We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bethanie Miller. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bethanie below.

Bethanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about growing your team – how did you recruit the first few people, what was the process like, how’d you go about training and if you were to start over today would you have done anything differently?

If you had told me years ago that I would be juggling my role as a Human Resources professional by day and leading a dynamic team as JCI USA Deputy National President in my spare time, I might have laughed and said, “who, me?” But here I am living proof that balancing both worlds is not only possible but incredibly rewarding.

My days typically kick off with not enough coffee and a whirlwind of emails. In my role as Deputy National President, our team works to brainstorm new strategies that amplify our mission of empowering young people to create positive change through international cooperation, business and entrepreneurship, community action and individual development. In my role as an HR professional in manufacturing I also focus on empowering the team. Many of the skills that I have honed by being a part of JCI – like strategic planning and event management – translate seamlessly into my HR role. From meetings about engagement, development plans to recruitment and retention strategies, the principles of team building and empowerment are universal.

For those unfamiliar, JCI USA is a unique membership – based organization that focuses on developing leaders aged 18 – 40. What sets JCI (Junior Chamber International) apart is our four areas of focus, Business and Entrepreneurship, Individual Development, Community Action and International Cooperation. Our time members are exposed to opportunities through networking and relationship building that allow them to develop core competencies such as adaptability and resilience. These skills not only make our members exceptional leaders but also enhance their personal and professional lives. One of the best parts of JCI is that membership is open to all young people no matter their job or goals. The opportunity to learn from others from all walks of life and experiences is mighty impactful.

One of the most challenging aspects of both my roles is recruiting new members. The labor market has changed drastically since I joined the HR profession almost 10 years ago but I want to focus more on my JCI role. I remember hosting a community impact event, at this event a young person approached me with wide eyes, saying, “I had no idea something like this existed!” That moment encapsulated the essences of JCI USA – bridging gaps and building communities.

Recruiting, whether it be employees or new members, is not just about numbers; its about finding individuals who are passionate and eager to grow. For me, retention strategy both at my day job and within JCI revolves around continuous training and development, ensuring that members feel valued and empowered. This approach has often taught me invaluable lessons about engagement and development which roles back into my HR career.

Being a leader in both the workplace and JCI USA has been a transformative experience for me. From mastering social media and communication strategies to refining my event planning skills and growing my network, the journey has been nothing short of exhilarating.

Looking back, if I had known the opportunity I was getting myself into when I joined the Hattiesburg Jaycees, the only thing I would do differently is join sooner. I remember the amount of stress I put myself under running my first chapter project, the local Christmas Parade. The lessons learned from that parade taught me many things but most notably it helped me realize the value of having a safe place to learn and grow myself personally and the impact that those developed core competencies can have on a developing leaders’ professional life.

Balancing my roles as an HR professional and a JCI USA leader has at times been challenging but has overall been a fulfilling journey. It’s a testament to the power of teamwork, continuous learning, thinking outside of the box and the joy of making a differnce.

Bethanie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hello! I’m Bethanie Miller, a proud JCI USA leader and dedicated HR professional. My journey into these roles has been an adventure filled with growth, challenges, opportunity and incredible rewards.

Much like JCI USA, I stumbled into my passion as an HR professional. Rewind a bit to when I had recently graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with my undergrads in International Business and Political Science. I was working for a small, locally owned business I had been with for a number of years where I had reached as high as the ladder was going to allow me to go. I had no idea what I wanted to be I just knew at that moment the more I learned about my childhood dream of being a maritime compliance attorney the less that was what I wanted to be when I grew up. I basically threw darts at job boards picking random things I thought might be okay for a year or two and found my way into staffing. After a few years in staffing I realized I had a passion to help others find fulfilling careers, define their own success and to create positive, productive work environments. In 2019 I found my way into a plant HR generalist role with a local manufacturing and have been here ever since. Over the years, I’ve developed my skills and expertise, working on projects like the development of internship and apprentice programs and earning my SHRM certification.

Today in my role as an HR manager, I work on a multitude of things such as recruiting top talent, developing strategic employee engagement initiatives, ensuring workplace compliance and upskilling our workforce.

Parallel to my HR career, my involvement with JCI USA has been a transformative and unplanned experience. When I joined JCI I honestly thought it was a local organization and I was looking to expand my network. Plot twist, there are more than 1,000 JCI chapters over 115 countries. When it came time to renew my membership that first year, I stay a part of JCI USA because I saw the opportunities to make a tangible impact in my local community and beyond all while developing my own leadership skills. Later I realize what an awesome platform JCI USA was providing me to hone my strategic planning, event management and communication skills, just to name a few – tools that have proven invaluable in my HR role.

In both my personal and professional roles, my focus in to empower others. Empower them to reach their goals, define their own success, step out of their comfort zones and grow in whatever ways fulfill them. One thing that sets me apart is my commitment to creating environments where people can thrive. Whether it’s through strategic initiatives in the workplace or community impact with JCI, I always aim to foster growth, collaboration and positive change.

Here’s what I want you to know about me: I’m passionate about helping others reach their full potential. My passion is driven by a desire to make a positive impact, whether that’s in the workplace or in the community. Through my roles, I bring unique perspectives and a skill set that enables me to tackle challenges creatively and effectively. My journey has equipped me with the tools and experiences to lead with empathy, innovate with purpose and inspire those around me.

If you’re 18 – 40, I would love to invite you to join me on this adventure of growth and personal development by finding and becoming a part of your local JCI USA chapter. If you’re slightly more experienced I encourage you to support your employees’ and young people of your community’s involvement with JCI. Together, we can achieve extraordinary things.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

For me, managing teams and maintain high morale starts with the foundation of servant leadership. As a leader, my primary goal is to serve and support my team, ensuring they have the resources, guidance and encouragement needed to excel. Open and transparent communication is also critical. Regular check – ins, feedback sessions (using their preferred feedback methods) and an open-door policy foster an environment where team members feel heard and valued. It’s important to hold everyone accountable, including myself, which builds trust and sets clear expectations for performance and behaviors.

Empowering each team member to think outside the box and define their own success is essential for maintaining high morale. Encouraging creativity and innovation allows individuals to take ownership of their work and explore new opportunities. By recognizing and celebrating their achievements, it helps them to see the impact of their contributions. Providing opportunities for growth and development ensure that they are constantly learning and evolving. This approach not only enhances their skills but also keeps them motivated and engaged. Ultimately, a team that feels supported, valued and empowered will be more collaborative, productive and satisfied in their work.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I love a good read and living in the world of HR I have read my fair share of books and blogs while listening to TedTalks and watching videos too to stay up on the latest trends and try to motivate myself and others. I could quite possibly make a never ending list but here are a handful:

Topping the book list for me
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Hill – for me, the experience we create as leaders is a huge driver of recruiting the very best, most motivated people and retaining them.
Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott – As a recovering closet introvert, conversations especially those that require confrontation can be tough, this book really helped me work through some of that.
Radical Candor by Kim Scott – I like to be solution driven and sometimes problems are not so easy to address. This book helped me to give humane feedback while keeping it real and constructive.

Quick Videos
Resiliency – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNQhuFL6CWg – If being a leader was easy, everyone would do it. This video is great motivation when I am feeling less than.
Inspiring Action and finding a personal why – https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?subtitle=en – We can’t impact others if we can’t figure out what drives us personally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bethaniemiller.weebly.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BPMforJCIUSA?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3S6YQDSgxNuEs4pFYTGA26H7kDbCJ6owDC0gnkXjYf7zRI9In_-5ilf-s_aem_AYQmngNLC-dR7r4-4IWFgk0Scmtza7kwITWl2eUoTAkqYkmMiNLWHPsitW1sfeFTJ1Q5SFFiRuZxcl8NjgFFfXz_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BethanieMillerforJCIUSA/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanie-miller-shrm-cp-6934267a/

Image Credits

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