VICTORIA – Human resources has always taken a standardized approach when it comes to business organization and operation, which is why Denise Lloyd, Founder and CEO at Engaged, believed she could shake things up with a new dynamic.
“I left a career working in HR for non-profit organizations and a tech company and then started Engaged HR in 2011 with the intention of wanting to support non-profits and small businesses with the foundational HR elements that are so important to creating a great place to work,” says Lloyd. “Starting out by myself, we hired our first employee in 2013 and have been on a growth trajectory since then.”
Lloyd had always been extremely passionate about not-for-profit organizations and wanted to offer the structure and support that other companies possessed and often took for granted. However, she believed she could do even better by providing a team of experienced professionals that could manage an organization’s HR needs, much like a digital marketing company might manage the marketing needs of a business. And that is exactly what she and Arie Epstein, Managing Partner at Engaged, did.
Denise Lloyd and Arie Epstein, co-owners of Engaged HR
“Not-for-profit organizations often do not have the funds to focus on internal needs and are very focused on fulfilling the needs of their mission, so all their money goes to serving their clients,” says Lloyd. “We started out as typical consulting firm, providing general HR support, but we have grown to really expand our services to include a range of services that is typically only available to larger organizations.”
“Now, we are able to provide a fully functional HR department at an enterprise level but for the cost of a single HR professional.”
The pride felt by the company is palpable, starting from such humble roots and growing to service over 400 organizations across the country, impacting the day-to-day lives of thousands of employees and being one of the largest organizations of its kind in Canada. The company is also unique in that it is just like the clients it serves – they have employees and staff just like any other organization, whereas most consultancy firms are cobbled together with contractors. Engaged is also fully remote, with some employees offering on-site assistance.
“For us, our organization doesn’t only compete with other organizations,” says Epstein. “Primarily, our main competitor is in-house HR – our goal is to show organizations that they are better off going with a team approach as opposed to a single HR person,” says Epstein.
Denise Lloyd started Engaged with the purpose of helping bolster HR services for small-to-medium sized businesses
Engaged’s commitment to making a difference and shaking up the industry extends beyond its commercial endeavours. Going back to its not-for-profit roots, the company strongly believes in giving back. Through its Engaged for Good program, Engaged offers a unique opportunity for non-profits to access its expertise and services pro bono.
“We wanted to give non-profits an opportunity to turn the attention and serve themselves and their workforce with something relevant in the HR space,” says Lloyd. “It might be helping them create their first employee handbook or revamp their performance review system or something that is going to help them create a great workplace so that their staff can focus on doing great things in the community.”
The Engaged for Good initiative provides a $5000 grant to eligible non-profit organizations, enabling them to engage Engaged’s services and expertise. This empowers non-profits to enhance their internal operations, streamline processes, and create a more efficient and engaging workplace.
And that’s not all. Engaged’s dedication to disrupting the HR landscape is also evident through its flagship event, DisruptHR, a dynamic conference that brings together industry leaders, HR experts, and legal professionals to challenge conventional thinking and drive meaningful change. DisruptHR aims to inspire and educate attendees, offering a platform for thought-provoking discussions and innovative ideas.
The upcoming DisruptHR event, taking place on October 17, 2024, at the Victoria Conference Centre, is highly anticipated and tickets always sell out. Engaged strives to create an immersive experience, leaving attendees with a renewed sense of purpose and a fresh perspective on HR practices. By supporting these organizations and creating the space for conversation and disruption, Engaged aims to create a positive social impact and contribute to a better world.
