Welcome back to our Employee Spotlight Series, where we celebrate diversity and the accomplishments of our incredible team members. In honor of Black History Month, we would like to shine our light on our amazing HR Manager, Tiffany Weatherspoon.
Meet Tiffany, an accomplished and inspiring Black alumna of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. With her dedication to service, leadership, and academic excellence, Tiffany has made a strong impact on her community and beyond. As a proud member of the AKA sisterhood, she continues to embody the organization’s values and mission, serving as a role model for her friends, family, and co-workers. To help us celebrate this historical and culture-rich month, Tiffany talks about her career path below:
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to be in your current role?
- After graduating from Purdue University, I started my career at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 2010 as a Management Trainee and quickly learned I had a passion for helping people. While at Enterprise I was recruited by a Hospitality Executive to open a couple of hotels in the Indianapolis area as a Sales Manager. I loved being in Sales and quickly grew as a hospitality sales professional. I was working as a Director of Sales in Hospitality when I decided to return to school and pursue my Master of Science with a focus in Human Resource Management. After completing my Masters, I left the hospitality industry to begin a career in Human Resources. I worked for Integrity One Technologies, a Global Xerox Company as a Corporate Recruiter where I was responsible for hiring professional sales representatives within the Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan Region. I quickly expanded that role and started recruiting for all levels of the business from the top down of the organization. While at IOT I was promoted three different times in three years. After being with IOT for three years I was hand selected by my old hospitality Management company White Lodging to lead a Talent Acquisition HR project. I oversaw all the operational recruiting and employee relations for seven different full-service Marriott hotels in Indianapolis. While at White Lodging I obtained my SHRM Certification. Once COVID-19 hit I was laid off from the hospitality industry. At that time, I worked as a Human Resource Consultant for Specialized Staffing. I oversaw all Human Resources functions for a federally funded Preschool Program in Indianapolis. At the conclusion of that contract, I joined Netfor as the Human Resources Manager.
Who are some Black historical figures that have inspired you and why?
- Katherine Johnson – Her remarkable work as a mathematician guided the 1961 mission on which Alan Shepherd became the first American in space. She accomplished this all while working in a segregated office for NASA. She was one of the very few black women in her group at NASA, breaking stereotypes and actively promoting racial equity in the workplace. She opened doors for black women in STEM for years to come. She was also a huge component of promoting STEM educational programs for Black girls.
- Maya Angelou – Her tales of strength, confidence, and perseverance are unmatched. Her fiery spirit enabled her to reach her goals during a time in history when black women were not provided the same opportunities as other races.
What is the most important part of cultural diversity?
- The most important part of cultural diversity is empathy. Promoting awareness and creating a connection with diverse cultures helps minimize prejudices. Interacting with people who have diverse practices, beliefs, life experiences, and cultures promotes empathy. While you can never fully understand someone’s life without being them, you can learn, listen, and understand.
What do Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean to you?
- As a Human Resources professional diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace are imperative to leveling the playing field. Having employees with diverse perspectives gives the organization a more creative and balanced edge through effective problem-solving, creative brainstorming, and an overall richness in experience. Different backgrounds bring different points of view, which ultimately lead to overall better ideas and solutions.
We are proud to have a diverse workforce that includes many talented and accomplished IT professionals. We hope that your glimpse into Tiffany’s life has found you inspired and proud of her, much like we are.
