garrison gibbons
people executive
the connective tissue between the brand, business, & people
Me Too: My Harassment Story
When I was 16, I applied to work at a local pizza place that my best friend worked. I didn’t get the job, despite her putting in a good...
My Mental Health Journey
I see a therapist and psychiatrist. I have experienced suicide in my family, and I, too, have considered suicide at the lowest points of...
Standing Up For Yourself In Interviews
I once was interviewing for a job, and they asked me what I make. I said, “In New York that question is technically illegal, but my...
"You Are Just Going To Have To Pick Something"
I was working with a recruiter before I landed my current job. My former company had just been acquired, and I had a few months on...
IWD 2020: Thank You, Mom
I was raised by a single mom. She put herself through college and law school with two young children. While in law school, she also...
COVID-19: Hourly Employees
During college, I made $8.00/hour as an office assistant at my university. I made $7.50/hour at my first summer job, working full-time...
The Ever Impossible "Work-Life-Balance"
Work-life balance? Who’s she? Never heard of her! In today’s technological age, work-life balance is nearly impossible. Everyone is just...
The Problem with "Preferred Pronouns"
Allies: Stop saying “preferred pronouns.” They are not preferred. They are not suggested. They are a person’s pronouns. Respect that by...
Authenticity in the Workplace
It can be terrifying to bring your authentic self to work. I grew up in Brandon, Mississippi, a small town located in the most...
Employees Want to be Heard
More than anything, employees want to be heard. They want their feedback and suggestions to not fall on deaf ears. They want to be valued...
Corporate Transparency: Looking Beyond the Core Value
Transparency. It’s a core value at most companies today. But, what does corporate transparency actually mean, and why is it necessary?...
Embrace the Fear...
Fear has a negative connotation. But, fear can be powerful if turned into action (Thanks, Susan Jeffers!) Fear seeps in with the unknown...
Micro-goals: Revamping Performance Management for Startups
At Knotch, we launched “‘micro-goals” in an effort to build manageable goals that would allow our employees to embrace change and allow...
Yes, We All Have Imposter Syndrome
Yesterday at Knotch, we discussed imposter syndrome as a part of our quarterly mental health initiative. The truth is, we all struggle...
"We Belong Together"
In my career, I’ve had the pleasure of working at companies that have had very identifiable workplace cultures. They all strived for...
HR Isolation
HR people have to be chameleons. We have to be able to adapt to our surroundings. It’s a delicate balance — being approachable and...
Allyship Requires More Than Empty Words
Allyship requires support AND action. There is no such thing as a passive ally. You must put in the work. You must understand your own...
Debate in Private; Alignment in Public
Decisions big or small require discourse. That discourse should happen during the decision-making process in a room with designated key...
Not My Hill To Die On
You can ask anyone in my office — I utter the phrase, “That’s not my hill to die on,” multiple times a day. It helps me put things in...


















