The most successful companies in the world have a culture of trust in the workforce. But trust does not just grow out of nowhere. Trust needs transparency on all levels, said a seasoned HR leader spearheading the people initiatives of a global financial technology firm.

Transparency, said Shanyn Payne, Chief People Officer of Finder, means being open and honest with everyone about everything that is good, bad, and even the downright ugly, and communicating them the right way.

“A culture of trust begins with transparency and walking the talk,” she said, as she shared some learnings about her previous experiences as an HR leader.

Shanyn stressed that it is important to understand that when talking about culture, it should always be about the people, and this means delivering concrete results in terms of employee wellness and engagement, among others.

To foster a people-first culture, management should ensure that employees always have a "seat at the table," a workplace that is both productive and fun, and leaders with relatable values, she said.

A culture that values trust, transparency, and people can go a long way, as proven in her more than a decade of experience in the HR industry, managing employees from diverse background.

Growing businesses and people

Before joining Finder in 2021, Shanyn took leadership positions in Afterpay Touch, Online Education Services, SEEK, Pulse Pharmacy, Computershare, Dick Smith Electronics, and Woolsworths Supermarkets.

Her longest tenure was with Online Education Services, where she served as Executive Director of HR for seven years. There, she led the business as it grew from just a handful of employees to over 500, even expanding to the UK.

During Shanyn’s stint as top HR leader in Online Education Services, the company was recognised as BRW’s fastest growing business in 2015 and Aon Hewitt’s Best Employer from 2014 to 2017.