In an era defined by workforce disruption, rising employee expectations, and AI reshaping how organizations operate, two HR executives, Nicole DuBois, Chief Human Resources Officer at Graham Windham; and Oksana Lukash, Chief People Officer at People, Culture, You, LLC are confronting workplace realities that many HR leaders are quietly navigating but rarely articulate.
These two leaders are not simply adapting to change, they are redesigning how organizations think about people, culture, and leadership.
Nicole DuBois – Chief Human Resources Officer, Graham Windham
Transforming a 200-Year Legacy in Child & Family Services
Graham Windham, founded in 1806, serves thousands of children and families across New York City through foster care, education, family support, and behavioral health. According to Nicole DuBois, who has been with the organization for 19 years, HR inside a mission-driven nonprofit requires balancing heart, safety, and operational reality.
Nicole never set out to pursue a career in HR. She began in social work and research until a mentor pointed out that she was already doing the work of a head of HR. “I built everything from scratch systems, processes, structures and realized I loved this field,” she shared.
In an environment where the stakes are high and staff encounter real human needs every day, psychological safety and inclusivity function as operating principles. They shape Graham Windham’s decision-making, especially during moments of crisis or uncertainty.
For example, during and after the federal government shutdown, Graham mobilized a cross-organizational Food Security Task Force to support children, families, communities, and staff facing gaps in basic needs.
“We brought teams together to strategize, act quickly, and make sure no one fell through the cracks,” Nicole said. “That kind of collective response reinforces trust.”
Graham is also investing in renovating its Learning Culture, a long-term effort grounded in thought leadership, shared accountability, and feedback from an inclusive “One Graham Learning Culture” think tank. This group will shape how learning is experienced across the organization, ensuring it reflects the voices of those doing the work every day.
Nicole attributes a rise in organizational engagement over the past year to these shared-leadership approaches, peer coaching, co-led initiatives, and structures that amplify employee voice.
“We lead by committee because our staff deserve to be part of decisions that directly impact their daily environment,” she said. “Empowerment is a retention strategy.”
Her mantra for HR professionals: “Be afraid and do it anyway.”
Oksana Lukash – Chief People Officer, People, Culture, You, LLC
Redefining Leadership Excellence in the Biotech & Life Sciences Sector
People, Culture, You, LLC is an HR consulting firm that is helping startup to midsize companies where our forward-thinking approach delivers solutions for you and your teams so you can focus on growing your business. According to CPO, Oksana Lukash, the life sciences industry carries a unique pressure:
“If you put the wrong person in the wrong role, the costs are enormous; burnout, turnover, and in biotech, delayed science.”
Oksana’s path began after immigrating from Russia in 1995, where she supported herself from a young age and later transitioned into People Operations through an executive assistant role. Her resilience shaped her leadership philosophy:
“People follow you when they trust you. They trust you when you show them consistency and honesty.”
She is vocal about the need for early leadership development, not as a corrective action but as a foundational investment:
“We wait too long to train leaders. Then we’re surprised when they lack confidence, clarity, or courage.”
Oksana is also pushing the industry to shift from focusing on “culture” to “experience design,” arguing that the employee journey must be intentionally architected:
“Culture is what you say. Experience is what people actually feel.”
Her stance on the future of People function is bold: AI will make work more human, if People Ops leads the charge with transparency, governance, and alignment.
A Shared Reality: HR Has Never Carried More Responsibility
Across their diverse industries, these executives agree:
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AI will redefine work, but human judgment must guide its use.
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Leaders need more capability, not more compliance checklists.
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Career paths are no longer linear. HR must recruit for potential, not pedigree.
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Psychological safety is now a competitive advantage.
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HR cannot carry culture alone, managers must be equipped to lead.
The message is clear: HR is the strategic engine that makes organizations sustainable.
Where HIC Consulting Naturally Aligns with Their Insights
Something powerful emerged in these interviews: each leader expressed that one of the biggest gaps in organizations today is not strategy, or tools, or even resources, it’s leadership capability.
According to all three executives, modern managers are navigating:
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complex human issues
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rapid change
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communication breakdowns
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AI adoption
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emotional labor
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cross-generational expectations
Yet most have never been trained to lead in environments this challenging.
This is exactly the space where HIC Consulting quietly but meaningfully steps in.
HIC’s work is grounded in the same realities Robin, Nicole, and Oksana described: leaders need more practice, more clarity, and more confidence, not more theory.
Through interactive, scenario-based simulations, HIC helps managers strengthen the skills organizations rely on most:
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navigating difficult conversations
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leading through uncertainty
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coaching instead of escalating
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improving accountability and communication
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reducing dependence on HR to solve interpersonal challenges
It’s not about selling training, it’s about preparing leaders for the real moments that shape culture, retention, and performance.
Organizations often discover something unexpected during these simulations: Once leaders feel equipped, everything else becomes easier; communication, trust, alignment, collaboration, and culture.
That’s the kind of leadership future-ready organizations need.
About the Author
From securing an $8M breakthrough inside a global fintech to being named CEO of the very platform she built, Netta Jenkins has mastered the art of turning bold ideas into lasting business transformation. With a LinkedIn community of over 200,000, she’s the CEO redefining how organizations drive employee engagement and performance through AI. A two-time Wiley author, Netta’s work has been amplified by Arianna Huffington to more than 10 million people. Her latest book, Supercharged Teams: How Every Manager Can Create a Culture of Excellence, gives leaders the playbook to transform everyday teams into high-performing powerhouses.
As founder of HIC, a workplace consulting firm and creator of HIC HR Hub, a private community for senior HR leaders to share and gain new insights. She also hosts Beyond Management™, a viral LinkedIn leadership series with over 50 million impressions, where she sparks street-level conversations that elevate employer brands, attract top talent, and inspire customers. A seasoned TEDx and international keynote speaker, Netta has energized audiences across the U.S., Ghana, the Netherlands, and Turkey with bold insights and measurable takeaways. With 15+ years of global advisory experience, she shares weekly video tips that empower managers at every level. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, McKinsey, Forbes, Fortune, and more. Named one of CIO Views’ Top 10 Most Influential Black Women in Business to Follow.
Netta helps organizations connect workplace culture, technology, and performance to deliver measurable, lasting impact. Previously serving as VP of Global Inclusive Strategy at IAC, Netta partnered with brands like Match.com, Vimeo, and Daily Beast. She advises Betterment, consults executives via the Intro app, and is pursuing a doctorate in quality systems. Currently, she collaborates with Marc Lore (former CEO of Walmart) and Preet Bharara (former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York) to build Telosa, a visionary new city in America. Residing on the East Coast with her family, Netta continues to make a transformative impact in both the corporate and startup landscapes.
