In this episode of Reimagining Company Culture, we’re chatting with Karishma Buford, Chief People Officer at OppFi. At OppFi Karishma is strengthening the company’s HR foundation with world-class employee programs and best practices to hire and retain the best talent and empower them to do their best work.

Karishma Patel Buford is the Chief People Officer for OppFi, a leading financial technology platform that powers banks to help everyday consumers gain access to credit. Karishma is responsible for setting the long-term HR vision, mission, and employee brand that will shape its culture and fuel the next stage of business growth. She is strengthening the company’s HR foundation with world-class employee programs and best practices to hire and retain the best talent and empower them to do their best work. OppFi has been an Inc. 5000 company for five straight years, a two time Deloitte's Technology Fast 500™, and the seventh fastest-growing company in Chicagoland in 2021 by Crain's Chicago Business. The company was also listed on the Forbes America 2021 list of America's Best Startup Employers, Built In's 2021 Best Places to Work in Chicago.and was recognized as one of 50 Companies with the Best Benefits in Chicago. Prior to joining OppFi in 2019, Karishma was vice president of talent management at Groupon where she led global talent development and acquisition in 15 countries. Previously, Karishma led diversity and inclusion at Groupon where she was responsible for new initiatives to promote workforce diversity and build an inclusive culture. Prior to Groupon, Karishma was head of talent management for BAE Systems Inc., a large global defense firm with 35,000 employees, and also held a senior consultant role with PDI Ninth House, a leadership solutions consulting firm. Karishma started her career as an executive coach working extensively with physician and academic faculty leaders in healthcare and education. Karishma holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology. She completed her fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and mini-MBA certification from St. Thomas University, Opus College of Business, in Minnesota