Global Leader Insights: Laura Kohler, SVP HR

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Insights from Global Leaders: Laura Kohler, SVP HR – Kohler Co.

16 Oct 2020
- admin
- Leadership & Management
A belief in ‘good’ can have various definitions, and at the same time when explained simply, it can be segmented into the belief of a better planet, the belief of better communities, and the belief of better lives.

This very belief is well followed and implemented across functions in an organization we all know as Kohler Co. Originating from a village in the United States, the company has now spread its reach across the world. When asked about the source and cause of its massive expansion and success, we learned about this principle of ‘Good’ right from the Senior Vice President of Human Resources of the company, Mrs. Laura Kohler.

Laura, as a person, is unimaginably grounded & it was clear when she stated where she finds inspiration from. During the interview, conducted by Sh. Anil Sachdev (Founder & Chairman of SOIL), she highlighted that she takes her motivation and inspiration from all kinds of people in the world with a simple notion that if they can do it, why can’t I. Apart from motivation, she also goes a step ahead and takes responsibility. Responsibility to make things easier and better for the community and for those who need a little help.

It was so interesting to learn that Laura did not initially work with her family’s organization; she went out to study and even started working outside, and she did plan to come back to her village or join her family’s business. She had her own dreams and plans, she started working with an experiential learning school in Chicago, and that is when she found her calling. Laura felt that she should do something bigger than herself, something for the world at large. And she only joined Kohler Co. when she realized that she had something to give, and contribute and could be more efficient when she worked with the family.

She simply said that as per her and the organization’s belief, the planet could be a better place if every life becomes good. Laura makes sure that she help people outside her organization so that she contributes in making the world a better place, and for this noble deed, she also makes sure that her team, i.e., every person in Kohler has the same vision. She constantly works to ensure that all employees of Kohler feel good to be a part of the company and feel happy when taking the initiative to do some good for others.

Laura is probably the only person who appreciated the COVID 19 phenomenon, rather than singularly thinking negatively about it. She said that it had helped her and her team to accelerate the focus on good values. She also appreciated COVID, as it has taught her an important lesson – that young talent can be significantly valuable when given difficult & complicated tasks to be done in short periods of time. She says that the organization has learned that younger resources are more flexible and agile so they can handle some of these new situations better. Quoting this reason, she states, that Kohler follows a policy of “the best to lead and not the highest to lead” as this helps them in reaching the goal and solving issues at a faster rate. This aptly fits into the theme of the SOIL webinar series ‘Becoming the Best Version of Yourself’

Laura herself clearly stated that is she is a people’s person, and she does not follow a conventional working approach. She joked that she wouldn’t be found reading reports and then planning action, rather she would be found with people and listening to their concerns and calling people to solve the issue or act accordingly.

In the end, she emphasizes on a fact which she would like every leader in the world to learn and inculcate – One should have eyes at the moment and act on it but also should make time to see what the future has in store so that act of the moment should be worthwhile and sustainable.
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Laura Kohler is Senior VP – Human Resources, Stewardship and Sustainability, and has served on Kohler’s Board of Directors since 1999. She serves as board chair of Outward Bound USA, the Kohler Trust for the Arts & Education and the Kohler Trust for Preservation. Laura previously served eight years on the Kohler Public School Board and in 2005 was named co-recipient of the Wisconsin State Superintendent’s Friends of Education award. Laura is an alumna of Duke University and completed her master’s degree in fine arts from the Catholic University of America
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About the Webinar Series: SOIL Founder & Chairman, Sh. Anil Sachdev gets into insightful conversations with Global Leaders every Thursday, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (IST). Every session will focus on:
- Insights from global leaders on how to become the best version of yourself
- How to leverage your unique talents and strengths to contribute your best to society & your work
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Key Takeaways & Learning by:
Tanay Tripathi
PGPM – Business Leadership, Class of 2021

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