Ep. 99 - Tran Taylor Shares Essential Wisdom

The Main Thing Podcast

Welcome back to The Main Thing Podcast! Our special guest is a gifted leader who has run the HR programs from the C-suite of several of America’s most admired and successful corporations.

Tran Taylor has served as Upbound’s Executive Vice President — Chief Human Resources Officer since July 2021 and as the Chief Diversity Officer since May 2022. From 2008 through 2021, he served on the executive leadership team as the CHRO/CPO for Bumble, Mr. Cooper and Travelocity.

Tran has a track record of leading the Human Resources function, establishing human capital strategy and optimizing culture and people practices. From 2001 to 2008, he led the human resources function for global, retail-focused companies, such as Alliance Data and The Home Depot. He has led human resources integration for multiple merger and acquisition efforts and also served as a key enabler for several transformational change initiatives.

Tran earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from West Virginia University and completed HR executive development certification from University of Michigan Business School. He joins us from Dallas, where he resides with his wife and three children.

Get set! Over the next 9 minutes you will discover why Tran Taylor is one of the wisest people I know.

Resources

Contact Tran Taylor on LinkedIn

Credits

Editor + Technical Advisor Bob Hotchkiss

Brand + Strategy Advisor Andy Malinoski

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Episode Chapters

[0:00:01 - 0:04:30] - Intro, Welcome and Guest Bio; the connection between Tran and Skip

[0:04:31 - 0:06:55] - Tran’s career; earning a seat in the C-suite; his mentors along the way

[0:06:56 - 0:08:17] - Leadership style; Tran’s competitive edge; developing others

[0:08:18 - 0:11:55] - Tran shares his Main Thing; applying this wisdom to navigate one’s career

[0:11:55 - 0:14:15] - Applying the finishing touches; seeking inspiration from Maya Angelou