The Chicago School

University of Maryland

Managing Director at Brighter Strategies, LLC

Leads practice area that supports clients with team and leadership development, strategic change management, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategic plans, organizational assessments, and culture work. Swafia is an expert at designing and implementing organizational effectiveness programs that support strategic business objectives and organizational change.

Brighter Strategies, LLC

Managing Director, Organizational Effectiveness  & Inclusion

Design and deliver course content for human resources classes in the Continuing Education Department.

Prince George's Community College

Adjunct Professor

Responsible for new business acquisition and ensuring organizational growth, profitability, and objectives are met. This position also handles the overall management of relationships with clients, staff, and contractors. Lead project teams in delivering on a wide range of projects including, but not limited to, organizational assessments, diversity, equity and inclusion assessments, leadership development programs, and business performance improvement engagements.

Senior Consultant

Create and implement dynamic human capital management and organizational development solutions that move clients from strategy to execution. Alignment of human capital strategies with organizational mission, goals, and objectives through analysis, planning, investment, and management of human capital programs.  Areas of focus include strategic planning, and a myriad human resources management functions including: talent acquisition, performance management, diversity and inclusion, and employee relations. Develop employee training, and change management programs that result in positive team collaborations, improved retention, and increased productivity.

SALA Creative Consulting LLC

President & CEO

Calvary Women's Services offers housing, health, education and employment programs that empower homeless women in Washington, D.C. to change their lives.

Calvary Women's Services

Board of Directors - Governance Chair

Design, manage, and market global programs that support the firm’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace that drives innovation. Deliver a wide range of human capital management strategies, which include recruiting, mentoring, leadership development, and professional development for the firm’s diverse attorneys. Track, measure and report the impact of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) initiatives against the firm’s organizational goals.  Direct management of the firm’s  support staff and utilize knowledge of business and HR best practices to influence peers and leaders across the firm. 

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 
Launched global programs and initiatives that enable the execution of the objectives outlined in the strategic plan. Key initiatives include workforce planning, acquisition strategies, and talent development programs.

Established strategic partnership with the firm’s talent acquisition leaders to design and implement global recruitment strategies for sourcing and selecting diverse talent. 

Established strategic partnership with talent management leaders to design and implement pipeline initiatives, leadership development, mentoring, and retention programs for the firm’s diverse high potentials.

Launched the Paul Hastings Attorney Networks (PHANs), an employee resource network of 20+ groups across the U.S., Europe, and Asia that provide mentoring, networking support, leadership and professional development programs for diverse lawyers. 
 
Launched the firm’s Global Women’s Initiative, which is focused on developing a global growth platform for women within the firm and the broader legal profession. Developed quarterly speaker series, business development networking and cross-selling events, events, and an annual women’s partner forum focused on business partnerships.

Paul Hastings LLP

Senior Manager of Global Diversity and Pro Bono

Designed and managed the on-campus recruiting program for law school candidates.  Managed the in-house call aback interview and candidate evaluation process.  Designed and executed the Houston office summer associate programs which included work assignments, networking events and educational workshops.   Developed the diversity strategy for the Houston office, launched an associate mentoring program, and coordinated Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs.

Drafted and executed to the Houston office diversity strategy, designed and implemented a recruiting strategy that increased the diversity of the Houston  summer class by 35%, and developed, implemented, and tracked the results for a mentoring program for junior associates.

Baker & Hostetler LLP

Recruiting Coordinator

Responsible for budget management and management of activities for Lateral Recruiting Candidates, On-campus Interviews, Summer Associate Program and Attorney Development Programs for the Washington, DC office.

Managed on-campus interview schedules and hospitality suites and the summer associate program. Managed the in-office interview process for lateral attorney and summer associate candidates. Spearheaded the logistical planning for all attorney training and retention programs including the office-mentoring program and associate retreat. Supervised five employees throughout the Attorney Recruiting & Development Department.

Accomplishments:

-Hired 25 lateral associates and eight summer associates within an eight-month period by carefully orchestrating each candidate’s interview schedule to ensure a thorough, consistent hiring process. 

-Created and led a special task force to address changes to the firm’s on-campus interview process including cultivating relationships with diverse law students and law school career services personnel.

Attorney Recruiting and Development Coordinator

Developed, implemented, and managed the recruiting strategy, temporary employee placement, and summer intern program. Managed full lifecycle recruiting process for all staff positions. Spearheaded temporary employee efforts including processing requests, coordinating with vendors, negotiating fees, tracking monthly budget, providing status reports, and managing temps on-site. Indirectly supervised 15+ employees.

Accomplishments:  

-Designed and facilitated an on-campus recruiting strategy that increased quality of candidates and reduced the cost of search firm fees by 50%.

-Implemented skills-testing software for new hires that subsequently were implemented firm-wide.

Foley & Lardner LLP

Human Resources Assistant

Provided technical and administrative support for the Employment, Operations and Employee Relations department within the Human Resources division.  

Specific responsibilities included, posting job openings, intake of internal applications for open positions, frequent interaction with management and employees in response to inquiries regarding company polices, procedures, benefits, payroll, social events and general employee issues.

Swafia Lopez Ames, MA