AN INTERVIEW WITH
Roohi Jaffer
Professional Services Senior Partner | NAMER | Altamonte Springs, FL, USA
AN INTERVIEW WITH
Chantal Eidman
Executive Director | LATAM | Buenos Aires, Argentina
Could you begin with a brief overview of your background, career journey and what brought you to NCR?
I was born in Argentina and studied law, with over 25 years of experience in HR. I grew up as a middle child, so I was the “middleman" and liked to help everybody. From the beginning of my career journey, I was set on finding a career that I was passionate about and helped others. I started off venturing into law, where I focused on labor law due to huge challenges Argentina was facing at the time with unions. People did not want to go to war, and this caused strikes that I witnessed in my day to day. The climate around this time helped me to discover that I wanted to empower relationships, validate human experiences and resolve conflict. My concentration in labor law carried over into HR and integrated into everything I did, from soft skills, talent development and business partnership.
HR excited me and when I began gaining experience from experience in multinational companies and start up's (technology, services, commerce, industrial, oil and biofuels), I knew that this was it. Day to day, I was further defining my passion by putting my heart, mind and soul into my work. I was working independently for a consulting company when I received a call from NCR. I was not applying for jobs at the time, since I had recently lost my baby and at the same time was badly diagnosed with brain cancer. This was a very complex time in my life and that experience (I cannot find a specific word for that) most definitely shaped me. It taught me to be strong, to have perspective, and that my vulnerabilities are my strengths.
The timing also made clear to me that HR and development was my life’s calling. I received a call that a Fortune 500 company was interested in my profile to manage Argentina. When I met with NCR, I knew that there was something on fire. With the huge challenges Argentina was facing at the moment, NCR kept a clear focus on meaningful priorities to connect business to business, to transform, resolve conflicts and come together as one team. NCR has also been supportive of the community at a time of conflict and stress and provided me with many educational opportunities. I knew from my first interview that NCR was my home.
“NCR kept a clear focus on meaningful priorities to connect business to business, to transform, resolve conflicts and come together as one team. NCR has also been supportive of the community at a time of conflict and stress and provided me with many educational opportunities. I knew from my first interview that NCR was my home.”
What is your role at NCR and what do you love most about your role?
I am the HR Executive Leader of LATAM & Labor Lawyer, with more than 25 years managing integrally the Human Resources Area. I love creating valuable experiences to support business and employee success, cultural transformations, labor relations and collective bargaining strategy. I am empowered by giving a sense of purpose and recognizing humanness to everyone. Your job and what you contribute is very important to NCR. Through my holistic and comprehensive view of HR I intend to establish that awareness when developing the team and the future of NCR. Seeing everyone growing to be their best and flourishing is what motivates me. At NCR and in my position, I get to manage and interact with good energy and great people. I know who I am, what I want and how to deliver in a place that aligns with me and does meaningful work.
“At NCR and in my position, I get to manage and interact with good energy and great people. I know who I am, what I want and how to deliver in a place that aligns with me and does meaningful work.”
If you have a bad Monday, how do you steer yourself back on course for the rest of the week?
First, it is okay to have a bad day. There will always be bad, stormy days, but there are also sunny days. See more than the storm, look for the world you want to create, because the sun is there. If you are in a negative place, you must become conscious of yourself by looking inside and uncovering what is going on. Find good energy, manifest what you want and give yourself time to transform. You know what you like, so do the things that help you. If the sun energizes you, go outside and feel the sun beam. If watching a movie changes your day, set the time to see a film. We must empower ourselves and take ownership of our time to do that. Self-awareness with how we interact and how we treat ourselves paves the way for how we treat others.
“There will always be bad, stormy days, but there are also sunny days. See more than the storm, look for the world you want to create, because the sun is there. We must empower ourselves and take ownership of our time to do that. Self-awareness with how we interact and how we treat ourselves paves the way for how we treat others.”
Outside of work, what are you most often doing/where are you most likely to be found?
I am most likely to be found with my family. I am married with an 11-year-old daughter who is my life. Her name is Sabrina, named after the movie Sabrina starring Audrey Hepburn. My purpose in life is to help, so I love rescuing dogs. If I see a dog alone on the street, I am certainly thinking about how to take him/her to my house and provide a forever home (my husband does not get surprised anymore to see a new face in the house). I also enjoy traveling the world to serve and with NCR foundation I got the opportunity to contribute to awesome STEM projects to make a difference in youth and decrease the gender gap.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates?
There are so many opportunities at NCR. Don’t just focus on one area and miss the whole story. Empower yourself to take charge of your career, development and contributions. Look around you, you have so many resources. Don’t be scared and recognize that fear is good. You should use fear to empower yourself to learn, grow and become better. Fear will always pass and will leave you in a better position.