How do you maintain a truly people-first culture in an industry notorious for grinding schedules and client-driven burnout?

In this episode of the Return to People podcast, host Kaleem Clarkson welcomes Annie Diiorio, the HR Manager and Executive Business Partner at Canidium. Annie’s career path is incredibly unique, having transitioned from an intern who suddenly became the sole HR professional for the organization in just one month, to an executive leader. Managing a distributed workforce of 130 employees across 28 states and six countries, she brings a wealth of experience in balancing tight client deadlines with employee work-life balance.

The conversation dives into how Canidium actively pushes back against harsh industry norms through manager-led rest policies. Built from the ground up as a remote company since 2008, the company prioritizes optional office attendance and intentional engagement over forced participation. Annie also shares her commitment to human-centered hiring, explaining why she rejects AI screening to personally interview every candidate.

"It's pretty rare to have good work-life balance at a consulting company, but it is something that we really strive for.”

Whether you're running a fully remote team or trying to build a workplace culture where people actually want to be part of for five years, Annie’s perspective offers a guidance in high-touch, high-impact leadership.

Learn more about Annie:

• Annie´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniediiorio/
• Canidium´s Website: https://www.canidium.com/