Grubhub's Vice President and Controller, Brigitte Lazarko, shared insights into her role and personal journey within the company. Speaking during Women's History Month, Lazarko highlighted the strategic importance of the finance team at Grubhub, managing tasks "from accounting and financial reporting to payroll and tax compliance."
Lazarko, originally from Winnipeg, recounted her transition to Chicago and Grubhub from SkipTheDishes, citing her collaboration with Grubhub CEO Howard as influential. "I had always enjoyed working with him, so continuing that partnership was definitely something I valued," she said. The move coincided with Grubhub's acquisition of Wonder, which aligned with her career aspirations.
Her role encompasses several vital functions, including overseeing financial reporting, payroll, tax, and finance operations. Lazarko explained, "Every dollar that comes in or out of Grubhub runs through our team." She noted that the finance team's involvement is crucial to the company's growth, ensuring proper tax, billing, and compliance measures in new business ventures. "Growth doesn’t happen without a strong financial infrastructure behind it," she emphasized.
Looking ahead, Lazarko's team is focused on integrating financial systems with Wonder's enterprise resource planning platform and embracing technology like AI to enhance efficiency. She described the collaboration with Wonder as "very collaborative and energizing," sharing tools and best practices to leverage the strengths of both organizations.
Lazarko also shared her leadership philosophy, promoting a culture of empathy, trust, and empowerment. "I want my team at the table early, helping shape ideas rather than cleaning up problems after the fact," she said.
In honor of Women's History Month, she offered advice to women aspiring to leadership, emphasizing standing up for what's right and building a supportive network. "Throughout my career, I’ve built a trusted inner circle I can count on when things get tough," Lazarko shared.
Discussing mental health, Lazarko highlighted its significance in her life and career, advocating for a supportive work environment. "Mental health isn’t something to be ashamed of, and the conversation shouldn’t start and stop with HR policies," she stated.
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