What makes people genuinely love where they work?
In this episode of Success Leaves Clues, Robin Bailey is joined by special guest co-host Ashlea DesRoches for an inspiring conversation with Stephanie Crombie, Employee Experience Manager at HeyOrca, about the power of creating workplaces where people truly feel they belong.
Drawing from a career that began in hospitality and took her around the world aboard cruise ships, Stephanie shares how memorable experiences, intentional leadership, and personalized employee journeys can transform workplace culture, especially in fully remote organizations.
Rather than relying on generic perks or one-size-fits-all programs, Stephanie explains why today's most successful organizations create meaningful moments that help employees feel seen, valued, and connected from their very first day. From onboarding new hires to recognizing everyday contributions, she reveals practical strategies leaders can implement to improve engagement, retention, and long-term business success.
Robin, Ashlea, and Stephanie also discuss remote culture, personalization, employee recognition, onboarding, belonging, leadership, workplace happiness, and why the way leaders make people feel will always matter more than any KPI.
Whether you're a CEO, founder, HR leader, people manager, or someone passionate about building stronger workplace cultures, this episode offers actionable ideas for creating organizations where people thrive.
You’ll hear about:
- Why employee experience extends far beyond perks and benefits
- Creating meaningful workplace moments that employees remember
- Building a culture of belonging in fully remote teams
- The connection between employee happiness and business success
- Why personalized recognition outperforms generic rewards
- How intentional onboarding increases engagement and retention
- Practical ways leaders can make employees feel seen and valued
- Recognizing effort throughout the journey, not just outcomes
- Voice and choice as the foundation of great employee experiences
- How small moments create lasting workplace cultures
- Why human connection remains leadership's greatest advantage
We talk about:
00:00 Welcome and introduction to Stephanie Crombie
02:00 From hospitality to employee experience leadership
05:45 Why people remember how work made them feel
10:20 Building belonging in fully remote organizations
15:30 Spotting culture shifts before they become problems
17:30 Creating unforgettable onboarding experiences
22:20 Personalization versus automation in employee experience
27:00 Why generic perks no longer create engagement
28:15 The power of "Voice and Choice"
30:00 Happiness, belonging, and leadership culture
32:00 Planting trees for future employees
35:00 Final leadership lessons and closing thoughts
Connect with Stephanie
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-crombie14/
- Website: https://www.heyorca.com/
Connect with Us
- LinkedIn: Robin Bailey and Al McDonald
- Website: Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group
