Listen "Lionel Riley, Chief Human Resources Officer at Riceland Foods"
Episode Synopsis
Navigating Dual Careers: Military Leadership and HR Strategies with Lionel RileyIn this episode of the Built by People Podcast, the host welcomes Lionel, the Chief Human Resource Officer at Riceland Foods who shares his unique career journey spanning over 20 years of HR and military service. Lionel discusses his leadership roles and experiences in both fields, emphasizing the influence of his military background on his corporate approach. He recounts implementing an employee engagement initiative at a remote facility to improve retention through a focus on belonging and career mobility. Lionel also elaborates on competing for talent in less attractive locations by fostering a culture of purpose, community, and employee listening. He concludes by stressing the importance of swift action on feedback and selling the mission over mere job perks.00:00 Welcome and Introduction00:52 Lionel's Unorthodox Career Journey01:17 Military Career Highlights02:18 Corporate Career Insights02:40 Employee Engagement Initiatives05:26 Military Leadership Influence06:56 Competing for Talent in Challenging Locations09:15 Post-COVID Employee Engagement11:07 Parting Advice and ConclusionPrevi is a private pricing network that is free for companies to launch and maintain. It saves employees $2,200/year on essential services like their cell phone and auto insurance bill. Visit here to learn more.
More episodes of the podcast Built By People
Desiree Aprekuma, VP of People
12/11/2025
Billy Parsons, Chief Human Resources Officer
12/11/2025
Ram Palaniappan, CEO at EarnIn
07/11/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.