new hires

Are There Racists in Your Office? That may explain your lack of success recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and advancing Black professionals. 

Hey company leaders! What are the numbers of talented Black professionals that you’ve recruited, interviewed, hired, developed, and promoted? That’s it. That’s all that matters. 

It’s not that you can’t find them. It’s not that they aren’t qualified.

If your numbers in the pipeline of Black professionals are woefully low, perhaps you have conscious or unconscious racists among you.

Strong words? Perhaps. How did I get here? Listen up to get the inside info.

Catapult Leaders is America's leading executive search firm that matches Black Mid-to-Senior level managers, Early Career talent, and College Interns with Engineering, Supply Chain, Computer & Data Science, and Marketing roles - at top companies that value a diverse pipeline, equity, and inclusion.

Contact us at CatapultLeaders.com if you want Catapult Leaders to help you get a great job, or you want Catapult Leaders to find outstanding Black talent for your organization’s jobs and internships.

In this episode of Startup Hustle, Lauren Conaway and Thru Shivakumar, CEO and Co-founder of Cohesion talk about tripling your team during a pandemic.

Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:

https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Gusto:
https://gusto.com/startuphustle
Get three months free when you run your first payroll.

Learn more about Cohesion:

https://www.cohesionib.com

Learn more about InnovateHER KC:

https://www.innovateherkc.com

Listen to the “Chicago Top Startups" overview episode:

https://link.chtbl.com/TopChicago

Read about the Top Chicago Startups:

https://fullscale.io/blog/top-chicago-startups

Meet all the Top Startup Cities We've Visited:

https://gigb.co/l/x1fD

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employers often decide who to interview, hire... based on Brand Names. 

Brand Names are very effective hurdles in the hiring and advancement of diverse entry-level prospects. 

Join Darryl Mobley as he explains why & how Brand Names hurt diverse job applicants in this episode of 90 Seconds with Catapult Leaders. (Got ideas, questions, or solutions? Share them at https://CatapultLeaders.com/hurdle)

Why “90 Seconds”? Because it doesn’t take long to get it right.

This is the 5th of 28 episodes on hurdles some face – that others don’t.

We love Brand Names. We make decisions on what to buy, the amount we pay, based on Brand Names.

Employers are also influenced by Brand Names. Employers often decide who to interview, to hire, to promote, how much to pay - - based on Brand Names.

By Brand Names, I mean things like the college you attended, the company you worked for, and bogus hiring requirements.

Brand Names are a proxy for talent, except when they’re not.

What if getting a Brand Name on your resume was largely a function of family income, or having the “complexion-to-make-the-connection”?

People of color still find it difficult to get Brand Names on their resumes – not because they don’t have talent – but, because of a self-fulfilling system based on “like likes like.” 

Brand Names are hurdles in hiring and advancement.

All things equal – the one NOT facing this hurdle will win the race up the corporate ladder. 

That’s not meritocracy.

That’s a system that needs to be fixed.

Give your solutions for those facing this hurdle and for the system that creates this environment at CatapultLeaders.com/hurdle.

If I select your solution, you get a shirt with the Diversity Unplugged logo.

Don’t want your sympathy. Understanding is a start. 

That’s it. 90 Seconds comes at you fast!

Catapult Leaders is America's leading executive search firm that matches Black Mid-to-Senior level managers, Early Career talent, and College Interns with Engineering, Supply Chain, Computer & Data Science, and Marketing roles - at top companies that value a diverse pipeline, equity, and inclusion.

Contact us at CatapultLeaders.com if you want Catapult Leaders to help you get a great job, or you want Catapult Leaders to find outstanding Black talent for your organization’s jobs and internships.

 Season 4. Episode 30. #5 of 28 in special series on hurdles.

Unconscious Bias, Ice, and the Corporate Ladder.

Black and other diverse professionals have to get over many more hurdles as compared to others. The hurdle covered today - with host Darryl Mobley - is crippling Unconscious Bias.

This is the 3rd of 28 straight days of episodes on the hurdles some face – that others don’t – on the way up.

Welcome to 90 Seconds with Catapult Leaders.

Why “90 Seconds”? Because it doesn’t take long to get it right.

We begin unconsciously connecting things from the time we’re babies.

Many unconsciously connect one group with being inferior to another.

I refer to that as believing that the “White Man’s Ice Is Colder.”   

Ice is ice and cold is cold.

But many believe – unconsciously – that one person is better than another, based on skin color.

Unconscious biases are learned stereotypes that lead to unfair treatment.

Examples of unconscious bias include:

•  Hiring based on ‘gut feel’
• Rejecting resumes based on applicants’ names
• Promoting those who look like you, Lack of urgency to address hiring inequities

About 80% of Black managers say that unconscious bias has been an obstacle to their success.

The unconscious bias of decision-makers who think that the “White Man’s Ice is Colder”…
is a big hurdle.

All things equal – the one NOT facing this hurdle will win the race up the corporate ladder.

That’s not meritocracy.

That’s a system that needs to be fixed.

Give your solutions for those facing this hurdle and for the system that creates this environment at CatapultLeaders.com/hurdle.

If I select your solution, you get a shirt with the "Diversity Unplugged" logo.

Don’t want your sympathy. Understanding is a start.

That’s it. 90 Seconds comes at you fast!

Catapult Leaders is America's leading executive search firm that matches Black Mid-to-Senior level managers, Early Career talent, and College Interns with Engineering, Supply Chain, Computer & Data Science, and Marketing roles - at top companies that value a diverse pipeline, equity, and inclusion.

Contact us at CatapultLeaders.com if you want Catapult Leaders to help you get a great job, or you want Catapult Leaders to find outstanding Black talent for your organization’s jobs and internships.

Season 4. Episode 28. #3 of 28 in special series on hurdles.

"No Room for Error" is Slavery.

A huge HURDLE for some is the need to be "perfect-like-Jackie Robinson" and absorb all sorts of slights - when others don't have that burden - in order to move up the corporate ladder.

Welcome to 90 Seconds with Catapult Leaders and Darryl Mobley. 

Why “90 Seconds”? Because it doesn’t take long to get it right.

This is the 4th of 28 episodes on hurdles some face – that others don’t.

Jackie Robinson. Muhammad Ali. Jim Brown. General Benjamin O. Davis Jr.

They were so great, they were perfect.

When many Black people were kids, they were told by their parents that they had to be 3 times as good to get what others get, because they would not be treated fairly. Be perfect.  

The drive to be perfect in the eyes of those who are biased is a huge hurdle.

When you’re Jackie Robinson, you can’t just pivot and do something else with your life.

You have to stay and take the abuse.

You have to be perfect – while others are not.   

Walking the tightrope to be perfect is a form of slavery that leads to:

·       Feeling insane pressure.

·       Fear of taking risks.

·       Health issues.

·       Living life out of balance. 

The perfection hurdle in Corporate America still exists because many know they have to be 3 times as good to maybe get a shot at climbing to the top. 

 All things equal – the one NOT facing this hurdle will win the race up the corporate ladder. 

That’s not meritocracy.

That’s a system that needs to be fixed.

Give your solutions for those facing this hurdle and for the system that creates this environment at CatapultLeaders.com/hurdle.

If I select your solution, you get a shirt with the Diversity Unplugged logo.

Don’t want your sympathy. Understanding is a start. 

That’s it. 90 Seconds comes at you fast!

Catapult Leaders is America's leading executive search firm that matches Black Mid-to-Senior level managers, Early Career talent, and College Interns with Engineering, Supply Chain, Computer & Data Science, and Marketing roles - at top companies that value a diverse pipeline, equity, and inclusion.

Contact us at CatapultLeaders.com if you want Catapult Leaders to help you get a great job, or you want Catapult Leaders to find outstanding Black talent for your organization’s jobs and internships.

 Season 4. Episode 29. #4 of 28 in special series on hurdles.

No Role Models = No Success. Welcome to 90 Seconds with Catapult Leaders.

This is the 2nd of 28 episodes on hurdles some face – that others don’t.

Black and other diverse professionals have to get over many more hurdles as compared to others. 

Role models are people whose presence in particular roles is imitated by others.

Role models throughout an organization benefit those who identify with them as their presence…

 ·       Provides a sense of what is possible

·       Says “YOU” are valued

·       Diffuses the “good old boy network” 

Role models are Meritocracy writ large. 

The more role models, the better. 

Lack of role models leads to greater attrition.

The hurdle?

Black and other diverse professionals often do not have role models throughout the chain of command. 

You say, “Just pick roles models who don’t identify with you.” 

That doesn’t work for most. 

All things equal – the one withOUT this hurdle will win the race up the corporate ladder. 

That’s not meritocracy.

That’s a system that needs to be fixed.

What are your solutions for those facing this hurdle and for the system that creates this environment?

Give your solutions at Catapult Leaders.com/hurdle.

If I select your solution, you get a shirt with the Diversity Unplugged logo.

Don’t want your sympathy. Understanding is a start. 

That’s it. 90 Seconds comes at you fast!

Why “90 Seconds”? Because it doesn’t take long to get it right.

For more on this topic, visit DiversityUnplugged.com

Your host:  Darryl L. Mobley.

Catapult Leaders is America's leading executive search firm that matches Black Mid-to-Senior level managers, Early Career talent, and College Interns with Engineering, Supply Chain, Computer & Data Science, and Marketing roles - at top companies that value a diverse pipeline, equity, and inclusion.

Contact us at CatapultLeaders.com if you want Catapult Leaders to help you get a great job, or you want Catapult Leaders to find outstanding Black talent for your organization’s jobs and internships.

Season 4. Episode 25. #2 of 28 in special series on hurdles.

The Crushing Weight of Being the Only One. Welcome to 90 Seconds with Catapult Leaders.

This is the 1st of 28 episodes on hurdles some face – that others don’t – on the way up.

Imagine two athletes in a race. 

One athlete competes against her limitations, only. 

The second athlete competes against her limitations, while also having to get over hurdles the other runner doesn’t face. 

The person likely to win is the one facing the fewest hurdles.

This happens in Corporate America. 

Black and other diverse professionals have to get over many more hurdles as compared to others.

The hurdle I cover today is…the crushing psychological weight that comes from being one of the few like you.

When your hurdle is that you are one of the few where you work, you might…

·       Deal with constant stress 

·       Think everything you do is over scrutinized…

·       Second guess your decisions, which leads to poor work product…

·       Try too hard to be accepted

·       Become introverted

·       Not have built-in kinship with peers

·       Not bring your authentic best self to work

·       Develop a fatalistic attitude

·       And more.

All things equal – the one withOUT this hurdle will win the race up the corporate ladder. 

That’s not meritocracy.

That’s a system that needs to be fixed.

What are your solutions for those facing this hurdle and for the system that creates this environment?

Give your solutions at CatapultLeaders.com/hurdle.

If I select your solution, you get a shirt with the Diversity Unplugged logo.

Don’t want your sympathy. Understanding is a start. 

That’s it. 90 Seconds comes at you fast!

Why “90 Seconds”? Because it doesn’t take long to get it right.

For more on this topic, visit DiversityUnplugged.com

Your host: Darryl L. Mobley.

Catapult Leaders is America's leading executive search firm that matches Black Mid-to-Senior level managers, Early Career talent, and College Interns with Engineering, Supply Chain, Computer & Data Science, and Marketing roles - at top companies that value a diverse pipeline, equity, and inclusion.

Contact us at CatapultLeaders.com if you want Catapult Leaders to help you get a great job, or you want Catapult Leaders to find outstanding Black talent for your organization’s jobs and internships.

Season 3. Episode 24. #1 of 28 in special series on hurdles.

Welcome to 90 Seconds with Catapult Leaders

This is Darryl Mobley.

Catapult Leaders finds and matches outstanding Black undergrad, recent grad, and graduate students with great entry-level jobs & internships at great companies. 

Why “90 Seconds”? Because it doesn’t take long to get it right.

We’re asked: How does my company recruit more Black talent?

Here are 5 Golden Rules to Recruit Diverse New Hires.

#1 – Get to know the recruit’s career goals. Ask, “What do you want out of your career with our company?” Catapult Leaders asks this question before matching applicants with client companies’ jobs. Our clients know applicants’ career goals before the interviews.

#2 – Tell applicants how your company helps achieve their goals.

#3 – Words and pictures must match. To be seen as a positive place for talented Black people to work, your outward media should include Black employees.

#4 – Establish an Alumni group of your company’s former employees. Alumni groups – like the Procter & Gamble Alumni Network – highlight those who left the company to do great things elsewhere. Alumni groups generate goodwill among new hires and increase employee retention.

#5 – Stop making applicants prove themselves to you. If you’ve done your job – or if you work with Catapult Leaders so we do our job – you’ll know before the interview that the applicant matches your company. The interview should convince applicants that your company is the place for them. 

Black applicants experience interviews knowing they may be judged – due to conscious and unconscious bias – on aspects that have nothing to do with the job. Let your recruiting be the exception to this and talent will flock to your company. 

That’s it. 90 Seconds comes at you fast!

Catapult Leaders is America's leading executive search firm that matches Black Mid-to-Senior level managers, Early Career talent, and College Interns with Engineering, Supply Chain, Computer & Data Science, and Marketing roles - at top companies that value a diverse pipeline, equity, and inclusion.

Contact us at CatapultLeaders.com if you want Catapult Leaders to help you get a great job, or you want Catapult Leaders to find outstanding Black talent for your organization’s jobs and internships.

 For more on this topic, visit DiversityUnplugged.com

You may have identified that you need to hire someone else for your team. But, how do you determine what job functions make the most sense for your team and the needs of the business? Once you put together that list of essential job duties, how do you determine qualifications? In this job-seekers job market, it's time to get creative and think outside the box. In this episode, Jada Willis, CEO of Willis HR and Erica Robinson Sr. HR Consultant discuss how leaders can identify the right tasks for the new position and how to approach searching for your ideal candidate. 

P.S. If you are ready to make the people part of your business easier, there are a few easy steps you can take.

Do you have questions for our HR experts? 

Please fill out the contact form on our website, https://willishr.com/contact-us/ or email info@willishr.com.

We will schedule a call ASAP!

Are you not sure if you need HR assistance? 

Take our FREE HR Risk Assessment, https://willishr.com/hr-consulting/

It will take 3 minutes and the results will be shared with Willis HR gurus! 

Do you want a simple, no-fuss monthly HR solution that provides guides, templates, forms, and documents?

We have too! Visit https://willishr.com/shop/