STRATEGIC BUSINESS PARTNER

Organizations are becoming increasingly complex, and the requirements to manage and optimize the people working in these organizations are also becoming more complex. Leaders are looking to their Human Resources (HR) function for greater and different levels of support than has been true in the past. To respond, HR functions must become more integrated into the business, working in a more strategic and proactive manner. This has implications for the entire function and requires that some people work in the role of Strategic Business Partner.

Dana Gaines Robinson and Jim Robinson are the President and Chairman, respectively, of Partners in Change, Inc., a consulting firm formed in 1981. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the firm provides services to organizations around the world. Among the many clients of the Robinsons are Allied-Domecq, The Gillette Company, Johnson Controls, Wachovia Corporation, and the YMCA. Both Dana and Jim are frequent speakers at national and international conferences.
Prior to teaming up in Partners in Change, Dana was an internal Human Resource professional for several years. She led the learning organizations in both a financial and pharmaceutical corporation. Jim was a Vice President at Development Dimensions International (DDI), where he was the primary architect for its most successful training program, Interaction Management.
Together the Robinsons have coauthored and coedited several books including Training for Impact, Moving from Training to Performance and the award-winning book Performance Consulting. With Ken Blanchard they coauthored the book Zap the Gaps! Target Higher Performance and Achieve It! Collectively, their books have been translated into more than 20 languages. They have been awarded ASTD’s Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance as well as the Thought Leadership Award from ISA.
When not writing or consulting, the Robinsons thoroughly enjoy their time with family, which includes seven grandchildren. They are also world travelers, having visited more than 40 countries to date and with plans to visit others.
Dana Gaines Robinson and Jim Robinson are the President and Chairman, respectively, of Partners in Change, Inc., a consulting firm formed in 1981. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the firm provides services to organizations around the world. Among the many clients of the Robinsons are Allied-Domecq, The Gillette Company, Johnson Controls, Wachovia Corporation, and the YMCA. Both Dana and Jim are frequent speakers at national and international conferences.
Prior to teaming up in Partners in Change, Dana was an internal Human Resource professional for several years. She led the learning organizations in both a financial and pharmaceutical corporation. Jim was a Vice President at Development Dimensions International (DDI), where he was the primary architect for its most successful training program, Interaction Management.
Together the Robinsons have coauthored and coedited several books including Training for Impact, Moving from Training to Performance and the award-winning book Performance Consulting. With Ken Blanchard they coauthored the book Zap the Gaps! Target Higher Performance and Achieve It! Collectively, their books have been translated into more than 20 languages. They have been awarded ASTD’s Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance as well as the Thought Leadership Award from ISA.
When not writing or consulting, the Robinsons thoroughly enjoy their time with family, which includes seven grandchildren. They are also world travelers, having visited more than 40 countries to date and with plans to visit others.