Aldeen Simmonds-Thorpe is an HR Transformation Strategist, Speaker, and Career and Business Coach who helps people and organizations (SMEs) optimize and do more with less.

As a Human Resource Business Partner, she helps businesses solve problems and navigate human resource challenges resulting in risk mitigation, more efficient processes, stronger and more diverse and inclusive teams and HR transformation and compliance. Among others, she has skills and expertise in Training and Development, Benefits and Compensation Development and Administration.

Aldeen hosts a podcast called “HR and Career with Aldeen ST”, as well as leading a “Coffee and Career”, and “Lunch and Learn” sessions in Toronto.

Topic: Gender pay gap and negotiating salary for women

My story starts in my country of birth, Jamaica where I was inspired and possibly coerced even into learning and development as my mom was a teacher, who went on to become a pincipal. From as early as 13 I have been leading and supporting workshops all over the country with my mom. Fast forward to the decision years of high school, after having, what is now a life alterning conversation with a family friend, I combined my love and passion for learning, teaching and people to start my career as a People Development and Talent Management Officer, my entry into HR, with a key focus on developing people within the organization. 

After my university education in Jamaica with a focus in HR, by chance I hoped on a plane to Canada, knowing virtually noone, but ready to learn, explore and chart my own path. I furthered my studies in HR and Operations and joined the HR world in Canada through the famous retailer Target being part of their first wave of HR employees. Throughout my HR career in the corporate world, I have gained experiences and expertise that I use to help me become a HR catalyst, transforming organizations from the inside out, with one of the core pillars being educating, training and developing human resources to support the organizations strategy. More recently, I launch my own HR Shared Services and Consulting practice to help start-ups and SMEs truly leverage HR as a compeitive advantage and secret sauce in staying ahead of the competition and delivering an exceptional product and complementing service. A solid training and development plan that utilizes a creative, innovative and tailored approach continues to be a key part of my HR strategies.

#TLDCast - Women in L&D: Toddi Norum and Valerie Sunyak