🌟Empathetic Recruiter🌟Driven🌟Relationship Zealot 🌟Coach 🌟Elevated Experiences 🌟Organizational Development Specialist 🌟 Employee Engagement Leader

Executive Empress Executive Coaching & Recruiting

Executive Recruiting Partner:  Concierge-Style
Working with urgency and empathy, I make my clients look good while filling their executive roles with exceptional candidates.

Executive Recruiter

My experience as a C-Suite leader/hiring manager, corporate trainer, and recruiter have positioned me well to provide the following services. 

Executive Coaching: 
My passion is in developing people. My Executive Coaching clients range from mid-level and growing to senior leaders refining their leadership skills and navigating their leadership journey. We tackle the pillars of leadership and incorporate individual experiences as well.

Career & Job Search Coaching:
My background as a recruiter (both corporate & agency), and hiring manager, as well as building a large LinkedIn community, gives me insight into the rollercoaster that is job searching. Many of my job search clients are looking for growth opportunities while others have been laid off and need work quickly.

Executive Coach 

RECRUIT CRM: Affiliate Partnership
(Aug 2023 - Current)
This ATS + CRM is magical. Never ghost a candidate again with Recruit CRM keeping you organized and efficient.
https://recruitcrm.io/?linkId=lp_056505&sourceId=lisa-dean&tenantId=recruitcrm

MASSIVE: Brand Ambassador
(Dec 2023 - Current)
Massive applies to 50 jobs a week FOR you! I’m a cheerleader for them! Let it work in quantity remote applications while you work on local hybrid and on-site quality applications. Today’s market calls for a variety of strategies.
usemassive.com/?via=lisa

RESUME GENIUS: Contributing Partner
(Nov 2023 - Current)
Resume Genius has asked me to partner with them as an Industry Expert with Resume Reviews. You can find out more about them (and me) here. https://resumegenius.com/about 

EARNBETTER: Affiliate Partner
(Jan 2023-March 2023)

TEAL: Affiliate Partner / Brand Ambassador
(Oct 2023 -April 2024)
Teal simplifies your job search and helps you land your next position sooner with their all-in-one suite of tools.
http://tealhq.co/empatheticrecruiter

METAVIEW: Affiliate Partner
(Oct 2023)
Let Metaview take all your notes so you can focus on the candidate conversation.
https://www.metaview.ai/r/l_dean

Brand Ambassador/Affiliate Partnership

City Wide Facility Solutions - Oklahoma City

*I left City Wide as a full-time recruiter to focus on my dream of being a solopreneur. I continued my relationship with City Wide by partnering with them as my first recruiting contract client. 

City Wide is a B2B sales and management company that provides single source solutions for all building maintenance services.

At City Wide, I hired for all our internal corporate roles, entry level to leadership, in Oklahoma City and in Tulsa. 

● My new team members are at 90% new hire retention at 90 days. 
● Time to hire, phone screen to offer, less than 30 days
● Many roles are heavier on attracting passive clients using sales outreach methods.

Director of Internal Business Operations & Recruiting

Confidential Recruiting Agency - Manufacturing/Supply Chain

●	Developed and implemented scalable company-wide forms, processes & policies.
●	Used a variety of sourcing strategies to attract and recruit high-caliber target candidates through online social networking, job boards, professional networking.
●	Led full-cycle recruiting, technical and non-technical, in the manufacturing space.
●	Worked closely with candidates on a weekly basis, cultivating relationships through the pipeline.

Sr. Recruiter

Comma Insurance

As an early leader in this startup, I partnered with the CEO in a GM role. As we restructured, I chose to focus on Experience Operations as Chief Experience Officer.
●	Led the leadership team of a fast-paced startup company, growing the company 600%, instilling value for the Voice of the Customer, Voice of the Business Partner and Voice of the Employee.
●	Collaborated with CEO to drive organizational vision and operational strategy. 
●	Created the partner roadmap B2B and client roadmap B2C to ensure a world-class experience.
●	Constructed and directed the onboarding process for new agencies in our B2B operations, including opening branches, creating LLC, obtaining business insurance, etc.
●	Produced and led the producer recruiting process for all new agencies. 
●	Change agent leading strategic organizational development and design initiatives including implementation and holding the employees accountable. 
●	Implement talent management strategies, including attracting/recruiting, onboarding, performance management, succession planning and talent review.
●	Leadership collaboration to understand business needs proactively while addressing areas in need.
●	Developed key metrics for the company to manage efficiency, effectiveness, and capacity.
●	Proactively built scalable and automated processes, procedures and systems - SOPs.
●	Led collaboration with teams across the business to assess current and future needs.
●	Developed program to promote and train new leaders.
●	Cultivated culture and values to foster and develop a team in alignment with our culture. 
●	Designed ongoing employee engagement strategies.

●	Achieved 92% customer retention by leading initiatives to recruit, develop, and train high-performing teams with a strong focus on client experience.
●	Directed initiative to increase 5-star Google reviews by over 1,000%.
●	Effectively managed, led, mentored and coached high-performing teams across multiple departments.

Chief Experience Officer

Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc.

●	Provided guidance and support to all department leaders, identifying needs and solutions for resolving complex employee relation issues.
●	Partnered with branch owners across multiple states to implement processes that result in delivering consistent world-class employee and client experiences.
●	Engaged and facilitated solutions for senior leaders, middle management, and new leaders.
●	Assessed needs and skill gaps for employees and developed training courses to meet their needs.
●	Conducted coaching and feedback sessions with other leaders and their teams to determine each team’s needs and facilitate team improvements and management. 
●	Led and influenced cross functional projects and initiatives that supported the business and maintained employee engagement.
●	Created the training department, concept to execution, for a nation-wide company, including establishing the strategic planning process and operating procedures.
●	Cultivated a culture that led to winning the Top Workplace award from the Daily Oklahoman.
●	Created, conducted, and evaluated over 100 training sessions on culture, best practices, efficiency and soft skills using alternating training methods to diversify instruction and strengthen learning opportunities.
●	Designed and implemented onboarding program for all new hires.
●	Created, organized, and edited training manuals and multimedia educational materials.
●	Built and developed a red-carpet Client Experience organization across multi-state locations.

Regional Director of Corporate Training & Client Experience

Director of Corporate Training

4Corners Homes

●	Founded the Customer Care department and increased customer survey scores from 37% to 83% satisfaction within the first year.
●	Delivered a 50%+ reduction in customer contract cancellation by spearheading cross-functional initiatives to improve bottom-line profits and achieve business goals.
●	Handled all customer escalated calls.
●	Implemented Traction EOS management plan, which defined all team member roles.
●	Hired, managed, and trained employees to maximize productivity and efficiency.
●	Created processes to create a consistent, elevated experience while boosting quality.
●	Engaged with 500 customers to effectively build rapport and lasting relationships.

Vice President of Customer Care

Director Of Customer Care

●	Managed a team of 20 sales and marketing professionals.
●	Grew sales team by sourcing well-qualified candidates using new recruitment strategy, including hosting Sales Career Nights.
●	Increased business profits by streamlining and simplifying processes.
●	Functioned as Editor in Chief for all public company documents and marketing campaigns.
●	Created and managed the company’s marketing budget.
●	Developed a quality assurance program for designer and model homes.
●	Attended trade shows and client meetings to increase brand awareness and build relationships with prospects and partners.
●	Planned and executed all company events, including VIP partner events, customer education, and full-scale vendor family events.
●	Negotiated with outside vendors.

Marketing & Sales Manager

Executive Assistant to VP of Sales & Marketing

If you’re ambitious but feeling stuck in your career, let me help you navigate your next steps. 

I reached the c-suite as Chief Experience Officer on the leadership team, and I now use my experience and knowledge to coach others the leadership skills and strategy it takes to climb the ladder. 

After transitioning from teaching into corporate, I earned 7 promotions and made 3 pivots over 12 years across multiple companies and industries. 

It’s not because I’m more amazing than the next amazing person; it’s intentional and strategic. I can help you do the same! 

Building your knowledge around the pillars of leadership is my passion! We’ll work on positioning you to move on up - or move on out. But either way, you’ll become seen and appreciated for your gifts. 📈 

My background gives me a unique perspective to help you!
✨ C-level Executive 
✨ Hiring Manager & Coach 
✨ Corporate Trainer/Coach
✨ Agency Recruiter
✨ In-house Talent Acquisition 
✨ Executive Assistant to the VP of Sales & Marketing
✨ Teacher

I started my business, Executive Empress, in Feb 2022. Two years later, I resigned my corporate job to spend full time in my business working on my coaching passions. 

My business combines my talents in Executive Coaching + Executive Recruiting

- - - - - 
For Businesses Only:
As an Executive Recruiter, I partner with companies to hire top management and leadership candidates. 

Who better to hire executives than an executive with experience recruiting. hiring, and running a business?


About Me:
I'm a passionate executive with a wide range of industry experience. I've been a leader within startups going through massive growth, and a change agent within well-established organizations. 

Every experience I provide is elevated, red carpet, concierge-style. 

www.ExecutiveEmpress.com

Lisa Dean

Sun Peaks Resort

Director of Employee Experience & HR (Winter Contract)

Okanagan Elevator

Established business in Kelowna and expanded market reach, exceeding sales targets and tripling revenue through in-depth market analysis, business development and scaling processes and talent.

Developed and executed HR strategy in a challenging hiring market for the skills required, achieving zero turnover through retention initiatives.

Co-founder & Owner / VP People & Sales

BSharp Coaching & Consulting

- Executive and career coaching
- Business and board consultant
- Organization design and development
- Strategic development, process creation and continuous improvement

Consultant & Executive Coach

Numeris

Hired to transform from reactive research focus to a proactive data company; strategic workforce exercise to review company talent end-to-end, prioritize future needs and address skills/training gaps. 
•	Led and managed a multi-level team across Human Resource Business Partners, Generalists, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, DEIB, Wellness and Recognition. Elevated the function to get out of reactive supervisor level thinking, into proactive strategic management.

Director of People & Culture

FreeAgent CRM

Recruited by Co-Founders to lead HR operations, focusing on talent acquisition and retention for CRM platform during a market downturn. CRM niche focused in the medical field. 
•	Launched and executed an employer brand campaign, increasing job applications by 300%, attracting top talent from Apple, Slack, and EA Games to an unknown B2B SaaS CRM start-up. 
•	Revamped employee relations and talent strategy for a remote and on-site workforce across India, Mexico, the US, and Canada. Restructured the sales organization and solutions consultants.

Head Of Human Resources 

Interior Health Authority

In the Organization & Leadership Development function:
Succession planning framework for a health authority serving 800K people in a forest fire-prone region. 

•	Assigned to complete a case study for recruitment for a prior Director, reviewing the health authority mandate, available data, high-level root causes, issues and make key recommendations to resolve. 
•	Uncovered talent reporting and succession data and insights that were previously unknown to the management team responsible for recruitment and L&OD at the time.
•	Proposed several tactics and plans to approach executive succession planning, and succession planning across Interior Health; including hands on support with a request process available to the entire organization, a full executive team review, and partnering with the VP and board. 

Contract role converted to permanent; left for a headhunted contract opportunity and promotion.

Consultant - Executive Succession Planning & Leadership Development

WestJet

During my tenure at WestJet, I was entrusted with leading the comprehensive People & Culture strategy leading up to the airline’s acquisition by Onex. This included developing and executing a global strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate goals, and optimizing workforce strategies. I spearheaded the creation of a P&C "war room" to facilitate complex planning, which later evolved into a COVID command center. 

In addition supporting the governance and all People & Culture board documents, I was deeply involved in shaping WestJet’s long-term people strategy, from improving organizational culture to enhancing employee engagement and leadership development. My proactive approach and ability to pivot under pressure helped the company maintain strong leadership during uncertain times.

People & Culture - Executive Strategy

Continuously promoted through over a decade long career in Aviation; successful in working across multiple verticals from HR, Operations, Commercial and Finance. Known for my approach to leadership and talent management, and mentorship program experience – recruited to help teams shift performance and strategy.

•	Promoted to oversee and support a 150-person team, developing a five-year people strategy to drive the airline's expansion. This included building a talent strategy to identify the critical skills needed for the future of the airline, while investing in improved technology and advanced network capabilities.
•	Creation and management of a $$MM department budget, and close collaboration with all business unit leaders across the company to ensure HR needs were met through budget and operations. 
•	Developed P&C metrics and a five-year scorecard and strategy with Power BI to help optimize and measure successful delivery.

Executive Advisor to the People and Culture team

•	Promoted to direct three teams across Canada (logistics, customs, dangerous goods). Created technical talent strategy for areas of expertise outside of my wheelhouse by building trust and relationships with the team, active listening and root cause problem solving. Identified talent needs, created a candidate pipeline, and put in place a five-year succession plan that went on to sustain the airline to present-day (on their third planned move of five, years after I left).
•	Reshaped team structure for scalability, accelerated recruitment process and hired new customs specialist to support the recovery of $1M in duties.

Manager - Global Logistics

•	Leveraged ADKAR and Prosci methodology, combining change management and project management approaches to drive the adoption of new initiatives. My approach was commended and used as a template for the organization roll-out. 
•	Led change management initiatives, including WestJet’s shift to a global airline, Office 365 implementations, and the transition from on-premises drives to Microsoft Teams, improving operational efficiency and collaboration.

Change Management Lead

•	Developed a cross-functional talent pipeline, guiding seven team members to 2-3 level promotions over two years by equipping them with new skills and career interests.
•	Implemented an AI audit vendor procurement that reduced the audit cycle from three months to three days and upgraded a custom industry platform to align with a new commission model.

Manager - Travel Agency Payment Services

•	Recruited, mentored, and developed team members, driving professional growth and elevating team performance from last place to 4th through data-driven strategies.
•	Developed a custom mentorship program for new leaders and large volumes of peak period coverage.
•	As a new leader in the department, identified a pattern in reporting of time theft and fraud. Collaborated with HR to address, leading investigations that resulted in the termination of 50 employees and then trained existing leaders in their system on fraud detection.

Leader - Contact Centre

•	Talent strategy for mid-to-executive level in multiple teams and over 50 locations: design and launch of innovative company-wide talent programs, both formal and self-serve, including planning and facilitation of leadership learning and conferences with 200 network leaders. 
•	Creation and facilitation of coveted mentorship programs, and other tactical development plans to address talent gaps in multiple difficult to hire regions – leading to 85% promotion rate. 
•	Successful in gaining executive sponsorship and funding for enterprise-wide cloud implementations related to global talent and recognition.

HR Operations Manager (Various roles and promotions in the same team)

- Workforce planning 
- High volume recruiting
- Scheduling relief duties
- Crew Chief & shift leadership
- Project based assignments, process optimization and change management

Various roles

BSharp Big Arts

An idea made into a colourful reality and social experiment to remind adults in a variety of corporate settings of the power of play in creativity and innovation. Large scale interactive art company partnering with TD Bank, GoPro and Travel Alberta and more. We wrapped up operations with the onset of Covid-19.

Co-founder & Owner

Kim Standeven Coaching

Business and Support Service Manager

Hilton

I cut my teeth in hospitality as a server and room service attendant. This was a fun role that gave me insight to hospitality and tourism and led to a 13 year career at WestJet Airlines in Calgary.

Server & Room Service Attendant

Executive Leader | HR Strategist | Community Builder | Creator of #Hirethishuman

With over 15 years of senior leadership experience across aviation, healthcare, research, tech, and startup environments, I specialize in aligning strategy, culture, and operations to drive scalable growth. From founding and scaling businesses, to leading remote work transitions and building talent pipelines with award-worthy culture programs, I bring a unique blend of strategic foresight and hands-on execution that elevates both business performance and employee experience. I’ve led enterprise-wide change in complex environments — from airlines navigating global expansion to tech startups scaling in volatile markets.

As a trusted advisor to C-suite teams and Boards, who also connects authentically with my teams and frontline employees, I’ve built high-impact organizations and functions from the ground up (E.g. Operations, Sales, People & Culture and Logistics), designed leadership succession models, and turned undervalued employer brands into talent magnets. I’ve led teams across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, India and more, always focused on fostering belonging with inclusive, high-performing cultures whether on-site or remote. My approach is both analytical and human — using data and insights to inform action, and empathy to build trust and resilience through change.

I’m currently open to executive, strategic and business partnering opportunities where I can solve real world problems and contribute to long-term value creation. Whether it's scaling a growing business, supporting founders through transformation, or bringing calm clarity to complex organizational challenges, I thrive at the intersection of people and performance. Let’s connect!

Laurel Burns

When actions, words and values are in alignment, we shine. 

Let yourself live boldly. Be who you are, and speak your truth. 

As Dr. Seuss perfectly put it: those who mind won't matter, and those who matter wont mind.

Laurel Burns (MBA)

Exec Leader & Strategist | 15+ Years of Driving Org Growth & Transformation | Entrepreneur & Founder | Ex-Airlines/Research/Health Care/B2B SaaS | Creator of #Hirethishuman

Give yourself the gift of a compliment today. Say something as nice to the person in the mirror as you do the one in the hallway. 

You deserve kind words. 

This might be a greeting card holiday, but any day that shines a light on the power of love is good in my books.

Intuition and fear can be split by a hair some days. 

The space between discipline and surrender is no different. Sometimes the moment between inspiration and action here is microscopic - and missing that window can be the difference between stagnation and meaningful alignment to your goals, values and/or purpose. 

Make moves towards what matters.

Change fatigue can be an early warning sign for broader risks in rising preventable sick time, attrition and psychological safety concerns. 

When leaders and employees don't feel supported in change or overwhelmed with pace, stress behaviours show up. 

Sensing change fatigue as one early indicator will increasingly be a critical skill in organizations as the legislation around psychological safety catches up and expects the same supports and risk mitigation to physical safety (latest release in BC Dec 2025) . 

Get ahead of it now!

View newsletter: Balanced Change™ Insights

Open article: Spotting Change Fatigue Before it Breaks Your Team by Levvel Inc. • 3 min read

Spotting Change Fatigue Before it Breaks Your Team

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