General Motors

Judith Calo

Judith Calo is the HR Director in the corporate staffs and engineering sector at General Motors. She is a passionate and staunch advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equal representation of both genders throughout organizations and society. Calo finds profound gratification in encompassing a multitude of thought processes, varied decision-making methodologies, and diverse personalities. Her vigor and determination are fueled by a blend of cultural, artistic, human resources, social, and business disciplines. In her current role, she works closely with leadership teams to attract, engage, retain and develop great individuals that will ultimately drive General Motor’s performance forward and creating an inclusive culture across the workplace.

In an exclusive interview with Manage HR Canada, Calo shares her valuable insights on the challenges, trends and best practices in strategic talent management space.

What are some of the major challenges and trends that have been impacting the HR industry lately?

A notable conflict arises from differing employee and company expectations regarding remote work and physical presence. Achieving a harmonious equilibrium remains a pivotal challenge.

Another hurdle is the complexity and costs of executing customized perks and benefitsfor multigenerational workforces. Adapting to swift changes in individual needs, industries, and workforce dynamics can also pose a challenge to organizations.

Are there any recent projects that you have been working on and what are some of the technological elements that you leveraged to make the project successful?

My team holds the pivotal responsibility of overseeing the complete employee lifecycle. Collaborating closely with global HR partners, subject matter experts, and people services, we ensure the strategic alignment of talent, fostering an environment where employees feel empowered and secure in their roles. My focus lies in leveraging available technology and processes to facilitate continuous learning and development for our workforce. This entails utilizing resources to enhance employee skills, contributing to their growth within the organization.

“We ensure the strategic alignment of talent, fostering an environment where employees feel empowered and secure in their roles.”

A significant facet of my work involves meticulous human capital planning determining the optimal organizational structure and resource allocation to navigate the diverse stages of our business, both in the short and long term. We work with leadership to whom we provide our insights and recommendations. This partnership extends to the implementation phase, where I work alongside leadership to put strategies into action.

What are some of the technological trends that excite you for the future of the HR industry? 

Over the past decade, the evolution of HR has been marked by its growing proficiency in data utilization, enabling more objective support for business strategies. The integration of data analytics and AI presents an invigorating opportunity to enhance the employee experience, streamline processes, and elevate HR service delivery.

Central to this evolution is the shift towards prioritizing the customer-employee perspective. Placing the employee at the core of operations cultivates engagement and satisfaction, leading to heightened productivity and morale, and also empowers HR Partners to invest their time in forging meaningful personal connections. This approach entails understanding and addressing individual concerns, tailoring solutions within the framework of organizational systems and talent management processes.