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Portrait of Airbnb Global Talent Director Ruben Ponte

ILR’s EMHRM Program: “Best in Class”

Airbnb Global Talent Director Ruben Ponte says the Executive Master’s in Human Resource Management program emboldened him to help build the kind of company he would like his children to work at.

“The faculty gave us permission to be bold, show impact. That liberty, that yes, you can do this, you can be a real asset – that is part of the philosophy the faculty gave us. The faculty is educating an entire new generation of HR leaders. That is the power,” said the 2018 EMHRM graduate

“I had so much fun in this program. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to delve deep into HR as a discipline that truly impacts business outcomes.”

In an interview, he recounted his ILR journey and the ideology that guides his work and life:

From your LinkedIn profile: “Call me naive, but I genuinely believe in the kindness of people, and I see my role in HR as a wonderful opportunity to transform lives.” How did this attitude evolve?

I studied law. My family wanted me to be a judge or something like that, but the reality is that I didn’t feel a passion for that world, so I decided to go into the private sector. I spent time in marketing, HR and finance. I ended up loving HR. People are the most important thing in any institution. I believe that’s true at the end of the day.

So, the way I could have more impact was actually setting up people for success.

This is not rocket science. My dad has managed large teams for many years; he always says, “Most of what you do can be solved with a coffee.” You need to understand what that person is going through. Someone who is struggling today can be thriving tomorrow.

I really believe in kindness. There’s a powerful force inside of us. People are naturally kind. I really, really believe that people are good and kind.

It has been a choice in my life. I fell in love with the HR function, and since then, I’ve been working in HR for 20-plus years in different countries.

AirBnB’s lean startup vibe – what does that look like?

You try to push your employees not to act like employees but founders. It takes time and effort. You need to be intentional about it, but with that culture in place, you don’t need a lot of people managers and policies because everyone tends to act in the best interests of the company.

We challenge ourselves to do more with fewer people, to work hard, to optimize tech. We’re dynamic, we’re agile; we move lighter and faster.

As a true disruptor, we don’t believe in just moving the needle, but in being the needle that others can follow. That is a huge responsibility, but it also gives you permission to change things. We try to fail fast (and hopefully cheap) so we can learn faster. Being that kind of pioneer is really rewarding.

What does your work day look like?

It’s a global role, so I start with Europe at 6 a.m. I tend to block at least two hours every day to disconnect and produce when my brain is still fresh enough that I can still produce. I take a break for family time from about 5 to 8. and work with teams in Asia starting at 8 p.m.

How did you pull off parenting three children, now ages 13, 10 and 8, and working on the EMHRM degree requirements for 16 months?

“As a parent, you always have the guilt that you are not doing enough. My wife is an architect, and my mother-in-law lives with us, and that is priceless help. There is not a magic wand. You do your best and hope that it is enough.

You are a seasoned professional. What did the EMHRM experience give you that you weren’t getting elsewhere?

I chose Cornell because it is an exceptional university. I really wanted to get what is a best-in-class education. The EMHRM degree is best in class. I recommend it to everyone.

I am now studying for my fourth degree – in art history. It will not be the last one. I love learning. Education is part of life.

When do you put your EMHRM degree into action?

Every single day.

This master’s degree gives you a 360 view. We are constantly changing in HR. You’re always evolving because that is survival. The market pushes you. Change is always your most loyal companion.

The program places a lot of emphasis on change management so when you finish, you are an expert in change management. You need to be able to envision the ideal stage and what steps to take to manage the process. Someone has to have a hand on the wheel when the road gets bumpy.

I did my capstone project on change management. Leaner, faster and able to learn – the muscle you are able to build and exercise day to day gives you a competitive advantage for this business. We challenge the status quo of big companies, the old playbooks and complacency. We made it more efficient and global through tech.

What made you take the plunge and enroll? Was something missing in your professional life that EMHRM could deliver?

I am a businessperson who happens to manage people. I always felt like an intruder in a field where there are a lot of psychologists. I really wanted to have the connect-the-dot expertise and be the best I could be. When you go to the doctor, you trust the doctor. Your HR professional needs to be similar – you go to that person because you trust their expertise.

Did the EMHRM program change you?

My self-confidence grew.

Through the degree, you prove to yourself that you have the kind of expertise, the reassurance, to tackle more difficult problems.

I may make 20 decisions a day, and maybe 16 have perfect information, but there are always four or five for which you need to rely on your educated instincts, and the degree is part of that. You can feel comfortable. That is what this experience gives you. You can tackle things that have come with imperfect information.

Tell me about an aha moment sparked by EMHRM?

I loved this program because our cohort of 20 came from different countries, industries and realities. There are many things that are similar. At the end of the day, we’re all humans. Most of the day-to-day problems we tackle are the same, just in different cultures – from a manufacturing company in Pennsylvania to a consulting firm in London. That was a big aha moment; everything goes back to the same competencies.

As an HR professional, what is your North Star?

Try to imagine the company your kids would want to work for. Set a standard for other companies to follow so the next generation, my kids, can join that kind of company.

What would you tell someone considering the EMHRM program?

Try to always play with the best players, and what Cornell gives you are the best players. I do believe that “you are the waters you drink”; and at Cornell, you drink good water. What you learn makes you grow. The conversations are constantly challenged by people who are better than you, so you grow from the best. You learn best practices from the best.

Final thoughts?

The faculty is best in class. Period.

I had so much fun in this program. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to delve deep into HR as a discipline that truly impacts business outcomes.