E43 | When Math Meets Humanity: The Trailblazing Leadership of Renu Hooda

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HOLY SPREADSHEETS, BATMAN! We knew we were in for a treat when we discovered Renu Hooda wasn't just Credera's Chief People Officer, but a former actuary who LOVES diving into data almost as much as she loves empowering her team!

As improv-obsessed leadership nerds (yep, that's us), we couldn't wait to unpack her fascinating journey from numbers to people. And WOW, was it fun!

Our conversation left us buzzing with that special kind of energy you only get when someone drops truth bombs wrapped in authentic wisdom...

Her incredible evolution from math whiz to people champion during massive organizational change hit us right in the feels. We're beyond excited to share the brain-tickling insights and heart-warming realness she brought to Trailblazers.

Here are three big themes we loved, complete with actionable leadership nuggets and ways to make it ACTUALLY fun. Because if it's not fun, why do it, right?

1. From Formulas to Feelings: When an Actuary Finds Her Leadership Voice

Get this - Renu NEVER planned to become a Chief People Officer! With a background in applied mathematics and science, she started crunching numbers as an actuary before moving into compensation. Then BAM! A CEO asked her to step up during a maternity leave, and she had the courage to say, "I'm not those HR people that's going to be a note taker... I'm going to challenge you." That authentic moment of truth-telling revealed how HR could transform businesses when leaders genuinely partner together. (MIC DROP!)

Leadership Tip: Embrace those wildly diverse backgrounds on your leadership team! Renu's mathematical mind brings hard-core analytical rigor to people decisions, creating strategies that make both the CFO and frontline employees do happy dances.

Make It Fun: Try a "Secret Superpowers Party" where team members reveal skills from past lives or unexpected hobbies. We once had an engineer who was a champion ballroom dancer - guess who revolutionized our thinking about flow and rhythm in project management? These diverse perspectives create MAGIC when you least expect it!

2. Thriving Through Uncertainty (Because That's All We've Got!)

In a world where change hits us faster than we can say "new normal," Renu focuses on making the human factor the CONSTANT. While AI and tech handle the repetitive stuff, she's all about cultivating curiosity, creativity, and connection – those deliciously human skills that no robot can replicate (yet!).

Her neuroscience-backed approach to managing uncertainty? Provide clarity, create connection, and help people understand how their work (even that mind-numbing spreadsheet update) contributes to something bigger. As she brilliantly put it: "The one thing we know is constant is uncertainty." PREACH!

Leadership Tip: When navigating change, address those primal brain fears – feeling alone, feeling burned out, or questioning if their work matters. Your job as a leader? Be "that calm in the chaos" and bring certainty where you can. Connect people to purpose and each other to build resilience. (Your amygdala will thank you!)

Make It Fun: Launch "Curiosity Labs" where teams explore wild questions like "How might AI help us solve this impossible problem?" or "What would make this soul-crushing process actually enjoyable?" These playful experiments build comfort with uncertainty while generating ideas that might just blow your collective minds!

3. Believing in Others More Than They Believe in Themselves (Get Your Tissues Ready)

Renu shared a story that had us FEELING ALL THE FEELS. Early in her career, a leader pushed her to present to a CEO when she didn't believe she had it in her. His belief in her capabilities – more than she believed in herself – transformed her approach to leadership forever. Twenty-two years later, they're still friends (though he's happily golfing in retirement while she's crushing it as a CPO!).

Leadership Tip: Look for opportunities to stretch your team members beyond their comfort zones, but with your full support. As Gail always says, "Growth happens at the edge of discomfort, not in the center of panic!" The confidence boost from succeeding at something they thought impossible creates ripple effects that last a lifetime.

Make It Fun: Create "You Got This!" challenges where you deliberately assign slightly stretch projects paired with public declarations of confidence. "Samantha, I'm giving you this presentation because I've seen how brilliantly you organize information, even though you don't see it yet!" Then watch as people rise to become the person you already see in them!

Renu Hooda absolutely PROVES that effective leadership isn't about choosing between data and humanity – it's about harnessing BOTH. Her approach balances brain science with heart wisdom, showing that when you connect people to purpose (and help them see their own potential), you create space for what really matters.

This is the leadership superpower we need in 2025, folks!

Tune in to hear more from this incredible trailblazing leader who's teaching us all how to thrive in uncertainty with spreadsheets AND soul!

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Renu Hooda is Chief People Officer of Credera. Her mission is to leave this world better than she found it by ensuring everyone in an organization feels valued, respected, and has the opportunity to thrive. Making this mission a reality requires persistence and intentionality. She's excited about the challenge to create an equitable culture where current and future generations, including her two daughters, can grow, develop and contribute their strengths to their communities success.

Credera is a global, boutique consulting firm offering a unique consulting model for a changing world that combines business transformation capabilities with deep technology expertise to accelerate growth and build valuable customer experiences.

Learn more about Credera: www.credera.com

Follow Credera on social media:

• Instagram: @lifeatcredera

• Facebook: credera

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