Claire Tangvald brings calm, care, and clarity to some of the most personal moments our clients and their employees experience. In her role on the Employee Experience Team, Claire is often the voice on the other end of the phone when things feel overwhelming. Her ability to combine efficiency with empathy makes a real difference, and her growth at Xenium over the last year and a half is a great example of what stepping up looks like in practice.
What’s your role at Xenium, and how would you describe the work you do?
I started at Xenium as an Employee Experience Representative and was recently promoted to Senior Employee Experience Representative. My role is to make sure our clients and their employees are taken care of across all aspects of our services, from portal support to benefits, payroll, and everything in between.
What twists or turning points led you to Xenium?
I kind of ended up here in a funny way. I was looking for a new opportunity and, while I was at a restaurant, I randomly struck up a conversation with someone. We hadn’t really talked before, but we’re both from Lake Oswego. She turned out to be a former Xenium client and asked if I’d ever heard of Xenium. When I said no, she was shocked and spoke so highly of the company.
That moment led me to explore Xenium further. I saw an opening for the Employee Experience Team and applied right there in the middle of the restaurant. About a year and a half later, here I am. I ended up at Xenium because a former client took the time to rave about the experience.
What part of the work excites you the most?
While we handle some repetitive tasks day to day, you never know what’s going to be on the other end of the phone or waiting in the inbox. Sometimes it’s chaos. Sometimes it’s a simple question. Because of that unknown, I really enjoy helping people solve problems or at least pointing them in the right direction.
What matters most to me is being able to do that while still fostering human connection and building relationships. With hybrid work and not seeing everyone face to face, that connection can get lost, and I really value being able to preserve it.
What changes or shifts in the industry have surprised you the most?
HR is always changing, but what’s shaped me most is seeing how adaptable our team and Xenium as a whole are. I’ve surprised myself with how quickly I can pivot, and I’ve been equally impressed with our clients.
A good example was the Prism One rollout. It was a little bumpy, and the Employee Experience Team absorbed much of the impact. But seeing how Xenium, EET, and our clients collaborated through the challenges and got to that “aha” moment showed me what we’re capable of, even when the path isn’t smooth.
What trends or challenges should clients be watching now and in the future?
Hybrid work schedules stand out to me. There’s a lot of conversation right now about returning to the office, reducing flexibility, or going back to fully in-office work. Clients are already facing this and will continue to in the years ahead.
Balancing hybrid and in-office work while still meeting employee and client needs is tricky. There are pros and cons on both sides, and opinions are strong. I also see a generational divide here, so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
What’s a project or moment at Xenium you’re especially proud of?
In 2025, there was a period where it was just two of us, Sheila and me, on the Employee Experience Team for about a month. It was tough, but we made it through. That experience showed me what I’m capable of and what Xenium is capable of when everyone comes together.
I was able to really immerse myself in all aspects of the role, and I think that time played a part in my promotion to Senior EET. Holding things down during a time of transition taught me a lot about myself and reinforced how strong our team can be, even with limited resources.
What advice would you give someone entering this industry today?
It can feel like everything is constantly changing, because a lot of it is. But if you stay true to yourself and your clients and always put your best foot forward, you and the people around you will continue to succeed.
Can you share a meaningful client experience that’s stayed with you?
This happens more often than people might think. Sometimes you’re talking to someone who feels like their situation is the end of the world. Recently, a client called, very stressed, because they couldn’t add a qualifying life event in the portal. They had just had a newborn, so emotions were already high.
I was able to reassure them, loop in our benefits specialists, and work through the issue together. We got their newborn enrolled in medical benefits, and the mom was incredibly grateful. That sense of relief, hearing “thank you so much,” really reaffirmed why I do this work. Even on a hard day, being able to solve something that feels overwhelming to someone else makes it worth it.
How do you hope your role or expertise continues to grow?
I’m really excited about my future at Xenium and in HR overall. I see a lot of growth ahead. One thing I’m especially excited about is potentially pursuing my SHRM certification in the next year. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and it feels like a natural next step to deepen my knowledge and push myself forward.
What’s something your coworkers might be surprised to learn about you?
I’m dominantly left-handed but ambidextrous because I had to learn to do everything right-handed. Also, I absolutely despise mayonnaise.
How would you describe your work style in three words?
Efficient, collaborative, and accountable.