At the pinnacle of my career as a top-ranking investment sales professional, I made the leap into corporate HR. My goal was simple but ambitious: to help break down career barriers and create a level playing field across finance. Along the way, I’ve gained invaluable insights into what truly drives business success—and it starts with employee retention.

Here’s what I learned:

The Financial Cost of Turnover

Replacing an employee costs 1.5 to 2 times their annual salary, not to mention the disruptions to team cohesion, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

Employee Experience Drives Results

When employees feel valued and engaged, their impact on the business is undeniable. Companies with highly engaged teams see 21% higher profitability compared to their peers.

Retention Fuels Growth

Engaged employees not only stay—they thrive. They become ambassadors for your culture, attract top talent, and create a ripple effect of excellence across the organization.

This isn’t just about HR; it’s about building businesses that are both people-first and profit-driven. In other words, if you want teams of high performing, highly motivated, highly engaged individuals—the ones who you know you can trust to throw the ball to, show where the goal post is, and let them run—then investing in your people is the ultimate competitive advantage.

What steps are you taking to prioritize employee retention and experience in your organization? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!