Spotlight: Kim Dorsett, Chief Human Resources Officer, CDC Small Business Finance + Capital Impact Partners

Welcome to our Spotlight series where we highlight members of our new enterprise between CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners.

This Spotlight is on Kim Dorsett. Kim is our Chief Human Resources Officer, CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners.

She has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services and construction industries. Kim is responsible for developing and executing the company’s human resources strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the organization. This includes overseeing areas of succession planning, talent acquisition, organizational and performance management, training and development, compensation and benefits administration, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Take a moment to watch the video or read the transcript below to learn more about Kim’s background, her role, and some fun facts! 

Q: Can you tell us about your role?

A: I am the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Alliance, which is the coming together of Capital Impact partners and CDC Small Business Finance. My primary role is developing and executing the human resources strategy to support the overall business plan. What that includes is change management, organizational performance, management compensation, and workforce planning.

Q: What would you say are the top three qualities that attract candidates to our new organization?

A: We’re a mission driven organization with committed professionals that have the opportunity to align their careers with their personal values. What I mean by that is the opportunity of being impactful and breaking systemic barriers.

Q: And how are the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion integrated both into your recruitment practices and the corporate culture?

A: We first need to have an understanding of those different words or the components of it. Diversity, that’s the who and the what, and what we’re talking about is who’s sitting at the table, who’s being promoted, who’s being recruited. We do a really nice job in tracking those traditional characteristics and identifying gender ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability, and so forth.

Here at the Alliance, we’re striving to be an inclusive organization. What I mean by being an inclusive organization, is applying the concepts of diversity in our workings, people and practices. We’re creating a space where diversity is creating an environment of involvement and respect and connection. Most importantly, we want our employees to have a sense of belonging.

Q: Rumor has it that you love Disney. Can you share with us a little bit about why?

A: It depends on who you’re asking, but it really started with my daughter. Ever since she was small, she’s always loved the Disney princesses and just the overall concept of the Disney franchise. She’s a walking Disney encyclopedia. Because of this, both my husband and I fell victim to this addictive nature of Disney world. Actually even our son is not immune to this. He’s been subject to it and he’s embraced it now too. The Disney movies and our family trips are the ways in which we’re able to bond. We have debates over the best Disney movies and it’s just a bunch of laughs when we do this. I treasure those types of moments with my family.

Q: Can you describe your perfect weekend?

A: Anything where I’m surrounded by family and friends. Now that is more than ever with the craziness of the pandemic, it’s the simplest moments that mean the most to me. Being surrounded by those that I love and treasure makes my day brighter. In particular, having a junior daughter in college and having a freshman son in high school means I’m soon to be an empty nester. But whatever time we have with both of them, that is something that is priceless that I definitely want to treasure.