Eric Bacolas

Eric Bacolas serves as the Chief People Officer at Newsela, a rapidly growing EdTech company focused on transforming K-12 education. In his role, he oversees key areas such as talent acquisition, people operations, internal communications, and training. Bacolas is dedicated to enhancing the company's hiring practices, particularly in fostering diversity within its workforce. His approach emphasizes the importance of hiring individuals with substantial experience in their respective fields, reflecting Newsela's transition from a startup to a more mature organization.12

Bacolas has been instrumental in implementing systems and tools that improve diversity hiring at Newsela. Since 2018, the company has committed to increasing diversity among its leadership ranks, focusing on creating a more inclusive environment by adjusting hiring processes to prioritize diverse candidate slates before presenting them to hiring managers.1 His strategies include moving away from traditional cultural interviews that may perpetuate homogeneity and instead focusing on candidates' abilities to navigate ambiguity and challenge existing norms.1

Before joining Newsela, Bacolas held various leadership roles, including serving as Chief People Officer at 360i from 2011 to 2015. He is also noted for his work as an executive coach and leadership consultant at The Muze Group.3 Bacolas's extensive experience in talent acquisition and organizational design positions him as a key figure in shaping Newsela's workforce strategy amidst the evolving demands of the education sector.14