From an HR perspective, the pandemic has required incredible planning and execution to navigate. With Mills helping lead the Mediacom HR team, the company hasn’t skipped a beat in terms of staff support. She continues to work to ensure employee safety and navigate evolving workforce structures, while at the same time coming up with creative ways to boost morale and retain/recruit talent. While Mills says she may be dating herself, she recommends women of all ages read “The Women’s Room” by Marilyn French. “I sometimes worry that young women and girls don’t know how the women who came before them paved the way so we could be successful and respected in our careers.”
What’s one way your company has broadened the recruiting process to ensure greater diversity?
We are not shy about talking diversity with our leadership and our search partners. We are also not shy about calling ourselves out if we think we are not fulfilling our promise to have a diverse workforce.
What question(s) should you ask to ensure you’re achieving pay equity?
Taking into consideration education and experience, did you compare the pay to others in similarly situated positions? I can’t remember the last time we offered a position to someone without looking at all incumbents before deciding on one’s compensation.
Best advice for someone looking to re-enter the workforce after a hiatus?
Hold your head up and don’t make excuses or apologies for taking time away. Taking a hiatus doesn’t mean we stop growing and learning, or that we should step back. For many, it simply means we took the time to focus on ourselves and our families. There is nothing wrong with that. If anything, you will likely return to the workforce reinvigorated, with new ideas and a clearer vision.
What one female empowerment book do you think every woman should read?
I know I’m dating myself, but I’m going to say “The Women’s Room,” by Marilyn French. I sometimes worry that young women and girls don’t know how the women who came before them paved the way so we could be successful and respected in our careers. I think this book opened a lot of eyes when it came out and gave women courage to pursue bigger, better and more fulfilling lives, by pursuing higher education and challenging the norms of the time. I wonder if we ever would have known that there was a glass ceiling had there not been books authored by women who told their stories and showed there could be more if we had the courage and the fortitude to pursue it.
