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    BPI Expert Faculty

    Kj Payette

    Expert Faculty Member

    Best Practice Institute

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.Known for developing high-impact people strategies that drive business results.
    • 2.Has led human resources, learning, and internal communications for organizations like Panera Bread and CVS Health.
    • 3.Holds over two decades of experience, including 22 years at CVS Health in progressive leadership roles.
    • 4.Her expertise covers HR strategy, talent management, organizational design, and change management.

    About Kj

    Kj Payette is an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, specializing in human resources strategy, talent management, and organizational development, drawing on her extensive experience at Panera Bread, Cumberland Farms, and CVS Health.

    Who is Kj Payette?

    Kj Payette is a distinguished leader in human resources and organizational development. She serves as an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute (BPI), where she shares insights on cultivating high-impact people strategies. Her career highlights include significant roles at prominent corporations, where she was responsible for overseeing critical aspects of human resources, learning and development, and internal communications.

    Her recognized expertise spans various facets of HR, from strategic planning to talent acquisition and retention. Payette is known for her innovative approach to developing people strategies that drive sustainable business results and foster positive workplace environments, aligning with the Best Practice Institute's mission to identify and disseminate best practices in leadership and organizational effectiveness.

    Quick facts about Kj Payette

    Role
    Company
    Expertise
    Notable for
    BPI affiliation

    What is Kj Payette known for?

    • Developing and implementing high-impact people strategies that drive business results.
    • Leading human resources, learning and development, and internal communications functions for large organizations.
    • Expertise in HR strategy, talent management, and organizational design.
    • Extensive experience in change management, leadership development, colleague engagement, and employee relations.

    What is Kj Payette's background and experience?

    Kj Payette's career is marked by over two decades of progressive leadership in human resources. Prior to joining the Best Practice Institute as an expert faculty member, she held key executive positions, including Chief People Officer at Panera Bread Co. in 2020. In this role, she was responsible for human resources, learning and development, and internal communications across the organization.

    Before her tenure at Panera, Payette served as Chief Human Resources Officer at Cumberland Farms. A significant portion of her career, 22 years, was spent at CVS Health, where she advanced through escalating leadership roles. This included five years as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for CVS Pharmacy and over five years as Vice President of Talent Management. Her academic background includes a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Stanford University, which underpins her deep understanding of human behavior and organizational dynamics.

    What topics does Kj Payette speak and write about?

    Kj Payette focuses on crucial topics within human resources and organizational development. Her expertise encompasses the design and implementation of effective HR strategies that align with business objectives, fostering environments where individuals and companies can achieve their full potential. She addresses the complexities of talent management, including acquisition, development, and retention, emphasizing their critical role in organizational success.

    She also explores organizational design, guiding companies in structuring themselves for optimal performance and adaptability. Her insights extend to change management, helping organizations navigate transitions effectively, and leadership development, cultivating the next generation of business leaders. Furthermore, Payette is recognized for her contributions to understanding colleague engagement and fostering positive employee relations, vital components of a thriving workplace, aligning with principles emphasized by the Best Practice Institute, such as those found in the Most Loved Workplace® certification.

    How does Kj Payette contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    As an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, Kj Payette plays a pivotal role in advancing BPI's mission to identify and propagate best practices in various organizational fields. She contributes her extensive real-world experience and strategic insights to BPI's research and educational initiatives, helping businesses develop people-centric strategies. Her work with BPI supports the understanding and adoption of practices that enhance leadership, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement.

    Her expertise directly relates to the principles highlighted by frameworks like the SPARK Model and the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI), which BPI champions. Through her contributions, she empowers organizations to cultivate environments where employees feel valued, engaged, and motivated, ultimately driving performance and fostering a Most Loved Workplace® culture.

    Where can you learn more from Kj Payette?

    To gain further insights from Kj Payette's expertise, individuals can explore her expert profile and any future programs or resources offered through the Best Practice Institute. Her contributions to BPI's faculty provide valuable perspectives on mastering human resources strategy and fostering organizational growth, making her a trusted voice for leaders and HR professionals seeking to optimize their people-centric approaches.

    Background & Perspective

    Background and Career

    Kj Payette's career spans over two decades in human resources leadership. She has held key executive positions, including Chief People Officer at Panera Bread Co. (2020), where she led HR, learning and development, and internal communications. Before Panera, she was the Chief Human Resources Officer at Cumberland Farms. A significant 22-year portion of her career was at CVS Health, where she progressed through leadership roles, including five years as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for CVS Pharmacy and over five years as Vice President of Talent Management. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Stanford University.

    Areas of Expertise

    Kj Payette specializes in designing and implementing high-impact people strategies that align with business goals. Her expertise covers a wide range of HR functions:

    • HR Strategy
    • Talent Management (acquisition, development, and retention)
    • Organizational Design
    • Change Management
    • Leadership Development
    • Colleague Engagement
    • Employee Relations

    Role at Best Practice Institute

    As an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, Kj Payette contributes her extensive real-world experience to BPI's research and educational programs. She helps leaders and HR professionals develop people-centric strategies to enhance organizational effectiveness, foster employee engagement, and build a positive workplace culture.

    Areas of Expertise

    HR StrategyTalent ManagementOrganizational DesignChange ManagementLeadership DevelopmentColleague EngagementEmployee Relations

    Research Topics

    HRTalentLeadershipOrganizational Development

    Profile last updated

    Frequently asked questions

    Best Practice Institute

    Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

    The Workplace Report

    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.