From Lawyer to Employer: Season 4, Episode 9 | Beyond HR: How Expanding Your Role Can Transform Your Impact

What happens when a Chief Human Resources Officer steps beyond traditional HR and takes on operations, facilities, communications, and more?

In this episode of From Lawyer to Employer, host Daniel Schwartz sits down with veteran HR leader Jeanine Reckdenwald to explore what it really takes to move from functional expertise to enterprise leadership.

Jeanine shares how expanding her role reshaped the way she thinks about people, process, and performance—and why HR leaders are uniquely positioned to drive business outcomes across an organization. From overcoming the fear of stepping into unfamiliar territory to building financial fluency and aligning competing executive priorities, this conversation offers practical insights for anyone looking to grow their leadership impact.

Key takeaways include:

• How HR decisions influence operations, finance, and customer experience
• The mindset shift from expert to enterprise leader
• Metrics that matter when connecting people strategy to business results
• Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them) when expanding your role
• Why strong teams and early wins are critical to success

Whether you're in HR, leadership, or business operations, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how breaking out of silos can unlock meaningful results.