding Compensation and Benefits Options Strategies Strategy Job Descriptions Career-Path Development Career & Succession Planning Career Assessments Career/Talent Management Talent Management Employee Engagement and Talent Development Talent Assessment Change Management Organizational Change Management Organization Development Organizational Design People Operations Workday HRIS Greenhouse Company Culture Qualtrics SAP Success Factors BambooHR Zenefits Ceridian Ultipro Zoho SAP Fieldglass Analytics Workforce Planning Succession Planning Data Science accounts receivable Agile Agile methodology Coaching compensation Consulting Data Analysis Data Mapping Data Processing Distribution English language Financial Financial Services French language HR Layout Leadership Development LMS Management Microsoft PowerPoint Networking Project Management Project Manager Services Strategic Vision Training R Engineering Resource Management SPSS VOICE Equity HR Strategy Diversity Gusto BREX Lever Mergers & Acquisitions HUB International Employee Benefits Compensation and Total Rewards Rippling Financial Industry Legal Artificial Intelligence Compliance Talent Acquisition Business Strategies Business Strategy Data Reporting Google Docs Insurance Jira Life Insurance Linkedin Linkedin Recruiter Microsoft Excel Microsoft Word Recruiter Sourcing Tableau Tableau Software
    Locations
    United States
     
    Experience
    Employmetrics
    Employmetrics
    Partner & Board Chair 2022 - Present (over 4 years)
    • Guiding Employmetrics™ in setting and achieving strategic objectives.
    • Developing our People Practices Playbook for internal operations and client implementation.
    •... more Working closely with Board and Executive members on both crucial projects.
    • Increased overall employee engagement by 13%, our highest score to date, through culture-first initiatives.• Guiding Employmetrics™ in setting and achieving strategic objectives. • Developing our People Practices Playbook for internal operations and client implementation. • Working closely with Board and Executive members on both crucial projects. • Increased overall employee engagement by 13%, our highest score to date, through culture-first initiatives.

    Skills: Compensation Review · Compensation & Benefits · Human Resources
    Partner & Chief People Officer 2019 - 2022 (over 2 years)
    • Orchestrated evaluating and researching resources, theories, and methodologies to stay ahead of industry trends.
    • Founded our Empology™ – the study of employees and... more employers – philosophy and coined its associated terminology.
    • Forecasted the future of work and operationalized the frameworks used internally and externally.
    • Spearheaded our Total Rewards practices – compensation, bonuses, AIP, merit, equity, benefits, perks, and incentives.
    • Authored the annual editions of our People Practices Playbook.
    • Enabled the entire People team and all of our worldwide contributors.
    • Implemented a performance management system resulting in an 18% increase in individual and team productivity.
    • Presented our work to our partners, promoted our work in various media outlets, and managed our Board of Directors.• Orchestrated evaluating and researching resources, theories, and methodologies to stay ahead of industry trends. • Founded our Empology™ – the study of employees and employers – philosophy and coined its associated terminology. • Forecasted the future of work and operationalized the frameworks used internally and externally. • Spearheaded our Total Rewards practices – compensation, bonuses, AIP, merit, equity, benefits, perks, and incentives. • Authored the annual editions of our People Practices Playbook. • Enabled the entire People team and all of our worldwide contributors. • Implemented a performance management system resulting in an 18% increase in individual and team productivity. • Presented our work to our partners, promoted our work in various media outlets, and managed our Board of Directors.

    Skills: Compensation Review · Compensation & Benefits · Human Resources
    Partner & Vice President, Human Resources & People Strategy 2017 - 2019 (about 2 years)
    • Implemented innovative processes to foster a thriving and engaged workforce.
    • Directed all aspects of Total Rewards programs, including compensation, bonuses, incentives,... more benefits, and equity.
    • Served as managing partner to other senior leadership team members, ensuring they had what they needed to execute on business objectives.
    • Developed and executed impactful learning and development initiatives for employee growth and advancement.
    • Cultivated and upheld organizational culture aligned with mission and values.
    • Motivated, listened, counseled, and helped find solutions to problems; ensured everyone knew their voice mattered.
    • Created effective employee engagement, incentives, and compensation strategies.
    • Implemented innovative processes to foster a thriving and engaged workforce.
    • Directed all aspects of Total Rewards programs, including compensation, bonuses, incentives, benefits, and equity.
    • Served as managing partner to other senior leadership team members, ensuring they had what they needed to execute on business objectives.
    • Developed and executed impactful learning and development initiatives for employee growth and advancement.
    • Cultivated and upheld organizational culture aligned with mission and values.
    • Motivated, listened, counseled, and helped find solutions to problems; ensured everyone knew their voice mattered.
    • Created effective employee engagement, incentives, and compensation strategies.

    Skills: Compensation Review · Compensation & Benefits · Human Resources
    Partner & Director, Human Resources & People Strategy 2015 - 2017 (about 2 years)
    • Led the development and management of comprehensive Total Rewards initiatives, encompassing compensation, bonuses, equity, benefits, perks, and incentives.
    • Successfully... more implemented innovative strategies that improved HR & People Operations, fostering strong relationships and collaboration across cross-functional teams.
    • Consulted with clients to design and execute customized HR & People solutions, generating lasting positive impacts.
    • Led the development and management of comprehensive Total Rewards initiatives, encompassing compensation, bonuses, equity, benefits, perks, and incentives.
    • Successfully implemented innovative strategies that improved HR & People Operations, fostering strong relationships and collaboration across cross-functional teams.
    • Consulted with clients to design and execute customized HR & People solutions, generating lasting positive impacts.

    Skills: Human Resources
    Activeloop
    Activeloop
    Head of People/Chief of Staff 2022 (7 months)
    • Established an organized, compliant, and people-centric People function within a failing startup, streamlining recruitment processes through the deployment of Lever ATS... more in only one week.
    • Achieved a 40% reduction in time-to-fill by implementing streamlined recruitment strategies.
    • Crafted comprehensive Total Rewards practices including compensation philosophy and equity strategies.
    • Established company-wide performance management system (OKRs) for goal alignment, leading to an average of ~75% goal attainment.
    • Optimized sourcing strategies through effective leadership of recruiters.
    • Partnered with a great benefits broker to introduce life insurance, short-term disability, and improved benefits enrollment to employees while also saving ~20% on benefits costs.
    • Played a key role in driving go-to-market execution and boosting runway through collaboration on business strategy, legal matters, and finances with fellow executive team members.
    • Established an organized, compliant, and people-centric People function within a failing startup, streamlining recruitment processes through the deployment of Lever ATS in only one week.
    • Achieved a 40% reduction in time-to-fill by implementing streamlined recruitment strategies. • Crafted comprehensive Total Rewards practices including compensation philosophy and equity strategies.
    • Established company-wide performance management system (OKRs) for goal alignment, leading to an average of ~75% goal attainment.
    • Optimized sourcing strategies through effective leadership of recruiters.
    • Partnered with a great benefits broker to introduce life insurance, short-term disability, and improved benefits enrollment to employees while also saving ~20% on benefits costs.
    • Played a key role in driving go-to-market execution and boosting runway through collaboration on business strategy, legal matters, and finances with fellow executive team members.

    Skills: Compensation Review · Compensation & Benefits · Human Resources
    Quartet Health
    Quartet Health
    Consultant, People Strategy & People Analytics 2020 (10 months)
    Designing, analyzing, and enabling Quartet’s people strategy through deep connections and a thorough understanding of their values, mission, and work.

    • Aligned Quartet's... more people strategy with the company's values, mission, and work goals, resulting in enhanced organizational performance.
    • Successfully guided C-level stakeholders in implementing data-driven people strategies, leading to improved decision-making processes.
    • Implemented effective communication and feedback mechanisms, resulting in a 30% increase in employee engagement during organizational changes.
    • Reengineered total rewards (compensation & equity), job architecture, performance reviews, talent management, organizational health, culture, ERGs/affinity groups, etc. to drive employee satisfaction and productivity.
    • Advised and oversaw the development of integrated HRIS, LMS, ATS, & experience tools, ensuring seamless operations.
    • Leveraged data analysis and innovative approaches to continuously improve People strategies.(Short-term embedded consulting contract 2/3/20-12/31/20) Designing, analyzing, and enabling Quartet’s people strategy through deep connections and a thorough understanding of their values, mission, and work.
    • Aligned Quartet's people strategy with the company's values, mission, and work goals, resulting in enhanced organizational performance.
    • Successfully guided C-level stakeholders in implementing data-driven people strategies, leading to improved decision-making processes.
    • Implemented effective communication and feedback mechanisms, resulting in a 30% increase in employee engagement during organizational changes.
    • Reengineered total rewards (compensation & equity), job architecture, performance reviews, talent management, organizational health, culture, ERGs/affinity groups, etc. to drive employee satisfaction and productivity.
    • Advised and oversaw the development of integrated HRIS, LMS, ATS, & experience tools, ensuring seamless operations.
    • Leveraged data analysis and innovative approaches to continuously improve People strategies.

    Skills: Compensation Review · Compensation & Benefits · Human Resources
    Walkowski Works
    Exit
    Walkowski Works
    Founder 2013 - 2015 (about 2 years)
    Jun 2013 - Jun 2015 · 2 yrs 1 moJun 2013 - Jun 2015
    Chicago, Illinois, United States · Remote
    • Led client consultations to understand their needs and surpass expectations.
    •... more Conducted surveys, observations, focus groups, and fieldwork to gather data.
    • Analyzed collected data, creating compelling visual presentations to tell data-driven stories.
    • Provided strategic advice and action plans to clients and colleagues.
    Founder
     
    Employee
    TNS Employee Insights, Northwestern Mutual, Walkowski Works, Quartet Health, Activeloop, Employmetrics
    Investor
     
    Incubator
     
    Advisor
     
    Attorney
     
    Board Member
     
    Mentor
     
    Member
     
    Acquired
     
     
    Education
     
    Q&A
    What words of advice would you give your younger self?

    Do not take out student loans under any circumstances!!!

    What's your super power?

    I can teleport - mentally anyway. I can fly up to 30,000 feet to see the big picture, zoom way down to see tiny details, or hover anywhere in between.

    What's the best way for people to get in touch with you?

    Email

    What words of wisdom do you live by?

    Leave things better than you found them.

    What was the most impactful class you took in school?

    During undergrad, I took Behavioral Neuroscience taught by Dr. Meg Waraczynski. It was TOUGH but I learned so much about the brain!

    What's something you wish you had done years earlier?

    Started using sunscreen.

    What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

    Creating great cultures and future of work initiatives.

    If money were not an issue, what would you be doing right now?

    Bringing some of my ideas to market! I have an innovative tech product, an app, and a food item all waiting to come to life.

    SEE MORE
    Help · Blog · Twitter · Terms · Privacy Policy & Cookies · Unsubscribe · Cookie Preferences · Press · Profile not verified