Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Slater.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Having grown up with parents who were business owners I was surrounded by strong entrepreneurial women from a young age, and this led me to start my own consultancy.
In refining my craft, I studied for a Ph.D. in Organization Development and a Master’s in Human Resources Management. I am also a SHRM-certified Senior HR Professional.
My professional expertise has come from over 25 years of work in union and non-union environments and industries. My work is grounded in a belief that everyone deserves work that brings them joy, and great teams begin with intentional, people-first HR practices that align with business strategy.
I am now the CEO and Senior Human Resources Consultant at HR TailorMade — the go-to HR solution for nonprofits.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road; I call it a “faith walk.” God really shook things up in my career to the point where I felt I had no other choice but to change my path.
The biggest struggles I faced were a result of extreme stress that manifested as serious health issues and a subsequent crisis of professional confidence.
I had to undergo two major surgeries in quick succession. First, I had my second thyroid surgery, which ultimately required the removal of the gland. While I was healing from that, I got a call from my doctor saying I needed a hysterectomy. Even though the news wasn’t ideal, I was actually super excited about the second surgery because I was ready to be done with the stress.
After both surgeries, I realized that the growths they found (even though they were benign) were nothing but stress. I knew I was a very healthy person, and there was no other reason for those issues to happen. That was the absolute sign that I couldn’t continue working where I was.
Even when I knew I couldn’t stay at my previous employer, I found that every time I considered applying for a job somewhere else, my stomach turned, and I just couldn’t do it. I was also in a place where I was questioning my own abilities, thinking, “I don’t even know if I’m really good at what I do anymore.” This feeling came from working at places that “beat me up” and made me think horribly about my skills.
Ultimately, my health crisis and the resulting leave of absence were the push I needed. A client opportunity came to me while I was on leave, and I loved the work. Since I couldn’t bring myself to apply for a new job, the only other thing for me to do was to start a business. I did all the research and just started—I had my first client before I even had a name for the business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
HR TailorMade offers fractional HR support to suit small businesses or nonprofit needs.
Our mission is to revolutionize the way nonprofit organizations and small businesses manage human resources.
We believe that effective HR practices should make work environments conducive to joy and cohesive, where employees can thrive (and choose to stay!)
Our team handles everything from onboarding & managing employee relations to benefits administration to guiding team leaders through difficult conversations & exit interviews. We do it virtually, for a fraction of the cost of building an in-house HR department!
We offer virtual HR services across the United States, and we’re ready to help you and your business thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hrtailormade.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-e-slater/
