This month, I enjoyed chatting with Sheila Trnjanin, the Employee Experience Supervisor at Xenium HR. Sheila shared her unique journey into HR, her insights on the evolving HR landscape, and her exciting professional and academic experiences. Here’s our conversation.
What is your role at Xenium HR, and how long have you worked here?
I started as an Employee Experience Representative in June 2024, about eight months ago and was recently promoted to Employee Experience Supervisor.
Can you tell us about your career progression? What did you do before Xenium HR?
Right after college, I worked at the federal probation office, handling confidential administrative work for probation officers and judges. Initially, I thought I’d pursue law school, but the pandemic shifted my motivation. I transitioned into technical recruiting, where I learned a lot about talent acquisition, negotiations, and people skills. Eventually, I wanted something more HR-focused. A friend introduced me to Xenium HR, and the client-focused HR model here really appealed to me.
You’re currently pursuing a Master’s program. Tell us about that.
I’m enrolled in the MBA for Professionals program at Willamette University, set to graduate at the end of this year. My immigrant parents instilled in me the importance of further education, so this felt like a natural step. The program emphasizes resonant leadership and strategic, interdisciplinary problem-solving, which aligns perfectly with my career goals.
What’s your favorite part of working at Xenium HR so far?
My favorite part is the learning experience—understanding the intricacies of payroll, benefits, account management, and employee relations. Seeing how these teams collaborate to support our clients effectively is fascinating. The collaborative environment at Xenium HR helps me confidently assist clients and continuously build my HR knowledge.
What surprised you most about working in HR?
Initially, I thought HR primarily involved backend administrative tasks, like payroll and policy-setting. But I’ve learned HR significantly influences organizational design and strategic initiatives. It surprised me how extensively companies rely on outsourced HR services like Xenium HR to support various crucial business functions. It has been a great learning experience to be in that environment with a diverse clientele.
What do you predict are challenges facing the HR world?
I believe adapting to evolving job definitions and work environments—especially post-pandemic—is a significant challenge. The rise of unconventional roles and expectations from younger generations will require HR to stay flexible and innovative. Economic factors like stagnant federal minimum wage also present challenges, requiring HR to advocate for meaningful changes that address growing workforce frustrations.
Can you share a project or accomplishment you’re proud of?
Graduating from the University of Oregon in three years with honors was a significant personal achievement, especially amid the pandemic. Another proud moment was becoming my sorority’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) chair at the University of Oregon. This role allowed me to foster meaningful conversations about racial and cultural identities and biases, especially during a particularly intense time in America in 2020. I collaborated with the university’s DEI administration, and helped other sororities develop similar DEI chair positions, fostering greater awareness and open dialogue across the Panhellenic community. As a child of war refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was especially meaningful to be entrusted with leading these initiatives. It was rewarding to create spaces for discussions on current events and broaden perspectives among my peers.
What advice would you give someone starting in HR?
Networking is crucial. Talk to as many people as you can about their roles in HR and different organizational models. Utilize online resources and technology like social media, Reddit, or ChatGPT to prepare questions and gain insights. Technology can significantly enhance your personal development and understanding of the HR field.
What do you enjoy most about working with clients at Xenium HR?
I really appreciate building interpersonal connections with managers and employees. It’s rewarding when clients genuinely express gratitude for the support provided, reinforcing the meaningful impact of our work. More broadly, Xenium HR offers an environment conducive to personal and professional growth, significantly motivating and fulfilling for me.
How do you see your role evolving in the future?
I’m excited to grow within the Employee Experience Team, aiming to further streamline our team’s processes and growth overall. As a recently promoted Supervisor, I want to enhance my hands-on experience with resonant and strategic leadership strategies I have learned in my MBA program. I strongly believe that the Employee Experience Team is significant in Xenium’s business delivery model, so I am hopeful that I can continue to grow our team while delivering on our client’s needs. In the long term, an HR Generalist role also appeals to me due to its ties to legal compliance—an area I’ve always found intriguing.
What do you wish more people knew about working in HR?
HR isn’t just about reprimanding employees or fixing every problem independently. It’s a collaborative effort requiring communication and goal alignment across all organizational levels. HR professionals genuinely aim to impact workplaces positively, but real solutions arise from teamwork and collective effort.