Lifelong learning and development are embedded in First Advantage’s corporate values. To recognize team members for their dedication to learning and knowledge sharing, the Dr. Stuart Hoffman Lifelong Learner Award was established in 2022.
The Dr. Stuart Hoffman Lifelong Learner Award is named after Dr. Stuart Hoffman, who dedicated 21 years of service as Chief Medical Review Officer at First Advantage and who has a remarkable passion for learning. Raised in a family of educators — his mother and three aunts were all teachers in the St. Paul school system — formal education and learning held significant importance in his household.
“Being a lifelong learner means you are exercising your curiosity at every turn. You must go out there and seek knowledge, try new things, take classes, read – ask questions – and speak with people who know more in certain areas than you do,” Dr. Hoffman said. “That’s how you keep learning! That curiosity keeps you interested in new things, and it makes you more interesting.”
The annual award recognizes First Advantage team members who exemplify a strong commitment to professional and personal development through learning and upskilling.
Congratulations to the 2023 recipients, Brian Larrow and Maitreyee Bagchi for their outstanding dedication to continuous learning!
Brian Larrow, Sr. Business Process Consultant
Currently located in Portland, Oregon, Brian started his career at First Advantage in 2013 as an Account Consultant where he leveraged his self-taught Mandarin Chinese language skills in managing the APAC region for several large global clients. Since 2017, he has worked with 180 clients and countless internal teams as part of the Strategic Consulting team. Remarkably, Brian is a “modest polyglot” who is native in English, fluent in Mandarin, and conversant in Spanish. In his travels to more than 40 countries, he made a conscious effort to grasp the fundamental aspects of the local language and culture. In his free time, he also remains busy skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and coaching his kids’ soccer teams.
Maitreyee Bagchi, Director – Talent Acquisition
Located in Mumbai, India, Maitreyee joined First Advantage in 2016. With over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition and management, Maitreyee has consistently displayed a strong commitment to continuous learning throughout her professional journey. Maitreyee has played a pivotal role in leading workshops, seminars, panel discussions, and fireside chats that promote learning and development. These events have covered a wide range of topics, from career development to personal growth, benefiting individuals in the local community and empowering them to excel in their endeavors. She is also an active participant in various HR forums and has been collaborating and connecting with executives from similar as well as different industries. This keeps her informed on the latest trends, and she also uses these forums to create awareness about First Advantage.
“At First Advantage, we empower our team members to steer their own development and embrace lifelong learning,” Debbie Masak, VP, Global Talent and Inclusion at First Advantage said. “The recipients of this award not only dedicated time to acquiring new knowledge but also actively shared their newfound insights with colleagues and teams, often leading to the implementation of new, more efficient workplace processes.”
