Getting to know Persefoni: Meet Jimmy Simeles

1. And you may ask yourself, "Well... how did I get here?" (Tell us your journey?)

I come from an incredibly large Vietnamese family in Portland, Oregon. My parents and their siblings immigrated to the United States as refugees after the war. With the support of the community, my parents were able to start a life, build a family, and eventually reunite with their parents in the US. Based on their experiences, my parents instilled the value of family and community early on, letting my siblings and I know that we are lucky to be afforded certain opportunities and to give back whenever possible.

During my time at Portland State University, the programme put a focus on sustainability practices and community support. Both pillars became a core part of my experience at PSU. Each year, I became more involved, wearing different hats as an Orientation Leader, a Student Ambassador, a Business Peer Advisor, a Resident Assistant, and an Asian Pacific Islander Mentor. Each experience solidified my desire to assist others and to give back so that others within my community can succeed.

After graduating with degree in Human Resources and Management, I became a temporary HR Assistant at Mercy Corps which was my first experience being in a global HR setting. I later joined Moda Health for nearly 3 and a half years. I started as a Trainer, focusing on onboarding new employees, and developing in-person/online courses to improve the employee experience or required trainings. After a year, I became a Compensation Analyst, focusing on salary surveys, market analysis, performance appraisals, and coordinating pay changes for the company and subsidiaries. After speaking with Kentaro Kawamori, he mentioned that Persefoni was booming and asked if I would be interested in speaking with the People Ops team. After speaking with Courtney Reynolds and other members of the People Ops team, I was completely sold and was blown away by the energy each member showed.

2. And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile. (What do you do at Persefoni?)

I am the People Experience and Compensation Analyst at Persefoni. In this role, I partner with the Talent Acquisition team and hiring managers to understand their department and openings. I research salary data to compare our position within the market so that Persefoni can stay competitive in attracting and retaining talent. Additionally, the People Ops team and I are looking at our internal data to determine ways that we can improve processes and to make more data-informed decisions to improve our employee experience.

3. And you may ask yourself, "Where does that highway go to?" (What are your hopes for your time at Persefoni?

My hope is that our team has the tools and processes to do all that we can to improve the lives of all Persefonites so that we can make a positive impact on the world. Part of this is making sure that we attract and retain quality talent. I want to ensure that we are doing all that we can to create an equitable and inclusive workforce by providing a competitive compensation package. I am excited for the wild ride, to overcome challenges, and to contribute to our mission.

4. And you may say to yourself, "My God! What have I done?" (Why is Persefoni a great home for you?)

The team assembled at Persefoni are all completely incredible with a wealth of background and knowledge that motivates me to be better and to make a difference. Additionally, I see value and purpose within our mission - enabling every person and organisation with the technology to improve the health of planet Earth. Once I had an opportunity to speak to my team and to learn about the Core Values and Operating Principles, it was clear that the Persefoni team is here to make a difference and truly mean it.

5. And you may find yourself in another part of the world... (Tell us about your life/hobbies away from work?)

I thoroughly enjoy playing board games. Over the past few years, I’ve accumulated a stockpile of games to play with friends and family. My favourite games include Codenames, Settlers of Catan, and Ticket to Ride. Board games are a way for my friends and family to stay competitive or collaborative while enjoying each other’s time.

Being from the Pacific Northwest, I love nature and enjoy being outside whether going for a walk, hike or traveling to camp or to simply go to the beach. Additionally, I am a huge Trail Blazers fan and try to represent Rip City.

Growing up, I loved all types of entertainment from movies, music/concerts, or games. During high school and throughout college, my friends and I would write short films then go out to create our vision. This allowed for me to stay creative. I would edit the videos and music to create a visual story. This creativity allowed for my friends and me to bond and to be ourselves and share memories.