Want to be a global tech leader with less meetings? Laura tells us how
Ever wondered how Dropbox executives manage to lead international Virtual First teams as we build the future of work together? The secret isn’t just cold brew coffee. Global HRBP VP Laura Ryan told us how she finds empowerment for her all female team (and herself) to grow their careers while also protecting their work life balance.
What was the transition moving from regional to global like? What had to shift in your role?
Working in a regional role is challenging and requires you to make some shifts in your life, but people are generally very accommodating, and we are getting far more conscious of times zones as we expand. The nature of HR work in and of itself means you are constantly reacting, so it’s often hard to predict in advance.
How do you manage time zones and Core Collaboration Hours (CCH) in your role?
CCH have been a game changer, and the move to “async by default” has transformed my calendar. While I still have a large number of meetings in a day, I get to have full control of my calendar.
I try to start work a little later two days a week to accommodate NAMER meetings. I have adhoc meetings with APJ and so will weave those into my early mornings as they crop up, but they are not reoccurring so it’s very manageable. I try to have no meetings on Friday afternoons, which is my chance to catch up on actions from the week and get organized for the week ahead. Since doing this, I have found that I don’t have to work weekends at all, which is wonderful. And outside of CCH hours, I get to catch up on work, think, or get extra time with my children.
What are some practical ways you stay connected to your direct reports and ensure impact in their role, setting them up for success and career growth?
I lead a senior team of all directors and above, so they are very mature and autonomous. We have weekly 1:1s, a global HRBP meeting and then an operational meeting to talk through team management and HR cycles.
How does Dropbox invest in your leadership growth?
I feel incredibly supported at Dropbox. I’ve been given increased scope and stretch assignments, and have also been lucky enough to partake in our summit program. Dropbox also sponsored an executive coaching program for me in 2020 and I am very grateful for that.