Jennifer Garcia - Director of People Operations/HRBP, Syntiant

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Work Background

Syntiant Corp.Director of People Operations

Sep. 2022Irvine, California, United States𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐀𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐑 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥. I oversee HR/people operations and provide strategic vision and execution aligned with organizational priorities. I manage all aspects of HR — payroll, benefits, compensation, retirement plans, immigration actions, employee relations, and compliance. I am entrusted with corporate communications and leverage employee surveys to inform data-led HR initiatives. My scope includes facilities management. • Served as the company’s first-ever HR Leader. Crafted policies to integrate and manage worldwide technical team. • Developed and deployed change communications, including acquisition, integration, and program offerings. • Won Orange County Business Journal’s Best Places to Work (2023). • 90% survey participation, leveraging results to inform HR strategy. • Introduced systems to promote inclusion and employee recognition/rewards. • Designed company’s first performance management process and continual feedback system, including feedback and recognition guides for leaders. Provided coaching to level up capabilities across the organization. • Introduced compensation philosophy, job leveling, salary ranges, and review system. Communicated and complied with California’s 2023 pay transparency law. • Led employee engagement programs and remained aware of and responsive to employee issues to maintain compliance and mitigate risk. I conducted 1:1 sessions with FTEs in US, Asia, and Europe. • Selected and managed new payroll platform.

Pilot AIHRBP & People Operations

Jul. 2018 - Sep. 2022Mountain View, CA(𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐀𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭) I built and expanded the HR function as the inaugural Head of People Operations. I created and delivered HR programs dedicated to improving culture, benefits, safety, DEI, and more. I also managed payroll, AP/AR, financial reporting, vendor relationships, equity administration, and regulatory compliance. • Enabled scaled growth while priming the organization for acquisition. Conducted HR due diligence and led through acquisition and reorganization. • Articulated and communicated company values, principles, and policies. Developed first Employee Handbook. • Created and implemented first performance management system. • Improved employee engagement and workplace culture. Orchestrated events, teams, outings, and learning opportunities, as well as company-wide service opportunities. • Introduced first manager cohort, improving confidence, feedback, and trust among leadership team. • Ensured business continuity through two relocations. Secured locations/equipment and determined layout for workflow. • Coordinated COVID policies and communications, providing the training, equipment, and frameworks to work remotely. Applied for federal financial programs. • Developed employee recognition awards and events. Pilot AI Labs, Inc., is a venture backed company (70% engineers; investors include NEA), building a deep-learning based computer vision platform to solve real problems directly on compute-constrained embedded devices. We're working with some of the largest consumer electronics and chip companies.

LytroHead of HR, Facilities & Administration

May. 2013 - May. 2018Mountain View, California(𝐋𝐲𝐭𝐫𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞) As an HR business partner, I managed HR operations, company culture, and employee engagement to elevate business performance. My scope included benefits, payroll, recruiting, and immigration. I steered business transformation and managed 28K sq. ft. HQ and annual $2.5M+ G&A budget. • Improved core employee engagement metrics +20-30% over 3 years, based on survey • Designed and led biannual goal setting and performance feedback process with 100% participation. • Delivered highly rated new hire orientation. • Improved employee relations and facilitated events, including community service opportunities, recognition programs, and awards. • Created in-house leadership training based on needs assessment. • Planned/led reorganization, including change communications and asset sales. Acquired by Google, Lytro, Inc., Was a 150-person venture backed company (80% engineers; investors include a16z and NEA), revolutionizing photography and imaging through its patented light-field technology, featuring the world’s first professional Light Field powered solution to provide lifelike presence in VR.

San Jose Museum of ArtArt Installer/Preparator

Jul. 2010 - Apr. 2013San Jose, CA(In addition to running my own business.) Gallery preparation and art handling, member of the Design & Installation team, Silicon Valley's museum of modern and contemporary art.

Revamp Design Small Business Owner

Jan. 2008 - May. 2013San Francisco Bay AreaWith a client base primarily in Willow Glen, San Jose, I consulted on interior design, created home organization systems, made soft furnishings, and also led contractors (and personally participated) in the completion of over large-scale interior, exterior, office, and home renovations.

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