Meet Karen Orosco: Leading 75,000 associates at the No. 1 workplace for management, H&R Block

As senior vice president of U.S. retail for H&R Block, Karen Orosco leads 75,000 associates in nearly 7,000 offices across the country. Based on more than 7,000 reviews and ratings from current and past associates on Indeed.com, H&R Block ranked first among the Best Places to Work in the category of managing people.

According to Orosco, she and her managers are constantly looking for ways to improve leading the tax offices and coaching associates to be their best.

“It starts with clearly communicating goals,” Orosco said. “Managers and associates work together to set goals that achieve what is important for our business and our clients. These goals serve as the guidepost for feedback and coaching throughout the year.”

As far as the type of associates she is looking to hire, she says she is interested in people who have a “passion” for providing an outstanding client experience and who are “hungry for growth.”

“Being good at taxes isn’t enough,” said Orosco. “I am looking for people with humility, because I think with that comes the willingness to learn and to truly listen to your clients to know what they are needing in that moment.”

Orosco has this advice for those with career aspirations to become a senior executive: “Be open to steps along your career journey, even if they weren’t exactly what you envisioned your path to look like. Some of the roles I’ve learned the most from and grown the most as a leader were ones I never would have anticipated.”