A human resource professional, Anna Maiden made the bold leap to entrepreneurship and now shares her expertise with small businesses and nonprofits.
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As Good as it Gets
Two years ago, I had a conversation with a colleague who suggested I start my own human resources consulting company because, as she put it, “You are really good at this.” So I took her advice and started my company, Cornerstone HR Consulting, LLC.
Throughout my career in human resources in K-12 education, I have held numerous positions, including Equal Opportunity and Compliance Director, Chief Human Resources Officer and Assistant Superintendent for Organizational Development/HR. My expertise is employee database/HRIS implementation, mediation, compensation and classification, evaluation/performance, strategic planning, worker’s compensation, benefits administration and wellness initiatives.
Continuing Education
Although my background is specific to K-12 education, I believe the business of human resources transcends all industries. As a Consultant, I have provided human resources related services to other industries within the small businesses and nonprofit sectors
As a result of my work, I was the recipient of the Wellness Council of Arizona’s Leadership Award for a large business healthy workplace program. And, a nominee in the large employer category of the SHRM-GT’s Celebrating Innovation in the Workplace Annual Awards event.
The Real Thing
The most challenging thing about my career as a Consultant is fighting imposter syndrome. The most rewarding is the feeling I get when I have a client who contacts me and says, “I need help with something related to human resources and I know you are the one that can help me.”
My advice to other women who are thinking about striking out on their own is don’t give up, even when it is hard. Find a mentor; someone you can trust to brainstorm ideas.
Looking to the Future
My goal is to build my business with a steady client base so I can feel rewarded on a daily basis. IAW’s webinars have been instrumental in helping me shape my business. They are practical and offer thought-provoking advice that I have used over time. I encourage all members to take the time to check out all of the resources IAW has to offer and take advantage of them.
