For nearly 15 years, we’ve been working with job seekers and human resources leaders to create and sustain joyful workplaces that encourage creativity, a culture of growth, and employee happiness.
A LETTER FROM OUR CEO, LAURA M. LABOVICH
At 13-years old, when all of my friends were getting asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, they responded with a litany of lawyer, doctor, teacher, engineer. And, even at 13, when childhood dreams start to fizzle, a few might still have proudly professed that they’d love to be an actor, a singer or a baseball player, or a combination of all three. But, not a single one would have said human resources manager. That is, except for me.
I remember vividly when my mother said, “Laura, this is the career for you. You get to ensure that others come to work everyday to a job they love.” Unlike many children who decide on a career in middle school only to change their minds shortly thereafter, I followed that dream and went into human resources, spending five years at Walt Disney World, traveling the country and recruiting for the Mouse, and then another five at America Online, in Talent Acquisition and HR. I hoped to be in an HR career for the rest of my life.
But, later, after America Online had its very public merger with Time Warner, I was tasked with organizing and delivering layoffs. One turned into many. And, dozens turned into hundreds. That year, I laid off many of my colleagues and a few of my friends, and I went home many nights to a shower and a long cry.
One day, I watched closely as these employees, my friends, were directed to a room where the outplacement (career transition) consultants had set up shop. And, although these affected employees didn’t walk out of that room happy, they certainly walked out of there less unhappy. That is when it hit me: I knew my calling was to help those people find new jobs.
It took me a while to realize my dream, but it was at that moment that my future was sealed.
And, The Career Strategy Group was born.
To date, I am so grateful to have been able to help job seekers land jobs they love, professionals feel more confident at work, and my unsung hero colleagues in human resources by enabling them to terminate their employees with dignity and compassion.
I am so grateful for the honor to serve you.
About
Laura M. Labovich
As a job search makeover coach, international career innovator, award-winning resume writer, and author with 12+ years of HR experience at Fortune 100 companies—including Disney and America Online, Inc.—Laura M. Labovich is committed to helping high-achieving, mid-career, corporate professionals land a job faster!
As CEO of The Career Strategy Group (www.thecareerstrategygroup.com), she partners with job seekers to transform their job search, and provides outplacement services to employers who are looking to offer their employees a compassionate exit.
Laura has been known to say that she was born and raised professionally at Walt Disney World and, therefore, has the Disney spunk and customer service passion in her blood. After receiving her first promotion out of the polyester costume, she traveled far and wide to recruit for the Walt Disney World College Program, and led the recruitment efforts for Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach water parks. (She even staffed up Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the very first time…pretty exciting!).
At America Online, Inc. she designed and launched AOL’s college internship program and coached hundreds of employees—from entry-level to executive—on how to fit in, stand out, and move up in the company and in their careers.
Her easy-to-implement approach has garnered attention from such national news media as The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, & The Chicago Tribune, and her book, 100 Conversations for Career Success, a book of practical scripts to about what to say and how to say it in a job search, has been named a top-five career book of 2013 by Forbes.com.
CREDENTIALS, AWARDS
AND DISTINCTIONS
- Master’s degree in Labor Relations and Human Resources Management (MLRHR) at Michigan State University
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program – Graduate, 2018
- Recipient, WBENC Small Business Certification, WPEO
- Recipient, Career Innovators Award for 100 Conversations for Career Success, Career Directors International, 2013
- Recipient, President’s Award, Career Directors International, 2008
- Multi-year Judge, Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) competition, 2011, 2012, 2019, present
- Member, Women Business Owners of Montgomery County
- Member, Forbes Coaches Council
- Guild Certified Five O’Clock Club Coach
- Certified Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC)