On May 19, the Armenian HR Association turned 15. A milestone not just for us, but for a movement that started with a few people and a big dream – to unite, grow, and develop the HR profession in Armenia.
Over the years, I have come to see community building not as an event or initiative, but as a living and developing force. And if nurtured well, it behaves as a snowball. Growing bigger and stronger with every thoughtful roll, carried forward by the care, consistency, and hands of many.
🎯 One Vision, Many Vectors
The foundation of any lasting professional community is a shared vision, but here is the trick – people walk toward that vision from very different starting points.
- 🌱 Newcomers are filled with curiosity, fear, and eagerness to grow. They need encouragement and orientation. They want to grow and be connected.
- 🔍 Mid-career professionals look for peer connections, solutions to complex cases, and opportunities to sharpen their thinking.
- 🧰 Experts and practitioners often seek tools, models and products they can bring back to their companies.
- 🌍 Internationally-minded professionals are eager for global insights, trends, and credentials.
- 💬 Relationship-oriented members are drawn by the human warmth, friendships, mentorships, support.
- Other, you name it!
As psychology tells us, people move through developmental stages in both life and work. This should be kept in mind when you deal with people. A thriving professional community acknowledges this diversity and creates spaces for each stage to feel included and valued.
🔁 Rituals and Rhythms. The Hidden Framework
Behind every visible action in a community lies something more subtle. And I mean rituals. These are not just events, but the rhythms that define who we are and how we connect. From yearly conferences to informal traditions, these small, repeated acts build culture.
Fredrickson’s research into “micro-moments of positivity” shows that trust and connection are built over time through small, consistent signals of care. At the Armenian HR Association, we have seen how these rituals – welcoming a new member, recognizing achievements, or even just regular messages, become the core essence of belonging.
A vision without ritual is theory. A vision with rhythm becomes community.
🧠 The Power of Identity. Who We Become Together
A community does not just give people tools – it gives them a mirror. Social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner) shows that we derive self-worth from the groups we belong to. A great professional network reshapes how people see themselves.
Over the past 15 years, I have watched members move from job-focused mindsets to purpose-driven identities. People started calling themselves not just HR managers, but culture shapers, people developers, strategic partners. These shifts matter – they change not only the individual, but the organizations and industries they impact.
A community shapes not just your career. It shapes who you become in the world.
❄ The Snowball: A Metaphor for Movement
The snowball metaphor continues to guide me. If the air is right (the culture), the hands are caring (the people), and the motion is steady (the consistency), a small idea becomes an unstoppable force.
In the Armenian HR Association, what began as a handful of professionals became hundreds. And behind every event, discussion, and decision was one truth: when people feel safe, seen, and aligned, they contribute generously.
🎉 A Note for International HR Day
On the International HR Day, I want to celebrate every HR professional, wherever you are in your journey.
We are not only shaping policies or designing trainings. We are shaping reality through the care we give, the cultures we create, and the connections we build. When we unite around high standards and human values, that impact does not stop at our office walls. It spills into the economy, culture, and society at large.
We stand with people. We stand with business. And together, we build a better world.
