Preserving Community and Retaining Talent in Challenging Times

The COVID-19 pandemic forced massive changes to many aspects of our everyday lives, but few things were affected more than the way we shop for and obtain our food. In this episode, we speak with Mike Theilmann, CHRO of food and drug retailer Albertsons Companies, about how COVID-19 encouraged the company to work toward greater efficiency and spend more energy retaining and engaging their employees.

Theilmann has more than 25 years of global experience across retail, hospitality, consumer goods, and venture capital. As CHRO of Albertsons, he leads diversity and inclusion, talent development, acquisition and engagement, and learning and capability development across all areas of business. He holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in physics from Gustavus Adolphus College and University of Nebraska-Lincoln, respectively.

Theilmann shares just how critical grocery employees are as frontline workers, the ways Albertsons is working to retain its employees, and why he focuses so much of his effort on talent. He also discusses how the competency model helps evaluate transferable skills and talent among employees, and tells us the one piece of advice he would give other retail HR leaders.

Some Questions Asked:

• You majored in physics in college. How did you wind up in human resources?
• What kinds of technologies are you using, and how are they improving the candidate experience?
• What are some of your predictions for how food delivery and the grocery business in general are going to change in the next few years?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How Albertsons is combatting the so-called war for talent.
• The major opportunity that the COVID-19 pandemic presented for Albertsons Companies to step up their efficiency.
• How Albertsons HR is working closely with the company’s communications team to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Links:

• Mike Theilmann - LinkedIn
• Albertsons Companies