Why You Should Invest More in People: Take It from Chipotle’s CPO
Engaged employees, solid retention rates and a full pipeline of prospects have one thing in common: they are a result of companies investing in their people. Organizations that prioritize human capital reap the benefits in more way than one. Chipotle is quite familiar with this approach. Priding itself on building a world-class people company, Chipotle is duly one of the fastest growing fast-causal restaurant chains. If you ask their first-ever Chief People Officer, Marissa Andrada, she attributes the success to the mantra of “you can’t grow a company without growing it’s people.” Marissa, a seasoned HR leader with a career spanning many well-known brands, has been instrumental in redefining Chipotle’s benefits. Under Marissa’s leadership, Chipotle has introduced an all-crew bonus option, the opportunity earn a debt-free college degree, and increased access to mental health care for their 83,000+ employees. Join us for this transformative session as Marissa shares an inside look at how and what Chipotle has done to grow their workforce, transform and create a work environment where the organization’s employees can truly thrive. Take away unique approaches to compensation and benefits, learn how you can apply similar tools they’ve instituted to support these measures, and gain a deep understanding of the impact said initiatives have on business to up your own skills.
Marissa Andrada
Marissa Andrada is a master of activating organizational hyper-growth and turnaround through the transformation and creation of dynamic, diverse, and inclusive cultures. With over 25 years of experience integrating people and leadership capability into the foundation of business strategies, she has energized brands to codify their purpose and values while accelerating company growth and industry-wide change, inspiring a movement for employee well-being and opportunity.
Marissa is passionate about leading with authenticity and helping people and organizations unleash human potential to lift personal and overall company performance. She has been the key catalyst in transforming cultures and driving performance at a multitude of consumer brands, most recently as the first chief people officer at Chipotle Mexican Grill. As the former chief diversity, inclusion, and people officer, Marissa activated a culture strategy that was co-created with the workforce - including the launch of a debt-free college degree and education program and access to mental healthcare.
Prior to Chipotle, Marissa led human resources at Kate Spade & Company and partner resources at Starbucks Coffee Company. Earlier, she served as senior vice president and head of human resources at GameStop Corporation and at Red Bull North America. She is currently serving as an independent board director at Krispy Kreme, Inc. where she is also the chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee. Marissa also serves as a board member on a $150 M diversity fund and advisor to GUILD, Sholder, With U Forever and Boomerang, companies committed to the creating opportunity and well-being for employees.
Marissa advises CEOs and their teams on creating high-performance and inclusive cultures as well as developing diverse go-to-market product and service strategies. Marissa hosts live weekly conversations with leaders from various industries on how
they are creating cultures where people can thrive and what advice they can share to lead through transformation on her CultureCast with Marissa podcast. Marissa holds an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and an undergraduate degree from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona. She is a founding member of the SHRM Executive Council, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Workplace Dignity Council and the CNBC Workforce Executive Council and a 2020 American Business Award Gold Stevie winner.