What was the best career advice you received when starting out?

The best career advice I ever received came from my parents, who taught me to always ‘do the right thing.’ This principle has been my compass, especially in tough industries like HR and recruiting, where it’s easy to get caught up in the processes and forget the human side of the work.

Ironically, being a ‘people person’—which I’ve always considered one of my strengths—has also presented some of my greatest challenges. Balancing the needs of individuals with the demands of business is rarely straightforward, and doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest or most popular choice.

But I’ve found that staying true to this value has been invaluable. It has allowed me to build long-standing, meaningful relationships that have propelled my career forward. As an executive, I know firsthand that prioritizing people sometimes comes with a cost, but the rewards—both personal and professional—far outweigh it. Staying committed to this principle is not only the right thing to do but also the thing that keeps me grounded and aligned with my purpose.

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you build yourself back up?

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, I’ve learned to navigate those challenges with a few key strategies. As a woman who often feels a little different, those feelings can come on quickly and unexpectedly, sometimes even catching me off guard. When that happens, I’ve found that stepping away from the situation to reset and refocus is incredibly helpful.

One of the most effective tools I’ve adopted—something I wish I had learned earlier in my career—is a simple but powerful exercise. I write down everything that’s causing me stress, anxiety, or overwhelm. Then, I cross out the things I can’t control and focus on taking action on the things I can. It’s a game-changer for prioritizing and regaining a sense of control during difficult moments.

This process, combined with action-planning and giving myself the grace to pause, has helped me turn overwhelming situations into manageable steps, both in my career and in life.

Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you were first starting out?

If I could go back, the one thing I would do differently is start earlier. I think this is something that holds many women—and people in general—back. Looking back, having the knowledge and experience I have now would have made those early steps feel less daunting. But starting a business is about so much more than just knowledge. It’s about hustle, work ethic, relationship-building, and pushing through fears of both success and failure.

For a long time, those fears held me back from starting my first real business until later in life. Since then, I’ve successfully exited a couple of businesses and worked with private equity firms globally. One thing I’ve learned is that every successful startup shares the same common threads: driven founders, unrelenting tenacity, and the ability to transform struggles into success. If I had embraced that mindset earlier, I might have started building sooner, but I’m grateful for the journey that brought me here.

What’s the first thing you do every morning to start your day off on the right foot?

I always take a few minutes for myself with my cup of coffee outside. Something about the fresh air helps get me centered and focused. A peaceful start to the morning helps put me in a calm place ready to make decisions and drive actions.

What workday rituals help you stay productive and focused?

The one ritual I can’t live without in my workday is taking short, intentional breaks. Stepping away from my workstation, even for just a few minutes, has been a game-changer for resetting my mindset. Whether it’s a quick walk around my office or taking a moment to check in with my team individually, these small pauses help me create a clear transition between tasks or meetings.

I’ve found that shorter, more frequent breaks are often more effective than longer ones—they help me stay focused and recharge without losing momentum. While a heavy workload doesn’t always allow for this, when it does, it makes a noticeable difference. By the time I step into my next conversation, I feel refreshed, engaged, and ready to contribute.

What is your favorite thing about your workspace?

My favorite thing about working at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is the sense of interconnectedness within our workspace. With multiple buildings spread across the Denver metro area and surrounding regions, there’s a dynamic quality to the job. Traveling to different locations not only keeps things fresh with a change of scenery but also helps me stay connected to the breadth of our organization.

What truly sets the environment apart, though, is the diversity of our employee population. Being surrounded by such a wide range of perspectives and experiences makes the workplace vibrant and inspiring—it’s a constant reminder of the incredible community we’re building together.

Louisa Amott is the Chief Human Resources Officer at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and DEI Champion of the Year award winner with Mile High SHRM. For over two decades, she has been an HR entrepreneur, executive, and a global talent leader in businesses from a handful of critical people to 60,000+ employees. She can be reached on LinkedIn.