Alex Duba’s HR journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and a passion for people. After trading snow-covered slopes for global adventures, Duba discovered a deep-rooted interest in understanding what makes individuals and teams thrive. Armed with a business and psychology background, she embarked on a professional path that led her to the heart of company culture.
Duba’s introduction to the world of HR began five years ago at Xero, a company renowned for its exceptional workplace environment. Inspired by their commitment to employee experience, she diligently prepared for her role as a Talent Experience Coordinator. Through rigorous interviews and hands-on training, Duba quickly immersed herself in the fast-paced world of talent acquisition.
“I remember prepping for my interview with Xero by messaging a current PX Coordinator on LinkedIn to learn more about the role,” Duba recalled to HR Daily Advisor. “From there, I wrote out every possible question I thought they could ask me during the phone screen or interviews. Lucky for me, I got the job, and ever since I’ve witnessed time and time again the sincerity, generosity and human-focused culture I had hoped existed.”
Today, Duba serves as People Experience Advisor at the New Zealand-based company where she focuses on coaching and empowering the company’s people leaders, and proactively improving its processes.
“In my role, I have had the privilege of working alongside some seriously skilled and experienced HR professionals who lead with empathy and handle challenging situations with grace,” Duba noted. “In HR, there are always new and unique situations that put your knowledge and capabilities to the test. It’s like having imposter syndrome all the time, but as our CEO, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy once put it, “growth can’t exist without imposter syndrome.””
In our latest Faces, meet Alex Duba.
Who is/was your biggest influence in the industry?
There are dozens of women at Xero who are truly amazing and demonstrate true authenticity, balancing their roles with family, hobbies and personal interests, all while setting healthy boundaries, advocating for their worth and leading by example in the workplace. Kate Westrin and Jana Galbraith both started at Xero the same year as I did and have been since then and continue to be my biggest inspirations in the industry. In fact, I always joke that if they leave, I’m going to follow them where they go. As seasoned HR professionals with decades of experience, they embody qualities that I deeply admire – confidence, joy, adventure, balance, and an appreciation for a glass of wine.
What’s your best mistake and what did you learn from it?
One standout moment – though cringe-worthy – was when I was running late to work and had to ask the U.S. President of Xero at the time to greet an interview candidate in my place. Despite fears that this could ruin the reputation I had built (or could build), Tony Ward was unbelievably gracious about it, teaching me that while mistakes happen, effective communication can mitigate their impact. I learned that day, after overcoming the initial embarrassment, that jumping into action immediately and communicating the situation helped to make the situation less uncomfortable for the candidate sitting in the lobby, as we were able to find a solution that worked for all parties. Tony was an amazing leader who led with his heart. It was a great example of how someone at the top level embraced our #MakeItHuman values, showing grace to someone at a much lower level. I’m very grateful for that experience.
What’s your favorite part about working in the industry? What’s your least favorite part, and how would you change it?
My favorite part about working in the industry is you get to know and understand people in unconventional ways. At Xero, our PX team is empowered to provide holistic support when handling various situations and consider individual needs while balancing the needs of the business. Xero’s teams are also very closely knit, which helps create strong bonds among colleagues who rely on each other in their roles. The nature of the work also varies greatly, providing new challenges and growth opportunities on a consistent basis.
My least favorite part is the stress that comes with supporting difficult, multi-faceted situations. It’s an inevitable part of the job, and while there are ways to be proactive and prepare as best as you can, ultimately not everything is in your control, which is something I struggle with. This is partially why it’s so important to have close working relationships within your team, as it enables you to feel supported throughout the various processes.
It sounds like through your experience you really care about people, and you want to help them feel safe and comfortable, which is important in the industry. Please elaborate here.
Absolutely. It’s extremely fulfilling to play a role in ensuring your people feel supported and capable. From a business perspective, I firmly believe that when employees feel this way, they perform better, align with our values and stay with us to see out our vision. This creates a positive cycle of engagement and success within any organization.
Where do you see the industry heading in five years? Or are you seeing any current trends?
I’m seeing quite a bit of content pointing towards the use of AI to support HR functions, to successfully lower the number of administrative tasks we facilitate while also equipping us with the information that can best support us at any given moment. This, in turn, allows us to do more strategic work and put more time and energy back into our employees. I also imagine we’ll see company cultures shift as Gen Z begins to occupy more of the workforce in the coming years, placing a higher value on things like diversity, inclusion, and belonging and mental health.
What are you most proud of?
There’s so much I’m proud of at Xero. One area that has especially stood out to me is our parental leave policy, which allows parents to take up to six months of leave upon having a baby or adopting. Xero’s parental leave policy includes 26 weeks’ full pay for primary carers, six weeks for partners, ‘keeping in touch’ days and flexible return to work. This model supports all employees, fostering gender equality and inclusivity in modern families. This support, though uncommon in the U.S., is incredibly beneficial for mothers, babies and families alike. Having my first child last year, I found the leave incredibly beneficial for his well-being, even though I was eager to return to work by the end of it.
Do you have any advice for people entering the profession?
Never stop learning, always assume the best intent, and have someone in your corner you can vent to—you’ll need that from time to time throughout your career.
The post <strong>Faces of HR: From Backpacker to HR Professional—How Alex Duba Built a Career in People and Culture</strong> appeared first on HR Daily Advisor.