Join Julie Riga as she sits down with Lara Hamilton, VP of IT Services at Help Desk Realty, a division of Tectonic, to explore how leading with care, hiring exceptional people, and building systems with a human purpose can create stronger teams and more meaningful impact, not just in IT, but in any organization built around people.
In This Episode:
✨ Why hiring for culture fit is just as important as hiring for skill
✨ How temp to hire arrangements help leaders confirm alignment before committing long term
✨ Why self reflection, not blame, is the real leadership lesson when a hire does not work out
✨ How creating systems with a human purpose reduces frustration and builds trust
✨ Why listening is sometimes the most powerful tool a leader has
✨ How Lara's team supports affordable housing communities through fast, reliable technology
✨ Why doing it scared is the secret to growth in leadership and in life
Key Takeaways:
📌 Hire for Culture, Not Just Skill: Exceptional teams are built through intentional, values aligned hiring
📌 Systems Should Serve People: Technology and process design should always reduce human frustration, not add to it
📌 Purpose Multiplies Impact: Understanding the deeper why behind the work transforms an ordinary job into meaningful work
📌 Reflection Is Leadership: Great leaders look inward first when a hire or a plan does not work out
📌 Do It Scared: Confidence often follows action, not the other way around
Memorable Quotes:
"Leading with care means a lot of things, but for me it is starting with my own employees." – Lara Hamilton
"It is really a failure on yourself and the employee when someone does not work out." – Lara Hamilton
"It could mean the difference between someone being homeless or not." – Lara Hamilton
"Do it scared, and you might find that it is really something you enjoy doing." – Lara Hamilton
Perfect for leaders, managers, and IT professionals who want to build people first teams through empathy, intention, and courageous leadership.
Connect with Lara:
💼 Help Desk Realty, a Division of Tectonic
🛠️ VP of IT Services
📱 Connect with Lara on LinkedIn
Connect with Julie:
🌐 julieriga.com/lead
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