Since starting her company in 2023, Khalilah Olokunola of ReEngineering HR said she has been building fair-chance hiring strategies and redesigning HR practices to foster meaningful cultural shifts for companies’ most important asset – people.

In the past year, Olokunola grew her headcount by 250%, broadened the company’s geographic footprint of clients, developed several initiatives for recruitment and self-assessment, and introduced training programs on emotional intelligence and resilience in the workplace.

“We are architects of organizational change, and empathy, kindness and love are strategic assets that can be critical if used effectively in a work environment. We are empowering clients to achieve sustainable growth and success aligned with their company’s unique organizational identities,” Olokunola said.

ReEngineering HR has integrated AI-driven analytics and personalized data assessments into its toolset. “Our proprietary audit tool has been pivotal in this transformation, allowing us to dive deeper into organizational dynamics and employee engagement at a granular level. This tool interprets data, informing strategic decisions that align people practices with business objectives, increasing both employee satisfaction and business performance,” explained Olokunola.

ReEngineering HR’s interventions are strategic and sustainable, leveraging insights about employee potential and well-being, Olokunola said.

“We want to identify icebergs before they hit the ship, and our bespoke approach helps organizations attract and retain top talent by aligning personal career goals with the company’s long-term vision,” she said.

In a recent initiative with the Delaware Restaurant Association, Delaware Department of Tourism and Delaware Business Association, ReEngineering HR stepped in to boost a downturn in tourism and turn around hospitality staff attrition rates. Through boot camp-style training sessions aimed at enhancing customer service capabilities and certifying staff as Delaware Hospitality Ambassadors, the association saw a substantial rise in customer satisfaction and heightened staff commitment, Olokunola said.

In a pivotal team session at La Vida Hospitality, employees from multiple locations were encouraged to share what they appreciated about their colleagues. This first-of-its-kind exercise for the team fostered a sense of mutual respect and enhanced interpersonal relationships and team cohesion, according to Olokunola.

“I think there were tears in the room,” she said. “The entire staff openly acknowledged the need and willingness to transform company culture. This was a critical turning point, a commitment to positive change, from front line to senior staff.”

Olokunola said the innovation continues as ReEngineering HR explores opportunities to partner with an organization to develop a system that integrates innovative HR tools and frameworks into a comprehensive, user-friendly platform.

Meet the 2024 CEA Winners