Kristi Melo is Inter.link’s Associate Director People & Culture and in this article she explains a typical day in her role, what she particularly enjoys, and how to maintain a strong culture even when a company works remotely.
As Associate Director People & Culture, what does your typical day look like?
No two days are the same, but there is always one constant: coffee. Every day starts with coffee.
I am a morning person, so I’ll usually start working decently early in the morning. The first thing that I’ll open is slack, followed by outlook and then my to-do list. I like to tick off as many to-dos from my list before starting a new topic as possible. Sometimes it works, and other times topics come up, and the day goes in a different direction than planned – which is something I very much enjoy!
Days where I have my biweeklies are more focused towards meetings, follow-ups and working through operational topics as much as I can. Heavier focus on the “people” side of people and culture – talking to people, communicating and building relationships.
On other days, its more project work, strategic alignment or operational topics.
What do you particularly enjoy about your role?
What I enjoy most is the variety and the opportunity to make things happen. Being part of People & Culture at Inter.link means I can help shape and build the function as the company grows and evolves. I love the dynamic startup environment, where there’s room to identify opportunities, explore new ideas, test different approaches and turn them into meaningful projects. Things are constantly evolving, which keeps the role exciting and gives me the freedom to be creative, take initiative and make a real impact.
How do you maintain a strong company culture when the majority of staff work remotely?
I think a strong company culture is built on much more than being physically in the same place. It’s about creating a shared sense of purpose, making sure people feel connected and included, and giving everyone the opportunity to contribute, wherever they’re based. These are also points that are highlighted in our company’s CREDO.
For me, the key is being intentional about culture rather than expecting it to happen organically. It’s about creating an environment where people feel a part of something and understand that everything they do has a direct impact on the business.
Have you noticed any major changes in People & Culture in recent years?
Definitely! I think People & Culture has become much more strategic, with a stronger focus on the overall employee experience rather than just processes, operations and policies. The world of work is constantly changing, so we need to be agile, challenge the status quo (our CREDO) and find new ways to support both people and the business. Especially in a startup environment, that ability to adapt and evolve is what makes working in People & Culture so exciting.
What advice would you give to someone starting out working in People & Culture?
Go for it! People & Culture is such a broad and diverse field, with so much room to explore different areas, bring your own ideas to the table and make the role your own.
