Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Shama Walji

Carrie is joined by Shama Walji, Director of Human Resources at Royop Development Corporation. A human-centered HR professional and CPHR, she has a passion for developing organizational culture, employer branding, and occupational health and safety. She describes how she joined at a time post-Covid when Royop’s fragmented culture needed structure and “scaffolding” to support growth, and has now doubled the team size to over 80 employees and counting.

Shama explains how values like “respectful collaboration and entrepreneurial mindset” became more than just words, and how new initiatives in health, wellness, and team training helped bring employees together—and keep them engaged. Shama points out how they are gender-balanced and culturally diverse, not by design, but by focusing on hiring the right people for the job. She explains how intentional recruitment and bias checks set the foundation for meaningful Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

She is proud of the “Canada’s Best Managed” award, won for environmental, social, and governance standards—and she’s excited to keep building on that success. Listen in for more on how she’s been helping reshape a 60-year-old company’s culture from the inside out.

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

"There's power in the pause."

"Some of the best HR work will never be shared because itlives in stories that can’t be told.”

"Clear is kind."

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Shama emphasizes the importance of understanding organizational culture before implementing changes
• Building relationships within the team is crucial for effective HR management
• Values should align with both personal and professional lives for better buy-in
• An entrepreneurial mindset can lead to innovative practices within a company
• Clear communication is a key aspect of effective leadership
• HR professionals must balance administrative and compliance duties with employee support
• Investing in employee development leads to higher retention rates
• Diversity in leadership roles can positively impact company culture
• AI can enhance HR processes but requires careful policy management
• Continuous improvement in health and safety practices is essential for employee well-being

LINKS FROM EPISODE:Learn more about Royop @ Website: https://royop.com/

Shama Walji on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shama-walji-b5825457/

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Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Enrique Dubon-Roberts

What do family law and time accounting have to do with leadership? Enrique Dubon-Roberts, partner at BDL family law shares his take on leading law professionals with a gentle approach. As an award-winning lawyer, mediator and former high school teacher, he has a lot of experience reading the room and connecting with his team.

Enrique’s journey from a classroom to founding partner was anything but linear, and he explains how letting his “teacher heart” guide his leadership style leads to both team cohesion and client care. His firm is nothing like the popular legal drama “Suits”. They work to be proactive in client work, so that late nights aren’t the norm.

He and his partner make intentional choices in their physical space, services they offer and how they choose who they work with to ensure alignment throughout. We talked about the differences between individual contributor vs. the mindshare of ownership and leading a team.

Enrique is candid about his time and priorities and having his family’s support after moving from El Salvador.

Listen in to hear where he gets his inspiration!

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

• “As lawyers we’re taught that our productivity has to be measured in six-minute intervals all day, every day. And the reality is we're not machines.”
• “Be a little gentler on yourself.”
• “It takes me 40 minutes to get my coffee. Not because it takes that long to make a cup of coffee. But because I want to sense how the office is.”

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Creating a supportive culture is essential for employee satisfaction.
• Work-life balance is prioritized in Enrique's law firm.
• Mentorship is a key focus for developing young lawyers.
• Gentle leadership fosters a positive work environment.
• Personal well-being is vital for effective leadership.
• Alignment of vision is crucial for team dynamics.
• Teaching experience enhances social awareness in the workplace.
• Setting clear expectations helps avoid misunderstandings.
• Inspiration can be drawn from public figures and their wisdom.

LINKS FROM EPISODE:

Learn more about BDL Family Law @ Website: https://bdlfamilylaw.com/

Enrique on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/enrique-dubon-roberts-a2281a70/

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Like What You Heard?

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Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Sandra Kokotovic

Discover how a quest for freedom and travel led Sandra Kokotovic, Co-founder and Creative Director of Snap Advantage, from startup employee to a role driving the future of biohacking and wellness marketing as a Fractional CMO.

Whether dealing with team members who instinctively “get it” before she asks, or facing resistance from entrenched staff (“I don’t work for her!”), Sandra’s candid stories reveal the importance of top-level endorsement and providing a genuine ‘why’ behind every decision, especially when managing cross-culturally.

Ever had a client light up a cigarette during a Zoom call? Sandra drops nuggets from around the globe, using analogies like the old “smoke break” for stress relief, and how different cultures embed flexibility in remote professionalism. As an immigrant from Romania, and an avid traveller, she has international perspectives and experience.

Leading contractors and staff in a remote work environment has its challenges and she talks about having to fire someone quickly. Sandra leads a lean team spanning Ecuador, the Philippines, Bosnia, Tunisia, Portugal, and beyond. She shares the pitfalls and the upsides!

QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:

• “To keep everyone excited and on track, we're breaking that [company goal] down and explaining at every stage of the funnel, what moves the needle.”
• “I can buy time; I can’t buy attention.”
• “I’m very protective of the quality of my team.”

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Data-driven marketing strategies are critical to achieving sustainable growth
• Build trust in remote teams for effective collaboration and project success
• Metrics should be tailored to each role within the team to ensure accountability and clarity
• Hiring the right team members is essential; founders should focus on sales before bringing in help
• Leaders should back their team members publicly while addressing issues privately
• Delegating tasks sooner leads to better focus on high-leverage activities

LINKS FROM EPISODE:

Learn more about Snap Advantage @ Website: https://snapadvantage.com/

Sandra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandrakokotovic/

Sandra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrakokotovic/

Sandra on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sandrakokotovic

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Like What You Heard?

Don’t forget to subscribe or follow us on YouTube or your favorite podcast service, so you never miss an episode!

Interested in being a guest on Suits & Sneakers? APPLY HERE