Kristen Herde

YeaHR! is a consulting agency with the mission of partnering HR into the digital age. We help companies become better digital employers. Enabling a corporate culture that is able to wow digital minds in recruiting as well as inspire existing employees through new ways of collaboration and leadership. As guardians and architects of corporate culture, the employer brand, and organizational change, we help HR role model new ways of working, collaborating, recruiting, and engaging.

I have a passion for inspiring people during times of change and helping them achieve their potential. I offer (in English and German): Project Management + Consulting across all HR disciplines, Expertise in leveraging Web 2.0 in HR, HR Interim services, Coaching to new HR leaders, Executive Coaching, Training and Leadership Development, Design and Facilitation of workshops and conferences, & Key-note speeches on current HR topics. Clients include E.ON, Rosatom, Heraeus, Heraeus Kulzer, Unity Media.

Led team of ~20 HR Business Partners + Center of Excellence employees covering 11 business units and 11 countries. Board’s expert and conduit on people challenges during time of significant business growth and investment (from 500 to 900 employees, 400MW to 4GW capacity, and €7 billion CAPEX since 2007 founding; €551m EBITDA). Steered development of strategic people plans, polices, and processes to enable delivery of business strategy. Also led E.ON-wide project for development of a new expatriate policy.

Temporary role (in parallel to role as HRD) to establish this function in preparation for its integration into the HR Strategy function. One of three DAX 30 colleagues who formed the core team for coordinating the DAX 30 Initiative for increasing the share of female executives. Responsible for providing strategic guidance to Board for the development, implementation and communication of plans to effectively foster diversity at E.ON. Represented E.ON internally and externally as spokesperson for Diversity.

Established global HR function and processes/policies from scratch for E.ON's new international renewables business. Partnered senior leaders to create a rigorous high performance culture coupled with an informal and energizing working environment. Created deliberate “Leadership Principles” to support a new people management style within E.ON supported by a global Performance Management and Reward framework. Role ended due to promotion to HR DIrector.

Led the development of a new People Strategy for E.ON's UK business. Created a long-term strategic resource plan to highlight skills and capabilities gaps due to external marketplace, aging workforce, attrition etc. Developed processes and programs that underpinned employee engagement and employer branding strategies.

Created a Center of Excellence for Resourcing and HR Controlling from scratch. Responsible for delivering high volume business recruitment requirements (1250+ hires p.a. across 13 locations). Led development of employer brand proposition at all recruitment and new hire touch points to support brand transition from Powergen to E.ON. Implemented efficiencies applying lean thinking. Reduced time to hire from 50 to 35 days. Increased online applications from 6% to 70% and employee referrals from 6% to 22%.

Project Manager for the E.ON-wide roll out of a Learning Management System to all employees, including business case development, usability studies, identification and implementation of common training and global eHR processes, system specification, user training and marketing/communication. Directed the team responsible for E.ON Academy’s eLearning and marketing activities. Program managed development of a standard E.ON-wide Project Management training curriculum.

Responsible for introducing eLearning to E.ON and oversaw the optimization of a standard Learning Management System (LMS) for executive learning in corporate universities. Managed a €2 million IT, marketing, and eLearning budget. Led the communication and marketing of management development activities to E.ON units and executive “students” worldwide. Represented E.ON – often as a speaker - at German and international conferences for executive education and eLearning.

Project team member for development of a corporate university for E.ON leaders (E.ON Academy). Created and implemented standard operating framework for the Academy in cooperation with HR Managers across E.ON and developed tools for communicating curriculum to leaders. Developed and led implementation of action plans for increasing student participation and operational efficiency. Identified and managed relationships with international business schools (e.g. Harvard).

Responsible for all events (e.g. trade shows) within global marketing division of an international eBusiness software and business services provider with 300 employees. Directly supervised 2 staff members, managed $1 million events budget. Role ended due to company closure.

Implemented all marketing communications, developed and executed campaigns and coordinated external agencies. Organized events, trade shows and conferences. Assisted in development of new corporate identity in preparation for merger, developed expatriate policy and advised management on opening of new office in Silicon Valley. Role ended due to promotion as part of merger with OAR.

Ranked in the Top 10 in class. Recipient of the President's Award for graduating student with the highest leadership potential and capabilities to fulfill the school's mission.

Focus area: European Union politics. Summer studies of British Literature and Art Histrory at St. John's College, Oxford University, England. Internships with US government and an internship at Buckman Laboratories in Germany. Selected by peers for admission into Rhodes College Hall of Fame.