SHIFT HR Compliance Training, LLC

1. Can you tell us about the founding story of SHIFT HR Compliance Training, LLC and how it has evolved over the years?

Katherin Nukk-Freeman and Suzanne Cerra met as law school roommates at Boston College and went on to earn partnerships in prestigious law firms. But they both experienced the same disappointing phenomenon at their firms. Talented lawyers, oftentimes women, were leaving their firms, and sometimes their practice altogether, because their firms were unable to provide a structure which was conducive to balancing a successful professional and personal life while still exceeding client expectations. Katherin and Suzanne knew they could do better. And so, they built a firm with a comprehensive and proactive team approach to provide the highest level of service and representation to clients, and the best possible organizational culture to all internal stakeholders/employees. By focusing on workplace culture and their creative and forward-thinking approach to the practice of law, they co-founded the employment law firm, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra. Within a few years, NFC was acknowledged as a top employment law firm by Thomson Reuters and US News and World Report. Katherin and Suzanne’s unique approach focused on partnering with their clients to build better workplaces by developing a preventative approach to the practice of employment law. Their approach attracted large enterprise clients who valued their sophisticated and relatable approach to preventative training, advising and litigation. By way of example, years before it became fashionable to do so, Katherin, Suzanne and their team would introduce the concept of unconscious bias awareness education on to their clients as an effective tool for preventing unintentionally harmful behaviors which often lead to harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

As the popularity of their approach grew, corporate clients asked Katherin and Suzanne how their effective approach to instructor led training could be scaled to reach thousands of employees across large organizations, many with offices across the country. So, using the many lessons learned from their instructor led employment law training, they started SHIFT HR Compliance – an e-learning training company. SHIFT began with a single course on Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discrimination directly inspired by issues Katherin and Suzanne saw their law firm clients experience. SHIFT’s e-learning library quickly grew to include one of the very first e-learning courses focusing on Unconscious Bias Awareness. In the years since SHIFT has continued to expand its library while intentionally focusing on issues and content that positively impact workplace cultures. Today SHIFT is proud of its marquee client list, and industry-leading renewal rate of over 93%. SHIFT looks to the future, evolving organizations by changing behavior one employee at a time.

2. What inspired the creation of SHIFT and how does its mission resonate with current consumer trends?

The inspiration behind the creation of SHIFT HR Compliance Training stemmed from the growing need for accessible, efficient, effective yet truly engaging and relevant compliance training solutions. With the increasing complexity of regulations, organizations require HR and DEI training that ensures employees understand and adhere to legal and regulatory standards as well as organizational cultural goals. This necessity is further amplified by the digital transformation of many industries and remote workplace concept, making online training an optimal solution. Our courses are designed for empathetic learning connecting the learner to content that addresses real workday situations. SHIFT’s mission is to provide comprehensive, accessible, and up to date training that is highly relevant in today’s workforce.

3. How do you maintain a strong connection with your consumer base? Have there been any notable changes in consumer behavior or preferences that influenced your business decisions?

Maintaining a strong connection with our customer base is crucial to our success as a niche HR Compliance and DEI training company. We employ several strategies to stay closely connected with our clients: regular email communication with tailored updates and insights; complimentary educational webinars for the HR and DEI professionals with whom we interact thereby offering direct engagement and expert advice; unique, high-quality content developed by our founders who are steeped in employment law, HR and DEI knowledge and experience, LinkedIn posts about cutting edge trends, curated content based upon updates and relevant trends; and, exceptional customer service.

4. How has SHIFT managed to achieve such rapid growth in the competitive market of compliance training industry?

SHIFT has achieved rapid growth in the competitive compliance training industry through a combination of unique strengths, strategic initiatives, and a commitment to excellence. Shift is founded by, run by highly experienced employment lawyers and all our content is created by subject matter experts in employment law, human resources, DEI and workplace culture. SHIFT leverages deep legal expertise to develop high-quality training content that is continuously updated to reflect the latest compliance issues and relevant trends. We maintain strong connections with clients through regular communication, engaging webinars, and active LinkedIn posts, fostering lasting relationships and trust. Our responsiveness to current events allows us to tailor offerings to meet clients’ evolving needs, ensuring our training aligns with regulatory requirements. Known for our white-glove customer service, we prioritize going above and beyond for our clients. We also employ innovative training methods, such as interactive webinars and personalized solutions, and have expanded our DEI training offerings to meet growing demand. Our multi-channel communication strategy ensures accessibility and responsiveness, while our commitment to continuous improvement helps us stay competitive. By leveraging our strengths and adapting to the industry’s changing landscape, SHIFT has established itself as a market leader.

5. What have been the biggest challenges SHIFT faced this year, and how did you overcome them?

This year, SHIFT faced several significant challenges, but our proactive approach and commitment to excellence enabled us to overcome them effectively. One of the biggest challenges we encountered was the California workplace violence mandate, which came with a tight deadline for compliance. Our clients needed comprehensive training in a very short amount of time. Leveraging the expertise of our founders, we swiftly developed high-quality content tailored to meet the requirements of the mandate. Our team worked diligently to create an excellent training course that was not only comprehensive but also engaging and easy to implement. This quick turnaround allowed our clients to stay compliant with the new regulations and reinforced our reputation for responsiveness and reliability.

6. How does SHIFT stay agile and adaptive in a rapidly changing market landscape?

The HR compliance training industry is constantly evolving to keep pace with changes in regulation, technology, workforce dynamics and, of course, societal changes. In the future, AI will play an even more important role in our course development. As our clients’ teams continue to work on a hybrid or remote basis, courses which focus on culture-building and empathy and other EQ related attributes may be even more important so that employees do not lose their ability to effectively communicate with their colleagues. SHIFT will continue to expand our course library and scale our unique engaging and real-life approach to training to reach thousands of employees across the country to continue to impact positive change throughout the workplace. Ultimately, the goal is to change behavior and help create inclusive and safe workplaces for all employees.

7. What are your long-term goals for sustainability, innovation, and market leadership?

SHIFT has set ambitious long-term goals to ensure sustainability, foster innovation, and establish market leadership in the HR compliance and DEI training industry. Our commitment to excellence, a client-centric approach, and continuous improvement drives these goals.

Sustainability: We aim to implement eco-friendly practices across our operations, reducing our carbon footprint, minimizing waste, and promoting sustainable materials. Embracing digital transformation will reduce paper usage and enhance our training programs’ accessibility and efficiency. Building long-term client relationships through high-quality training and excellent service is essential for sustainability.

Innovation: We will continue developing cutting-edge training content addressing the latest compliance issues and industry trends. Integrating advanced technology, such as AI and machine learning, will create more interactive and personalized learning experiences. Continuous improvement is key, seeking client feedback and exploring new methodologies.

Market Leadership: Expanding our reach by entering new markets and targeting different industries and regions is a priority. Establishing thought leadership through publishing research, sharing expert opinions, and participating in industry events is crucial. Strategic partnerships and collaborations will enhance our offerings and influence. Our client-centric approach, delivering exceptional value and customized solutions, will set us apart and solidify our market leadership.

By pursuing these goals, SHIFT aims to create a sustainable, innovative business model that meets client needs and sets new standards in the HR compliance and DEI training industry.

8. Can you share any success stories or instances where SHIFT has made a positive impact on society?

We’d like to share a recent success story that highlights our company’s strengths, straight from one of our valued clients:
SHIFT HR Compliance is proud of our partner Hackensack University Medical (HUMC) and their recognition as the first hospital in the nation to earn a Health Care Equity Certification from The Joint Commission. The certification indicates Hackensack Meridian Health’s extensive efforts to address and improve healthcare equity across its network. We are honored that the SHIFT/HMH Unconscious Bias in the Workplace training, customized to reflect healthcare-specific scenarios concepts provided by Hackensack scripted and translated into courseware by SHIFT, is one of the items demonstrating HMH’s cultural competence training standards for its staff. The ultimate success story of partnerships when SHIFT can provide more than just a training solution but help its partner achieve an audacious goal. Congratulations to HUMC for leading the country in healthcare equity and letting SHIFT be a small part of your journey to success.

9. Kindly provide a short bio of the CEO/Founder.

Katherin is the Co-Founder and President of SHIFT HR Compliance Training and a passionate advocate for building better workplaces. As a dynamic employment law advisor, training instructor and industry thought leader, Katherin partners with clients to develop and implement learning journeys to educate and evolve workplace culture and incorporate strategies to manage risk, comply with the law, foster an inclusive workplace and create an overall better workplace with flourishing for all. As a champion for forward-looking employment law applications, Katherin is a frequent presenter on employment law issues and has authored countless articles on current employment law “hot topics”.
Katherin co-founded SHIFT to provide innovative, engaging and impactful online training services for employers of all sizes from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.
SHIFT HR Compliance Training delivers HR compliance, Workplace Culture and Inclusion training to human resource departments, executives, management teams and employees nationwide. Katherin works with human resources management and DEI professionals providing guidance and instruction enabling them to better manage and proactively address their training programs and many other employment law issues.
Some of SHIFT’s training courses include, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discrimination, Unconscious Bias, Transgender Inclusion, Creating a Culture of Civility and Respect in the Workplace and Building Employee Inclusion and Promoting an Upstander Culture.

Listed in New Jersey Super Lawyers in the past seven years as one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers” in New Jersey and as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers” in the state, Katherin is ranked as a “Leading Individual” in Chambers USA and has won numerous additional awards.