In this episode of the Inclusive Excellence Podcast, Cassie Pierre Joseph, director for employee engagement at Cornell, joins cohosts Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel to explore the experiences of new hires and understand how the university is responding.  

Joseph has been instrumental to a number of employee engagement efforts at Cornell, including the inception of Cornell’s Colleague Network Groups, which are employee resource groups for traditionally underrepresented minorities and their allies. Currently, Joseph works in the office of Employee Experience, which focuses on employee engagement and retention while supporting the overall well-being of employees.

“The employee experience is a new term, but of course, it's not a new concept. Our team is about helping employees maximize their experience, and I'm happy to work with a team that touches on well-being, HR analytics, talent management, remote work, retention and engagement,” Joseph said.

In her present role, she has been influential in creating a guide for managers to help new hires transition to the university, in addition to promoting the Big Red Welcome program, which offers resources and opportunities for new employees to connect with colleagues across campus.  

Arriving at Cornell as a new employee can be a daunting experience. Joseph’s advice to new hires: “Understand that it's likely you're not alone and seek support, because you are worth it. Getting to Cornell is not easy, and the fact that you are here means you deserve to be here. ”

Hear more about Joseph’s role in employee engagement and how new hires can cultivate a fulfilling career at Cornell on Episode 64: Maximize Your Employee Experience. Visit https://diversity.cornell.edu/iepodcast to access the episode and transcript.

About the Inclusive Excellence Podcast

Join Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel from the Department of Inclusion and Belonging for a bi-weekly podcast series where they explore various topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at work. During each episode's interview, they provide a platform for campus colleagues in various roles to share their lived experiences, thoughts and ideas around how to create cultures of belonging, especially in the workplace. You can listen to this podcast on your phone, at your desk, on your way to work, while you are taking a break, even while you get ready for bed! 

Do you have a topic you would like discussed on the podcast, or would you like to spotlight someone doing awesome work around campus? Contact  ie-academy@cornell.edu.

Grace DePaull is the Diversity & Inclusion Media Assistant with the Department of Inclusion and Belonging in the Division of Human Resources.