Navigating HR Excellence: Insights from Radiant Healthcare's Chief Human Resources Officer

Radiant Healthcare's Chief Human Resources Officer, Mallory Cook takes a forward-thinking approach to human resources (HR) management. In an interview, she shared her experiences and insights on managing HR functions at Radiant Healthcare, highlighting her teams' strategic initiatives and collaborative nature in the United States and Bangladesh.

Listening is paramount

Cook manages teams in both the United States and Bangladesh, requiring a nuanced understanding of different cultural contexts and a keen ear.

To bridge the divide, Cook emphasizes the importance of listening and understanding before making decisions. “I’ve found it’s more successful to come into conversations with our Bangladesh team seeking to understand their current process and parameters within their working culture," Cook explained. By appreciating the cultural context within which they work, she can suggest improvements that are more likely to be effective and accepted.

Cook highlighted some of the key differences between the two countries, including payment methods and holidays, and how these can impact employee relations. “Their hiring process is just different,” she said. "Rather than assuming I know what I'm talking about because I know how we do things here, I seek to understand first.” This approach ensures directives are well-informed and considerate of local practices, fostering an improved sense of teammate-ship.

Lessons for boosting employee productivity

One of Cook's most significant achievements at Radiant Healthcare has been implementing an employee tracking system in Bangladesh. This initiative, described as “low-hanging fruit,” has led to substantial improvements in data accuracy and efficiency. “We did not have any form of an app or employee tracking system,” she explained. “It was a pretty big lift, but I think a pretty big success as well.”

Implementing this system took about six months, during which Cook worked closely with both the U.S.-based HR team and the team in Bangladesh. The result is a system that provides better data, improved tracking of employee activities, and a clearer understanding of why employees leave. 

Improving onboarding and team dynamics boost productivity

In Bangladesh, Radiant’s team has grown to more than 500 people. The rapid growth means Cook is now focusing on creating more structured team dynamics. “We're going to want to take a step back and think about how we are structuring these teams,” she shared. Her goal is to provide clear career advancement opportunities and feedback mechanisms, ensuring employees feel valued and supported in their professional growth, all of which will improve their ability to serve Radiant’s clients..

In the United States, Cook has focused on improving the onboarding and assimilation process for new employees. “We’ve brought on many new people, and there have been a lot of good lessons learned on the best way to onboard and assimilate people into Radiant,” she noted. 

In the United States, Cook has also focused on enhancing the company's benefits offerings to attract new employees and fuel growth. She said that Radiant is now better “equipped to make them [new employees] feel like this is a very structured and ... whole experience.” By expanding and improving benefits packages, Cook aims to make Radiant Healthcare a more attractive workplace.

Cook’s efforts have created a more structured and supportive onboarding experience, ensuring that new hires quickly feel integrated and ready to contribute. These are lessons she readily shares with Radiant’s clients.

Applying lessons learned to help Radiant clients

Mallory Cook’s strategic approach to HR management at Radiant Healthcare exemplifies her commitment to fostering a collaborative and efficient work environment. She is driving the company toward a bright and successful future by listening, leveraging technology, enhancing onboarding processes, and focusing on team structure and development. 

Thanks to Cook's innovative and thoughtful leadership in human resources, Radiant Healthcare is well-positioned for continued growth and employee development and to help clients tackle similar challenges.