Kate Ball Email & Phone Number

Seattle, Us

As the spirited Founder and Managing Consultant of Sparkle & Sass Consulting, I am at the helm of a dynamic venture committed to reshaping the business landscape. With a flair for innovative solutions and a penchant for strategic brilliance, I lead the charge in transforming ideas into impactful realities.Recent Projects: Showcasing Expertise and ImpactClient A - HR Strategy for Start-UpFormulated an innovative HR strategy, crafted an employee handbook, designed an engaging onboarding process, and launched community initiatives. These efforts enhanced employee satisfaction and retention.Client B - Market-Mapping and BenchmarkingConducted in-depth analysis, guiding talent attraction efforts and increasing hire conversion rates. Optimized recruitment strategies by identifying key talent pools.Client C - Leadership Development ProgramDeveloped a 12-month program with training materials and bi-annual workshops, fostering leadership skills and enhancing team dynamics. Participants reported significant personal and professional growth.Client D - Corporate Downsizing and Culture ManagementProvided strategic guidance during downsizing, minimizing impact on culture and morale. Designed a three-year plan to track employee sentiment and support regrowth, maintaining a positive workplace atmosphere.Client E - DEI Strategy and Employee Resource GroupsMentored a mid-sized tech company in implementing DEI strategy and founding resource groups, creating an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued.Client F - Employer Branding and Talent AttractionRedesigned employer branding and recruitment processes, improving talent attraction and reducing unconscious bias. This overhaul led to a more diverse and inclusive talent pipeline.ConclusionThese projects demonstrate my ability to develop strategic HR initiatives that drive business success, foster inclusive cultures, and support dynamic growth in various organizational contexts.

Seattle, Wa, Us

• Served as co-founder of Amazon’s Mental Health & Well-Being Affinity Group, acting as the managing Vice-President and proxy President (2020-2022). Led the group to increase membership from 400 at launch to 28,000+ globally and launch 100+ chapters. Coached the team to deliver weekly newsletters to an internal audience of 40,000+ in 37 countries, normalizing conversations about mental health, raising awareness, and breaking stigmas.• Hosted 10-15 events per month with an average audience satisfaction rating of 91%; drove numerous SOP and process changes across the business; and championed the inclusion of Mental Health Resources to the global employee benefits package.• Achieved positive result in a recent poll, with 93% of respondents stating that they feel more comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work today than they did 1 year prior (due to the work of this group). 88% also felt that Amazon (through this group) provided better access to mental health resources and education than other employers, and 86% felt the company did a better job normalizing conversations about mental health and breaking stigmas, than other comparable employers.

Seattle, Wa, Us

Created and managed 2 programs designed to drive greater employee and community engagement. These programs showcased the diverse talents and skills of the Amazon workforce and provided authentic opportunities for all employees to connect on topics that fostered a safer, more productive, higher-performing, more diverse, and fun work environment. These programs created new opportunities for Amazon to become Earth’s Best Employer and put the FUN back into Amazon’s motto-- ‘Work Hard, Have Fun, Make History!’• Bar Raiser & BRiT (Bar Raiser in Training) Mentor (only 3% of global employees hold this accreditation)• MGHD Facilitator (Making Great Hiring Decisions mandatory training) • ROLL Trainer (Recruiter Onboarding & Leadership Learning)• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion• Master Mentor

Seattle, Wa, Us

• Independently raised $1.4M, via various business groups and sponsors, in order to deliver employee engagement programs that operated outside of HR and Employee Resource functions. These programs were created to address the real-time wants and needs of the workforce, over and above more traditional deliverables. • Created, organized and hosted 3 international annual conferences designed to educate, engage and inspire employees, called Amapalooza. In 2021, Amapalooza presented 34 events across 6 core tracks/themes, and was broadcast globally covering a 24-hour schedule. It was attended by 14,000+ Amazonians spread across 27 countries and 485 global locations. 97.6% of attendees provided positive feedback about the agenda topics and 95.5% complimented the quality of the events and presenters. The Q4 2022 program (which was sadly postponed due to the economic climate) was due to host 100+ events over 3 days, and was on track to welcome 40,000+ participating Amazonians. In future state, this program is slated to become a travelling roadshow which will grow to incorporate 4-5 regional events p/a in North America, EMEA, APAC and LATAM, plus have a once annual flagship global conference.• Created, organized and hosted Amazon’s Got Talent, an annual talent contest for employees. This program provided an opportunity for Amazonians all over the world to cut through the stresses and strains at work by delivering an uplifting and entertaining shared interactive experience. In 2022, approximately 900 acts from all over the world auditioned to participate, and 257,000+ Amazonians participated in the program as viewers and voters. Approved expansion plans for this program include several spin-offs (writing, fashion, art and sports), as well as concert/fundraiser, which would enhance collaboration across the business and further support Amazon’s mission to become Earth’s Best Employer.

Seattle, Wa, Us

Founded and coordinated the Amazon Blood Drive Program in North America, which is staffed entirely by volunteers. This program hosts quarterly, week-long blood drives in HQ1 and the surrounding area, collecting 1000+ pints of blood each time. In addition, the program has been rolled out in 180+ cities and Operations locations across the US. Within 2 years of launch, Amazon rose from #157 on the national corporate donor list to #16.

Seattle, Wa, Us

• Honored as Diversity sourcing champion in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020.• Recognized as a consistently high performer with productivity metrics and deliverables, landing in the top 5% of the global team.• Redesigned various recruiting processes and communications templates in both Ops and AWS to support high volume hiring and improve candidate experience. As a result, AWS conversion metrics improved from 74% to 90%, time to hire was reduced from an average of 108 days to 71 days, and candidate satisfaction metrics showed significant improvement.• Designed and hosted a 6-part hiring manager workshop designed to improve candidate experience and increase knowledge. Over 1,000 managers and interviewers attended in 2019 and 2020, and the sessions received an average satisfaction rating of 97.5%. • Created a team wiki and knowledge sharing platform that was replicated across 13 other teams.• Developed and hosted a series of bite-size, train the trainer sessions for recruiters and designed to upskill knowledge in all key areas, including: stakeholder management, working backwards, influencing upwards, adopting a data-driven approach to recruiting, and advanced level sourcing techniques, as well as more transactional deep-dives and step-by-step guidelines. This was delivered to an audience of approximately 480 recruiters and recruitment coordinators in the US, and the content was shared for replication in other regions.• Managed a team of contractors and mentored several peers, including many who were at the same level. Subsequently, nine mentees were promoted.• Hosted LinkedIn Engagement workshops for the Sourcing Community Network, which was attended by 850+ Talent Acquisition team members globally.

Seattle, Wa, Us

Seattle, Wa, Us

• Coordinated and managed 360 recruitment for the launch of 37 Delivery Stations, 9 Sort Centers, 12 Hubs and the EMEA Learning & Development Team. • Project managed the launch of the EMEA Transport Operations Centre, which included defining the strategy and roadmap, designing the recruitment process (including all documents and assessments utilised), partnering with agencies, chairing 15 open days and acting as final decision maker for all hires. In the course of 5 months, personally recruited the entire management team, which was comprised of 15 people, in addition to 160 call center operators.• Acted as launch partner for the expansion of Amazon Logistics and Middle Mile in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

London, Gb

Oversaw the delivery of the talent strategy and agenda to the business, including the recruitment/talent attraction, engagement and retention, employer branding and learning and development functions. Acted as a key partner in organizational development of the business, including performance management, leadership and identifying and nurturing internal talent; this role was focused on ensuring that the business has the strongest possible team in place to achieve strategic aims and objectives.• Project managed the opening of 2 new restaurants and oversaw Clos Maggiore’s successful bid for accolades, such as Wine List of the Year, World’s Most Romantic Restaurant, and Three AA Rosette status.

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Championed excellence in recruitment processes, led initiatives to optimize delivery, ensured a pipeline of talent was maintained, owned succession planning, and worked closely with the Head of HR to ensure that internal talent was developed.• Exceeded YOY activity by 134% in FY14TD (Oct-June) – 183 hires made across the group during this time compared to 78 in the same period for FY13• Reduced time to hire and time to start by 3.96 weeks and 3.81 weeks respectively • Redesigned resourcing and branding strategy, which led to a 68% reduction in cost per hire• Lowered labor turnover by 6.03% YTD, with a 44% reduction in leavers within first 6 months YOY.• Increased internal progression and development by 61%• Increased employee referrals by 67%• Designed and launched a Competency Framework and Employer Branding tools for the business

Seattle, Wa, Us

Supported the Hotwire brand after its international launch. Tapped as the first non US-based HR staff member, charged with an initial remit to set up and provide day-to-day Recruitment and HR support, while facilitating growth in the EMEA region. Maintained an international focus and oversaw the global business, with particular emphasis on London, Geneva and San Francisco locations, and reporting directly to the Senior HR Director based in San Francisco.

London, Gb

Managed the attraction, retention, selection and recruitment of all staff within 7 hotels (and 3 corporate offices) with overall accountability for budgetary analysis of recruitment spend, recruitment process and succession planning.• Optimized and standardized processes to improve consistency • Created and delivered a HR and Recruiting training program for Managers • Managed the HR and Recruitment for a new hotel opening and expansions• Revamped employer brand and marketing initiatives, which reduced recruitment advertising expenditure by 58%• Introduced psychometric and aptitude assessments as part of the selection process• In 2011, hired 498 staff as part of recruitment initiative, while: • Reducing average cost per hire from £76.80 to £42.10 over a 12-month period• Reducing total agency spend by 76% over the same period • Reducing the average time to fill vacancies from a targeted 15 days to 12.8 days.

Clients included: Gordon Ramsey Holdings, Compass Group, Alphabet (Google), Tate Galleries, NASDAQ, Financial Times Group, Accenture & Barclays.

London, England, Gb

Clients included: Coca Cola, Deloitte, Disney, L'Oreal, MasterCard & Diageo

Miami, Florida, Us

Launched a new contracting division, securing and managing clientele such as: HBO, Universal Music, Visa, Carnival Cruise Lines, Ryder Systems, Burger King and Publix.

Zurich, Ch

Clients included: Lennar, Bacardi, Baptist Healthcare, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines, World Fuel Services & Memorial Services.

Clients included: The Women's Institute, Mott MacDonald, Arup, Vodafone, HSBC, Astra Zeneca, Ocado & BT.

Clients included: Goldenwest, McDonalds, Waverly, Gist, Prologis, Kodak, Compass Group, Stryker and Gist.