According to April Lopinot, empathy is often perceived as a soft skill, but it is a necessary superpower for successful leaders. “At its core, empathy is understanding; it’s the ability to deeply connect with others, discerning their emotions, motivations and perspectives,” she said. “A leader who has empathy cultivates trust, fostering an environment where team members feel valued and understood.”
Empathy is what has led to Lopinot’s success as the chief people officer at Keeley Companies. Keeley Companies is a construction, development and restoration company. The firm is a customer-centric partner providing innovative solutions.
Departing from a decade-long tenure at another organization, Lopinot said venturing into a fresh industry and position was unfamiliar territory. “This transition demanded increased dedication and resilience, pushing my boundaries like never before,” she said.
Since joining the firm eight years ago as the first-ever HR manager, Lopinot has grown a non-existent HR department into a 15-member people operations team responsible for HR, recruiting, performance management, benefits and compliance, culture, learning and development, health and wellness, DEI and numerous other people-related functions.
Lopinot has been instrumental in providing strategic HR and talent acquisition to multiple other partners in Keeley’s capital investment portfolio that includes six new regional offices in Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio and North Dakota.
One of Lopinot’s most notable accomplishments with the company has been the creation of KeeleyLife, a robust health and wellness program to serve all Keeley Companies team members and their families. She has also lead Keeley’s DEI efforts through KeeleyOne, strategically shaping Keeley’s approach toward ensuring a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment for everyone to thrive.
“April would tell you that her greatest accomplishment has been building an incredible team living out the mission and values every single day as they serve nationwide,” said her colleagues. “April is always looking to enhance Keeley Companies as a whole and continue to find the best for employee career growth, health benefits and personal mental and physical health.”
Her dedication has led to numerous speaking events for the Construction Forum, STL CAPS and more. Lopinot also received the HR Award from the St. Louis Business Journal and the 2021 Keeley Companies Person of the Year.
According to Lopinot, the triad of important attributes for a successful leader are vision, adaptability and authenticity. “Authenticity fosters trust and credibility, allowing leaders to connect genuinely with their teams,” she said. “By being genuine, leaders create an environment where open communication thrives, fostering collaboration and innovation.”
For fostering innovation and inclusivity, Lopinot has been named a titan.
