The Why? Simmons executed the overall talent strategy and helped to increase diversity among senior leadership within the Central Division. And while pandemic and social injustice concerns continued through 2021 and 2022, she’s been collaborating with the HR community to obtain the highest-ever employee engagement results for the Central Division. And as a Per Scholas Diverse by Design board member, she supports the mission to create a thriving workforce with equitable access to education.
She Says… “I believe in grabbing all the lemons and making the best lemonade possible. If positivity is your authentic truth, I find that it will inspire those around you to do the same.”
What community support initiative has your company championed that you’re most proud of? One of our national Community Partners is Per Scholas, and I am a Per Scholas/DiverseXDesign National Advisory Board member. Per Scholas aligns with one of my core beliefs—as they believe a thriving workforce starts with equitable access to education. I am proud of the work done by Per Scholas, as they provide skills training and access to employer networks to individuals often excluded from tech careers. Moreover, I am proud to be a part of their mission to advance economic equity through rigorous training for tech careers and to connect skilled talent to leading businesses.
What TV series or movie inspires you? I’ve had the pleasure of exploring streaming at home, with the rest of the world, and I’ve stumbled upon “David Attenborough’s A Life on Our Planet.” It was heartwarming and heartbreaking, as the docuseries explores what the planet has lost and how we can work together to find new areas of growth and in some cases regrowth. The images were striking, and Sir Attenborough’s personal antidotes gave context to how it once was and how it could be again. I was awestruck by its overall message that as a collective force, we can create positive change impacting the world around us.
Coworkers describe me as… eternal optimist. There is true power in positivity. I believe in grabbing all the lemons and making the best lemonade possible. If positivity is your authentic truth, I find that it will inspire those around you to do the same.