2011 HR Grad Nominated for Distinguished Alumni Award

“Follow your passion and success will follow” — seven inspiring words that have helped earn Gozde Hilmi a Distinguished Alumni Award nomination, just three months after graduating from Kwantlen’s Human Resources (HR) Management program this past May.

However, quick recognition for her hard work and dedication to industry and community is nothing new for this highly-committed director of HR at BackCheck, an company specializing in pre-employment screening and HR services.

Soon after being hired by the international company, Hilmi was promoted to the position of recruiter. Four months later, after refining BackCheck’s recruiting policies and strategies, she was promoted again — becoming the company’s first HR generalist at the age of 25.

In her role as generalist, she began building the company’s HR department from the ground up. She developed many of BackCheck’s first HR policies and procedures, including an employee handbook, the company’s first pay scale, the first company-wide performance management system and a successful recruiting and retention strategy.

Three years later, BackCheck promoted her once again; this time to her current role as HR director — a position she said she “never dreamed” possible in her earliest days with the growing company. Assembling an HR team consisting of four HR generalists and seven HR assistants, Hilmi helped grow BackCheck’s personnel base from 40 to over 400 employees  — all while completing the Human Resources program at Kwantlen.

Previous to Kwantlen, Gozde attended Simon Fraser University where completed a B.A. in Psychology with a Minor in Education. When Gozde is not in the office, she regularly volunteers at the Fraser Health Crisis Line where she provides phone counseling, support and referrals to those experiencing mental health concerns, relationship conflict, grief and other difficulties. She has been with the organization for seven years and was recently presented with an Ely Award for her long time service and dedication.

“I’m surprised and honoured to be nominated,” said Gozde. “There is still so much more I would like to accomplish,” she added. “I have only scratched the surface. I have a life time of learning ahead of me.”

Q&A:

Best part of job:
Definitely the people. Our HR team is passionate, hardworking and dedicated. The department has phenomenal synergy. The best part is seeing [our] employees grow and improve, which is essential for any fulfilling career.

Inspiration:
Professors, managers, mentors, students, family and friends. They have all helped me to open my eyes and understand different perspectives and ways of life in order to expand my own reach on the world. I am especially grateful for the support of the following super women: Judy Benevides, Lesley McCannell, Jackie Yurick, Linda Harkinson, Noella St-Hilaire and, of course, my mother, who is my greatest inspiration. Not only is she a caring wife and mother, she is an ambitious, accomplished career woman and athlete. She was a teacher and police officer in Turkey, as well as a gold medalist in archery.

Most proud of:
My family. They have showered me with love and helped me through my most difficult times.  They have taught me that anything is possible in life; you just need to work for it! 

Favourite Kwantlen moment:
Presenting my final practicum in front of fellow students, employers and HR professors at Kwantlen.  After working so hard all semester, I was happy and relieved to be completing the program. However, it was also a poignant moment of realization that this would be the last time I would sit with this great group of people. The class sizes at Kwantlen allow you to really connect with other students. Many of us shared late nights adding finishing touches to projects and enjoyed random conversations about our future goals, dreams, and aspirations.

Greatest advice for life:
Don’t hesitate; do it now!
Don’t pass up opportunity.
We make our own destiny.
Don’t become complacent or fall into routine.
If you don’t like something, change it.
Live now, don’t wait.

Last book you read?
The Talent Management Handbook -- Creating Organizational Excellence by Identifying, Developing, and Promoting Your Best People by Lance A. Berger and Dorothy R. Berger.

What’s on your iPod?
David Guetta, David Deejay, Deadmau5, Musetta, Telepopmusik, Tom Boxer, Edward Maya, IIO, Esthero, and even Frank Sinatra.