Announcing the Partnership of The Most Inclusive HR Influencer List and The Equity at Work Council

I’m thrilled to announce our 2019/20 List Sponsor, Ultimate Software (now UKG)! UKG is the driving force behind the Equity at Work Council and Social Room. We’re thrilled to join forces with such an awesome initiative to drive change, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Read why Ultimate is the perfect sponsor and partner.

Almost 5 years ago, I was preparing to leave college and enter the real world. I was terrified, like most people leaving college. I quit my on-campus job, threw my graduation cap, packed up my apartment, and made the 6-hour trip back from Gainesville back home. 

I had everything lined up. I was planning to spend the summer interning and then go off to a prestigious MBA program to continue my education. All my frogs were in a row. (Cliche avoided on purpose.)

Finally, day one of my internship arrived. Even though the company’s headquarters were 15-minutes from the home I grew up in, I had never heard of them before. So much so I had never even heard of the industry – I mean, HR tech, am I right? I thought, “What is HR?” “What is HR technology?” “Am I going to like this place?” “How many miles will I put on my car grabbing coffee and picking up dry cleaning?”

However, when I pulled into the parking lot, passing the giant grass-green “U,” I felt something was different. The air was fresh. The people were smiling. Everyone looked healthy. When this isn’t your norm, these are all things you notice.

It didn’t take long to notice that this wasn’t the coffee-grabbing internship I imagined. During that summer, I researched industry trends, learned about the buyers and industry experts, and even created a proposal and strategy to rebuild the company’s presence on Pinterest. By the end of the summer, I had built real skills and had completed projects I was proud of. 

On my last day, I felt a deep sadness. The excitement I felt toward moving with my now hubs to attend William and Mary’s MBA program seemed so far away, even though our move was just two weeks away. I actually almost cried while eating ice cream cake in the breakroom to “celebrate” the interns’ last day. 

At that moment, I knew what I had to do. 

I called my then-boss and said, “I can’t leave. Hire me.” 

Two weeks later, I started working full time at Ultimate Software and attending classes at William and Mary’s MBA program for working professionals. 

Over the next several years, I worked with the company as it grew and changed. My friend, Cecile Alper-Leroux, was announced as the Vice President of HCM Innovation and the entire HR industry watched her and Ultimate Software create conversations around the future of work and equality.

The conversations started with the annual Mega Trends, which at the very core, encouraged organizations to start thinking of their employees as people. Things like workforce fluidity and understanding the voice of the employee.

Then, there was the HCM podcast, on which Cecile and her colleagues Sr. Director of HCM Innovation Dr. Jarik Conrad and Director of HCM Innovation Christa Degnan Manning discuss the future of work and the employee experience.

Now, Ultimate is tying those and other initiatives together with their Equity at Work Social Room. The Social Room is a new experience that could enable an open dialogue about matters crucial to a hopeful and healthy future of work… an equitable one. Members meet in a LinkedIn group called the “Social Room.” The conversations that are happening are brilliant.

That’s why I’m thrilled to announce that Ultimate Software is sponsoring The Most Inclusive HR Influencer List and I’m thrilled to have the honor of inviting YOU to join their Social Room LinkedIn group.

If you’ve been following me or my blog for any amount of time, you probably already know I’m passionate about human rights and the future of work. I could not be more honored to partner with Ultimate on initiatives that pave the way for a better future of work for us all.

Please help me welcome Ultimate to the #HRInfluencersIncluded movement by following them on social media, tagging them in posts with the hashtags #HRInfluencersIncluded and #EquityatWork, and by joining their Equity at Work Social Room #EquityatWork LinkedIn group.

About Our Sponsor