In today’s edition of “Getting to Know“, we’re talking with Francene Taylor, Director of Talent Acquisition at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and active Board of Directors member. Francene has been an ambassador for DirectEmployers for many years and we are pretty proud to have this southern belle on our side!
Where is your office located?
Atlanta, Georgia in the area we locals call “The Perimeter.”
What does your workspace look like?
No way will I show the utter chaos that’s my whole desk, but here’s a small portion of it – notice the Georgia Tech Alumni mug, prominently displayed…
What does a day on the job look like for you?
There’s no typical day – it could be sourcing and interviewing, building process or managing projects like creating a new onboarding process for our restaurants.
How do you get your day started? (i.e. coffee/tea, news radio, favorite breakfast, etc.)
Usually at 5AM…with coffee in one hand, I stumble downstairs to let the dog out and then check the news online. Out the door no later than 6:30 AM (Atlanta traffic!) with another travel mug of coffee to get me through the commute.
What is your favorite social media platform and why?
I can’t pick just one. Facebook is how I keep in touch with far flung friends, Pinterest is how I let loose my creative side, Yelp is where I go to get and give insight on restaurants and retail, Twitter is how I find trending news, LinkedIn is for all my professional outreach and Tumblr is just plain fun…
iPhone or Android – what kind of phone do you have?
iPhone, although the new Pixel is intriguing…
What is the background photo on your phone?
Me and my mom – one of her last good days before she died.
What’s your favorite HR blog/resource?
Fistful of Talent
What do you like to do for fun?
Hubs and I like to play golf and we travel quite a bit. I also play Words with Friends (obsessively) and read everything I can get my hands on.
Do you listen to music while you work? If so, what do you listen to?
My first choice in music is always Rush…Neil Peart is a percussion god. If I have to concentrate (like on boring budget stuff), then I’ll pop in Rachmaninoff or Bartok or Mahler.
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
I’m building a Talent Acquisition function from the ground up! Doesn’t get any better than that!
What tech gadgets can’t you live without?
My Kindle. Take away my books, you might as well take away the air I breathe.
Last movie you watched?
Seldom go to the movies but never miss The Walking Dead or The Big Bang Theory. Planning to see Dr Strange soon, though.
Last book you read?
Currently re-reading “The Wind in the Willows”. If you haven’t reread lately, I highly recommend it. There are quite a few lessons in there that most adults need to hear again. Also currently reading “Apprentice in Death” since I love murder mysteries…and yes, it’s normal for me to have two or more books in progress at any given time.
Best job advice you ever received?
My best manager helped me grow from an individual contributor into a people-manager and he told me that “the most important thing to remember about being a manager is to give your team the tools and skills they need to do the job…and then get out of their way.”
What is your non-HR dream job?
Owning a combined animal shelter and bookstore.
What’s your favorite thing about being a member of the DirectEmployers Board of Directors?
To quote President Carter:”…that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.” I believe that by actively participating as a board member of DirectEmployers, I’m contributing to making a difference.
What is your favorite thing about attending DEAM?
Reconnecting with old friends and making new ones ranks at the top of the list, followed closely by the insight and knowledge I gain from the sessions.
If you haven’t had a chance to connect with Francene at our Annual Meeting & Conference, be sure to reach out to her and say hello! Connect with her on LinkedIn or in our Member-exclusive community, Connect and stay tuned for another fun interview tomorrow!
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