Stanley Consultants was recently named a USA Today Top Workplace, recognition that reflects the unique culture our employees experience every day. But what does this culture look like in practice? We sat down with Lisa Miller, Chief HR Officer, to hear her thoughts. Since joining Stanley, she's had a front-row seat to what sets us apart—and as someone who's led HR transformations across industries, she knows what exceptional looks like. In this conversation, she pulls back the curtain on what drew her here, what surprised her most and what she sees as the culture-defining moments that happen when no one's watching.
Q: Stanley recently was named a Top Workplace for the third year in a row. Since joining Stanley last year, does this recognition match what you have experienced?
A: Absolutely. What attracted me to Stanley was how clearly the culture showed up in real ways. It was not just something written down or talked about. You could see it in how people spoke about their work and how they treated one another. The award really validates what I saw during the interview process and what I continue to see day to day. We don’t get everything right every day, but the commitment to continue to make progress is important.
Q: You have spent much of your career in technical organizations. What stood out to you about Stanley’s culture?
A: I am very comfortable working in technical environments. I spent nearly 30 years at a multinational technology company where most employees were engineers or had technical backgrounds. What stood out to me at Stanley was how client‑centered the culture is and how clearly people understand the purpose behind their work. There is a strong sense of ownership here and real pride in doing the right thing for clients and for each other.
Q: What surprised you most after joining Stanley?
A: Even though I had spent my career working with engineers, professional services was new to me. Every business sector has different operating models and drivers. It has challenged me to understand a new model and think differently about how HR supports the business, which has been both interesting and energizing.
Q: Stanley has more than 100 years of history. How does a company balance that kind of legacy with staying innovative and adaptive?
A: Stanley’s history was one of the things that intrigued me. A company with this depth of legacy brings incredible wisdom and proven practices, but what excited me was discovering that this history does not have to constrain innovation. The openness to learn from the past while still being willing to evolve told me this was a place that will continue to grow.
Q: What separates companies that talk about culture from companies that actually live it?
A: One of the biggest indicators is whether culture is treated as a shared responsibility or something owned by a single group. Culture does not belong to HR or leadership alone. It is shaped every day by managers and teams and how people show up for one another. When that accountability is spread across the organization and reinforced consistently, that is when you know it is real.
Q: What ultimately made you say yes to Stanley?
A: It came down to alignment. I was ready for a new challenge and wanted to be somewhere I felt I could make a meaningful difference. Meeting the leadership team, learning more about Stanley’s history and seeing how seriously the company takes its values all confirmed that this was the right place for me.
Lisa's perspective reflects what our employees experience every day and what led to Stanley's recognition as a Top Workplaces winner. If you're looking for a workplace where culture is more than a talking point,
explore opportunities at Stanley Consultants.