ISAIAH J. LAWRENCE
Los Angeles
Summary
People Operations leader with experience building workplace infrastructure, driving employee engagement, and supporting executive leadership during high-growth and transitional phases. Recently stepped into a strategic partnerships role during Giphy’s hold separate period from September 2020 through August 2024, expanding cross-functional leadership and external stakeholder management. Currently seeking to re-focus on People Operations and culture-building in high-growth environments. Known for a proactive, empathetic mindset and a real passion for making every employee and guest feel at home.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Manager
Discount Tire
Los Angeles, CA
11.2025 - Current
- Supervised daily operations, ensuring efficient tire installation and repair processes.
- Trained and mentored staff on customer service protocols and product knowledge.
- Implemented inventory management systems to optimize stock levels and reduce waste.
- Analyzed sales data to identify trends, informing strategic marketing initiatives.
- Collaborated with team members to enhance workflow efficiency and service delivery.
- Resolved customer issues promptly, enhancing satisfaction and loyalty through effective communication.
- Supervised day-to-day operations to meet performance, quality and service expectations.
Tire Technician
Discount Tire
Los Angeles, CA
07.2025 - 11.2025
- Performed tire installations and rotations efficiently, ensuring customer satisfaction with service quality.
- Conducted thorough inspections of tires for wear, damage, and air pressure to maintain safety standards.
- Assisted in training new technicians on best practices and safety protocols in tire servicing operations.
- Collaborated with team members to streamline workflow processes, reducing service time without compromising quality.
Event Coordinator - Contract
Slay Events
Los Angeles, CA
03.2025 - 07.2025
- Coordinated logistics for events, ensuring seamless execution and adherence to timelines.
- Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts and maintaining service quality standards.
- Developed event marketing strategies to enhance attendee engagement and increase visibility.
- Oversaw budget management, tracking expenditures and optimizing resource allocation for events.
Manager → Senior Manager, Media Partnerships
GIPHY
NYC & LA
09.2020 - 08.2024
- Led cross company programs to help scale GIPHY’s gaming vertical during a complex hold-separate transition period, supporting platform growth from 4.7M views to 9B+ views through operational alignment and structured partner enablement.
- Onboarded and maintained 100+ verified media partners — including Microsoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment, ActivisionBlizzard, Capcom, BandaiNamco, and The Pokémon Company — through virtual calls, in-person meetings, and Salesforce/Tableau dashboard tracking.
- Collaborated cross-departmentally with Advertising, Revenue, Creative, and Legal teams to build strategic proposals and pitch multi-tiered ad campaigns to content partners.
- Led redesign of GIPHY Gaming’s landing page in partnership with the animation and design team, managing external creative vendors from brief through delivery.
- Produced live GIF activations for the annual Video Game Awards, coordinating with production teams and show producers to deliver 100+ GIFs, Stickers, and Clips on tight event-driven deadlines.
People Operations Manager
GIPHY
NYC
03.2018 - 09.2020
- Served as the primary point of contact for all employee HR needs across two office locations, including onboarding, offboarding, workers' comp, workplace safety, and day-to-day facilities ensuring every employee felt supported from day one.
- Managed end-to-end vendor relationships for office services including cleaning crews, maintenance contractors, and supply vendors, negotiating contracts and ensuring consistent, high-quality service across both NYC and LA offices.
- Acted as the face of the office for employees and guests, creating a warm, welcoming front-of-house experience and ensuring visitors felt at home from the moment they arrived.
- Planned and executed company-wide events, team celebrations, and milestone recognitions (birthdays, promotions, new hires) fostering a connected, inclusive workplace environment attended by hundreds of employees.
- Oversaw office operations and managed the executive calendar for the COO, streamlining scheduling and proactively resolving logistical issues before they escalated.
- Managed two direct reports across NYC and LA offices, providing coaching, annual performance reviews, and day-to-day mentorship.
- Founded and led GIPHY Gives, the company's only social responsibility program, raising $28,298 for local and global charities through employee-driven events and initiatives.
- Led blk.gif, GIPHY’s employee resource group, overseeing recruitment, culture programming, and value alignment across the organization.
Global Administration Lead
Guggenheim Partners
NYC
01.2012 - 03.2018
- Managed end-to-end office operations across multiple floors of a global financial firm: office supplies, vendor relationships, facilities coordination, and equipment management.
- Assisted with onboarding and training of new employees; promoted from IT Project Coordinator within months of joining.
- Planned and executed company events, team-building activities, and executive meetings, ensuring seamless logistics and a polished, professional experience.
- Coordinated with IT and external service providers to address office infrastructure needs and maintain smooth daily operations.
Skills
- Salesforce
- HRIS Systems
- Tableau
- Microsoft Suite
- Adobe Suite
- Slack
- Project Management Tools
- Open to AI tools for workplace productivity
- Team leadership
Websites
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Workplace & Office Operations
- Vendor & Facilities Management
- Culture & Community Building
- Employee Experience & Engagement
- Event Planning (Small & Large Scale)
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Onboarding & Offboarding
- Safety & Compliance
- Relationship Management
- Discretion & Confidentiality
Timeline
Assistant Manager
Discount Tire
11.2025 - Current
Tire Technician
Discount Tire
07.2025 - 11.2025
Event Coordinator - Contract
Slay Events
03.2025 - 07.2025
Manager → Senior Manager, Media Partnerships
GIPHY
09.2020 - 08.2024
People Operations Manager
GIPHY
03.2018 - 09.2020
Global Administration Lead
Guggenheim Partners
01.2012 - 03.2018