A Key Ingredient

When someone asks me what Human Resources actually is, I usually pause. Not because I don’t know—but because it’s surprisingly hard to sum up in a few sentences.

HR isn’t always visible; much of the work is preventative, behind the scenes, and hard to measure. And the parts that are easy to see—policies, paperwork, benefits, compliance—don’t fully capture the essence of what HR really does.

That reality hit me the other day in an unexpected way—while baking with my son.

We were making a chocolate chip banana cake, and everything was going smoothly. Into the oven it went. When we pulled it out, though, something was off. It didn’t rise. It was technically edible, but it was dense, dull, and definitely not something you’d bring to a party. We ended up eating some of the batter and called it a day.

And it clicked.

A company without HR is a lot like that cake. Things might go okay for a while. People will still show up. Work will still get done. But over time, the organization struggles to rise. Growth becomes harder. Culture feels flat. Issues linger instead of being addressed. The company may function—but it won’t truly thrive long-term.

HR is the baking powder. It’s not always the most visible ingredient, but it’s the one that makes everything rise. It helps create structure, balance, and sustainability. Ultimately, it makes the end result stronger, healthier, and more presentable.

HR is what helps:

• Leaders make better people decisions

• Employees feel supported and clear on expectations

• Culture grow intentionally instead of by accident

• Problems get addressed before they become crises

• Companies scale in a way that lasts

The real HR work shows up in the everyday moments: coaching managers through tough conversations, building systems that support fairness and consistency, improving retention, strengthening leadership, and creating environments where people can do their best work.

HR is the secret ingredient. It’s what helps a company grow, rise, and stand the test of time—not just look good on the surface, but actually work better from the inside out.