HGO Spotlight on: Associate Director of Human Resources Christian Davis
“I come from an HR family,” says HGO Associate Director of Human Resources Christian Davis. Both his mother and sisters work in the field, while his father is a minister. From the time he was young, Davis’s parents instilled in him the importance of serving others. He compares his HR work at HGO to being a courteous host, emphasizing that the “H” in “HR” stands for “human.”
In grade school, Davis fell in love with the performing arts, singing in choir and appearing in musicals. A first-generation college student, he studied mass communication at Stephen F. Austin University before earning his master's in HR from Houston Christian University and joining the HGO team.
Davis is a native Houstonian who knows a thing or two about Southern hospitality. As a master of first impressions, he strives to be a welcoming presence for current and future employees who walk through the doors of HGO’s offices.
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What inspired you to pursue a career in human relations?
My religion is a big part of who I am and the way I conduct myself. My family was always helping our community because it was part of my dad’s ministry. During Thanksgiving, we would drive around and give families quality food. Around Christmas time, we would do toy drives for children. It taught me how to be selfless and kind, which I feel is a big part of being in HR. I want to help people.
How did you get into HR?
Before HR, I was a financial aid advisor and an academic advisor. I am a first-generation student, and that is what spurred my interest in helping students who were in the same position as me. I wanted to be a part of that support system for other first-generation students.
In HR, I have been able to continue this work in my role at HGO with Butler Studio artists, so they are set up for success. Especially since they are new in their careers and may not know about their benefits. They’re finishing their master’s degrees and figuring out this next phase, so I want to be a resource for them. I like to be a guide, if I can. It is great to be able to work with them while supporting various parts of our company. |
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What does it take to be a good HR representative?
I’ve learned to be solution-oriented. Asking questions like, How can we combat this? What is the answer?, are invaluable to thoughtfully assess the problem and fix the issue.
You also need to have a passion for people—period. You can be in HR and be very isolated, depending on where it is. Some larger organizations may have HR specialists who work in one specific area and don’t interact with employees much. Here at HGO, we all work with people. So, I can’t be a person that doesn’t like dealing with people in my job. [laughs] It just doesn’t work.
Have you always had an interest in the performing arts?
I don’t think you can work somewhere like HGO and not be passionate about the arts. I love opera, musical theater—that kind of thing. If I’m not humming or singing something, there’s probably something wrong. It’s very embedded in who I am. I never lost that love of music. I would say it has grown stronger since I came to work at HGO.
The arts offer a way to express yourself—even in ways that aren’t realistic. When performing, your wildest dreams can come true and be a way to escape from your daily life. It can be cathartic, which is sometimes exactly what you need to convey your sorrow or joy, or inspire questions to think about. It can be so many different things depending on the person.
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What’s different about working in HR at an opera house compared to somewhere else?
People in the arts can be detail-oriented and meticulous. You learn the importance of the details. I’m a lot more intentional about what I write and what I say. And I think that is something that I will take everywhere I go.
What has been your favorite part of working at HGO?
It feels good to offer that first impression when someone walks through our doors. I want to have a warm smile that makes people happy. I try to be hospitable, because I get to welcome people into our “house,” if you will—into HGO’s space.
We live in a world where there are so many things that can divide us and give us anxiety. I remind myself that everyone has something they struggle, battle, or deal with. So why would I want to add something else? If anything, I hope that in this space and this moment, you feel like we can talk about whatever you need, and that you feel safe. |
For more of the HGO Spotlight Series check out: HGO Spotlight on: Graphic Designer Rita Jia