About Kristen
Kristen Weirick is a recognized expert in global talent acquisition and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, leveraging talent resources to drive business growth and foster inclusive workplaces as an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute.
Who is Kristen Weirick?
Kristen Weirick serves as the Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Alcon, a global leader in eye care. In her role, she defines and implements global strategies to ensure Alcon attracts top talent and fosters an inclusive environment that drives innovation and performance worldwide. With over two decades of experience, Weirick is recognized for her strategic approach to talent management across diverse industries and global regions.
Her expertise is highly valued, particularly in establishing and enhancing diversity and inclusion frameworks within large organizations. Weirick's work focuses on integrating talent acquisition with DEI to create workplaces where all employees can thrive, contributing to significant business outcomes and positive organizational culture. She has a proven track record of partnering with leadership to implement talent strategies that result in exceptional performance.
Quick facts about Kristen Weirick
| Role | Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer |
| Company | Alcon |
| Expertise | Global Talent Acquisition, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Culture Transformation, Leadership Development |
| Notable for | Establishing AbbVie's D&I strategy, developing Whirlpool's leadership competency model, advancing Alcon's D&I pillars |
| BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |
What is Kristen Weirick known for?
- Developing and implementing a customized leadership competency model with robust analytics at Whirlpool Corporation.
- Establishing and leading AbbVie's diversity and inclusion strategy, which gained global recognition as a diverse and inclusive employer.
- Leading culture transformation initiatives post-spin-off at AbbVie in 2013.
- Defining and delivering global talent strategies at Alcon to ensure the acquisition of top talent.
- Developing Alcon's D&I pillars (fostering inclusion, growing diverse talent, creating connections) to drive innovation and business outcomes.
- Holding significant roles in talent management and DEI at major global corporations such as United Airlines, AbbVie, Cargill, and Whirlpool Corporation.
What is Kristen Weirick's background and experience?
Kristen Weirick has over 20 years of experience in talent management, demonstrating a trajectory of leadership across various industries. Prior to her current role at Alcon, she was the Chief Diversity Officer and Managing Director of Talent Acquisition at United Airlines, where she developed holistic strategies for attracting, assessing, hiring, engaging, and developing talent within the airline industry.
Before United Airlines, Weirick served as the Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition, Culture, and DEI at AbbVie. In this capacity, she was instrumental in leading talent acquisition and establishing the company's D&I strategy. Her career also includes leadership positions at Cargill and Whirlpool Corporation, where she started as Director of Talent Acquisition in 1997. She holds a bachelor's degree, though the specific field is not detailed in available records.
What topics does Kristen Weirick speak and write about?
Kristen Weirick consistently emphasizes the strategic importance of talent management and diversity, equity, and inclusion in achieving business success. Her discussions often revolve around designing and implementing strategies that effectively leverage human capital to drive organizational growth and foster innovation. She frequently addresses topics such as global talent acquisition, the intricacies of executive recruitment, and the development of robust employer branding initiatives.
Her insights extend to culture transformation, highlighting how an inclusive environment directly contributes to performance and employee engagement. Weirick also speaks on the practical application of assessment methodologies and unconscious bias training, ensuring equitable talent practices. She has been featured in the HR Exchange Network discussing career challenges and empowering women in HR, and in Women in Optometry articles, where she outlines the business value and strategic pillars of DEI initiatives at Alcon.
How does Kristen Weirick contribute to the Best Practice Institute?
Kristen Weirick is an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute (BPI), contributing to its mission of identifying and disseminating best practices in leadership and organizational development. Through her work, she advances BPI's research into areas such as advanced talent strategies, diversity and inclusion, and culture transformation, which aligns with BPI's broader focus on creating Most Loved Workplaces®.
Her practical experience in developing leadership competency models and implementing global talent and DEI strategies provides valuable insights to BPI's community of executives and practitioners. Weirick's contributions support BPI's framework, including the SPARK Model, by offering real-world examples and actionable strategies for optimizing talent resources to achieve exceptional results.
Where can you learn more from Kristen Weirick?
To delve deeper into Kristen Weirick's expertise in global talent acquisition and diversity, equity, and inclusion, you can explore her contributions as an expert faculty member with the Best Practice Institute. Additional insights into her perspective and experience can be found through various industry publications and interviews where she shares her knowledge on talent strategies and fostering inclusive environments.", faqs=[{