LIFT Annual Report 2014: What Matters Most | Page 26

People First:
Hilary Stathes
We caught up with Hilary Stathes, LIFT’s first ever Vice President of Talent
to discuss her new role, what it takes to be a LIFTer and why she was
drawn to this work.
What was your first job out of college?
I taught middle school Spanish in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, as a Teach for America corps member. The
kids were amazing. I’ll never work harder than I did
there.
What did you do for a follow-up?
Teach for America brought home the importance of
ensuring that kids in low-income communities have
access to great education. I became managing director
of talent for a charter school network here in DC. On a
hard day, I’d go into a kindergarten class and remind
myself why my job was important.
You switched fields but chose to continue to work with
an organization that makes a difference.
Teachers can radically change life outcomes for kids. It’s
also essential that families are getting the support they
need. At LIFT, we never forget our “Impact First, Results
Driven” mantra.
How do you keep that spirit front and center as LIFT
grows?
It’s true; we’ve been growing by leaps and bounds,
adding more than thirty positions nationwide from
December 2013 (when I joined) to October 2014. We

bring on great people and make sure they’re getting
the training and support they need. We set goals, but a
performance-based culture allows for flexibility about
how to get there.
It’s not an easy career path.
Folks on the ground can feel absolutely drained at
the end of the day. We recognize that and insist that
everybody take good care of themselves.
What differentiates a LIFTer? What’s the secret sauce?
People here drive each other and themselves to do
better. They’re focused and kind. We are also a highperforming learning culture. I’ve never worked anywhere
that valued staff satisfaction so much.
How do you retain talent?
That’s the challenge of everyone in my position, and we
have to rise to it. We offer more supports for staff and
help everyone reach a tailored professional goal. Better
performance and retention go hand in hand. People
who want to grow and do better at their jobs have
better impact.
You have your work cut out for you.
Luckily, it’s not just me. The whole staff is engaged
because it takes a collective team effort to make LIFT
succeed.