We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tiffany Castagno a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiffany, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

This is such an interesting question. At times I wish I started it sooner because I’m grateful for the path I’m on and how I’ve been able to scale up, Mentor others, empower Leaders, teams, and organizations, and support the type of impact I’ve always wanted to make outside of the bandwidth I’d ever have within a traditional organization.

I started my business in May of 2020 after realizing I needed a pivot in my HR Career and wanting to deepen my Purpose. I took a couple months off and then consulted with a couple of trusted friends who needed support. I never intended to start my business full-time. It just happened. I’ve always been a calculated Risk-taker and have been curious and willing to explore what’s next and how I can make impact and be fulfilled in any of my endeavors.

I’ve never been a fan of “do it just to do it” or because a faceless name or voice says so. That’s never worked for me and I believe in doing the right thing at all times and have many times over (in my business included) witnessed the Abundance that comes from that. My Faith is a huge part of that, and I want to model this for other folks who look like me and are similarly-situated whether that’s in HR, Race, Gender, or however I can inspire. At the same time, I don’t know that I’d be ready for the business in its current state if I would’ve started it sooner. I’m a strong Business Owner if I don’t say so myself and it’s because of all the amazing support I’ve received the past 5 years.

A year before I even thought of doing this full-time or even part-time, I had a Community of amazing humans, friends and support surrounding me that encouraged me to challenge and quiet those fearful voices in my head. So many folks have poured into me and it’s been my responsibility and honor to carry that forward to others in Entrepreneurship.

Tiffany, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m an Empath, person who loves humans, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Business Owner, Kitty Mom (formerly Dog Mom- RIP Peanut- best dog EVER!), amazing friend, and independent thinker. These are the things I celebrate. I love to read, I love to write, I love music of all Genres, and I love making a difference at work by doing what I consider my Passion Walk of doing all I can to ensure people aren’t ruined in their employment experiences.

I’m so proud to be building a Brand under my HR and Culture Consultancy that always has a People/Humanity First focus in everything I do and I bring a DEIB Lens into every project, whether I’m specifically sought out for that or not. I’ve had the negative workplace experiences that got me here today, not feeling cared for, lack of follow up or less-than-timely follow up, and feeling like I had to figure it out on my own. I don’t want that for others.

I’m proud today to say that clients choose me for my unique approach to HR and Culture under a co-created process, bringing the Humanity back while solidly supporting them in the core disciplines needed. I am so proud to pay all of my experience and lessons (both good and bad) back to other HR Practitioners and to share my Entrepreneurship Lessons learned back out as well. I believe that if one survives and thrives in the Ecosystem, we all can and do.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to learn not to bring all the past Traumas and bad habits with me into my business that I was used to in traditional roles. I had to learn to give myself permission to do things my way under a holistic, strategic, Human, and caring approach to work. It’s been a ton of fun learning, unlearning, defining, and refining. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world, as challenging as it can be at times.

Another lesson I learned along those lines was to lean into the Community I’ve built. It can be hard to ask for help but people really are willing to support you. They can’t do that if they don’t know what you need.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I don’t have a Business Partner or Co-Founder but with the strong Partnerships I’ve built, sometimes I actually forget that I don’t. There are a few folks with whom I connect often both in friendship and business and it feels like we’re doing this thing daily together even when we’re not. Building a strong Partner Network has been so nurturing to me and to CEPHR!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cephrconsulting.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cephrllc
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanycastagno-people-culture-consultant
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/castagno_tmc
• Youtube: https://bit.ly/CEPHRLLC