Lisa Wang | SmartRecruiters Blog https://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog You Are Who You Hire Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:32:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-SR-Favicon-Giant-32x32.png Lisa Wang | SmartRecruiters Blog https://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog 32 32 Hire18 Speaker Interview: Lisa Wang https://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog/hire18-speaker-interview-lisa-wang/ Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:30:51 +0000 https://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog/?p=35138

If you’ve been feeling like a bit of an underachiever lately, probably better you don’t read much about Lisa Wang. Because if, like many humans, you’re susceptible to envy which quickly gives way to self-loathing, you’re at risk of taking Lisa as an enabler for your own depression. At age 29, she’s been inducted into […]

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If you’ve been feeling like a bit of an underachiever lately, probably better you don’t read much about Lisa Wang. Because if, like many humans, you’re susceptible to envy which quickly gives way to self-loathing, you’re at risk of taking Lisa as an enabler for your own depression.

At age 29, she’s been inducted into the US Gymnastics Hall of Fame for her four National-level gold medals, graduated from Yale, and cast off the yoke of Wall Street hedge-fund management to co-found Sheworx, a startup to foster female entrepreneurs into tangible funding forums — connecting over 20,000 people so far. As a 30-Under-30 listee, you can now read her column in Forbes, and AND she’s been dubbed by CIO.com as one of the top 20 female entrepreneurs to watch in 2018.

 SmartRecruiters recently welcomed Lisa to our Hiring Success 2018 conference in San Francisco, where she spoke of gender parity in a post-Weinstein world, among other relevant topics for companies eager to be part of the shift towards gender equality. If you missed Lisa’s session, read through our pre-conference interview with Lisa below.

In your capacity as founder of SheWorx, what does the concept of Hiring Success mean to you?

Hiring Success, to me, means putting together a team where people feel valued, included, challenged, and respected for the unique strengths and perspectives they bring to the table. The hiring process is a multi-layered challenge and it’s so easy for things to get distorted along the way by your own biases and judgments. Having a clear idea of your values as a company, being cognizant of the need for diverse perspectives, is essential to hiring success.

Where on your list of priorities is “recruitment”?

Recruiting a team of A-Players is always a priority. Currently, it is primary for me, insofar as the work I am doing in helping other companies attract, cultivate, and retain top female talent. Through intensive experiential workshops and thorough assessments, we are helping companies create diverse and inclusive environments that allow women to feel heard, supported, mentored. As a result, they perform at a more effective and efficient level. Leadership is changing, team environments are changing, employees’ needs are changing, and we can no longer passively sit back and expect the best talent to come to us, unless we proactively prioritize diversity and inclusion in the recruitment process. If your company is looking to build these sorts of environments to attract and retain top female talent, you can contact me here.

Who was/is your biggest professional influence and why?

Oprah. For her drive, her tenacity, her ability to turn every challenge into an opportunity and then capitalize on it. She created a media empire through asking tough questions, being vulnerable, and creating abundance everywhere she goes. I am doing the same and am so grateful to be able to follow in the footsteps of such strong women.

How much of your confidence and work ethic and discipline comes from your success as a gymnast, and what are some of the most and least transferable skills from high-level gymnastics to being an entrepreneur?

As a gymnast, I sacrificed everything for the pursuit of a dream. Gymnastics taught me the importance of having a clear, singular focus. At my peak, I was training 8–9 hours per day at the Olympic Training Center, and no matter what distractions came around, I was able to brush them aside because nothing else mattered except for my dream. As the leader of SheWorx, everything I do is focused on helping more women succeed in their entrepreneurial journeys. That means speaking up when no one else is willing to, standing up when it’s uncomfortable, and sometimes setting aside my own interests for the good of the greater community. I know that anything worth pursuing requires perseverance and pain. I believe that in my lifetime, we will change the status quo and achieve gender parity. I will continue to play my part as a leader of this movement, because if there’s anyone who knows how to push the limits to manifest change, it’s me.

Tell us a bit about the Eureka moment where Sheworx first started to crystallize.

When I was fundraising for my first startup – a food tech company that had been incubated at a top food innovation accelerator – I realized for the first time just how difficult it would be to raise money. The investor landscape is 94% male, making it objectively harder for women and minorities. I didn’t have any expectations going into the fundraising process, but the obstacles were immediately apparent. In one of my first meetings, I remember walking into the room and the investor went straight over to my 35-year-old white, male COO, and brushed me, the CEO, off as the assistant. You just can’t prepare for those moments — when your value is completely diminished without even saying a single word.

After going to numerous women’s networking events to try and connect with other female entrepreneurs facing similar challenges, I found a lot of events geared towards inspiration, but nothing that served my needs. As a female founder, I needed access to the right investors and mentors, to learn actionable skills, and to connect with a community of other ambitious women on the same trajectory. This is when I decided SheWorx needed to exist, a space for the women who wanted to build and scale successful companies, who wanted to do whatever it takes to get there. We believe that behind every successful woman is a group of other successful women who have her back.

What was your initial outline of what you wanted to accomplish, and how far along are you?

Initially, I had no intention for SheWorx to become an organization. I was merely trying to create a space for active learning and connection for women like me. The idea was to democratize access to top investors and mentors, and give women a priority seat at a table they’ve normally been denied. After a few months, it became clear that this wasn’t just a community, it was a much larger social movement to which I needed to dedicate myself full-time. In the first six months, the SheWorx community grew 90 percent month-on-month, simply through word of mouth, because it was such a unique, action-oriented community. Today, we’re 20,000 female entrepreneurs, committed not only to building our respective companies, but closing the global funding gap as well.

What’s been the most predictable and unpredictable moments/factors as you’ve grown?

There’s nothing about the entrepreneurship journey that is predictable! I love that about it, but sometimes it does get extremely stressful. I suppose the only thing predictable is my faith that at the end of the day, everything happens for a reason, and I will be able to turn any challenge, failure, rejection into an opportunity for growth.

The fact that Sheworx exists is great, but in quieter moments, do you see it as a big step forward, or are you annoyed that we still live in a world where it’s necessary?

I absolutely see it is a big step forward. Anything worth having is worth fighting for, and while gender equality, unfortunately, is not a given, I am hopeful when I look back at how many big strides have been taken even this past year. For the first time in history, women’s voices are being truly heard, and it is up to both men and women to translate that awareness into action. I don’t think there is a point to being angry or annoyed, that just detracts energy from me and I try to keep those negative emotions to a minimum. There is so much left to be done to reach gender parity (The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report indicates that at the rate we’re going, economic gender equality will not be achieved for another 170 years), but I’m confident that with the work I’m doing and with the help of this rising generation of leaders, we’ll be able to speed that up significantly.

Have you been able to find and put to use a silver lining in the post-Weinstein workplace?

Yes, there is always a silver lining. The silver lining is that we are being heard, and not only are we being heard, there are material consequences for people who have abused the system for so long. Women are coming together in collaboration, in support, in solidarity. (Some) men are standing up and speaking out and it has been so refreshing to have honest conversations with them. Simultaneously, it has made the silence of others that much more deafening. Silence speaks volumes.

What would be your first piece of advice to companies eager to get aligned with a workplace that adheres to gender parity?

Managers and leaders need to ask themselves this simple question: “What do I not know?” Creating environments that prioritize empathy starts with being aware of the experience you are personally blind to, especially if you come from a background of privilege. Any toxic workplace begins with the leaders and the types of actions (or lack of action) that are excused. Asking yourself “What do I not know?” turns the conversation inward as you consider how simple experiences like attending a team meeting, speaking up, asking for a promotion, can be drastically different for someone else based on gender, race, religion and so on. Through the work I’ve done for the female entrepreneurial community, connecting women to top investors and mentors, I have created unique programs that help companies directly create work environments that build the gender diverse teams they need.

The post Hire18 Speaker Interview: Lisa Wang first appeared on SmartRecruiters Blog.]]> 13 HR Thought Leaders You Need to Follow on Twitter Now https://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog/13-hr-thought-leaders-you-need-to-follow-on-twitter-now/ Tue, 16 Jan 2018 15:00:20 +0000 https://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog/?p=35004

If your new year energy has been dulled by a couple weeks back at work it’s time to find some inspiration. Here are 13 HR thought leaders that will spur you to action on your work resolutions with strategies, advice, information, and gifs… a whole lot of gifs. According to a Pew Research Center survey, sixty-two […]

The post 13 HR Thought Leaders You Need to Follow on Twitter Now first appeared on SmartRecruiters Blog.]]>

If your new year energy has been dulled by a couple weeks back at work it’s time to find some inspiration. Here are 13 HR thought leaders that will spur you to action on your work resolutions with strategies, advice, information, and gifs… a whole lot of gifs.

According to a Pew Research Center survey, sixty-two percent of adults in the U.S. now get their news from social media, so if you’re reading this article that number probably includes you. Twitter gets 59% of that traffic and here’s why: with Twitter, you have to keep it snappy and you’re way less likely to run into baby photos and the banal family updates with which Facebook has become synonymous (sorry Mark). 

So we thought we would help with the mid-January slump with 13 top picks for HR Twitters belonging to thought leaders from all levels of the industry. They’ve all got plenty of things to say about tech, strategy, diversity, pain points, and everything else TA to keep you inspired well into 2018.

#1 – Maisha Cannon: The One to Watch

Sourcing Leader for Procore Technologies, Maisha Cannon doesn’t just look for ways for recruiting to be faster, she looks for ways to make it better. That’s why her Twitter is such an interesting combination of strategies on how tech, data, and process reflection can bolster hiring managers and make recruiting more human. And it certainly doesn’t hurt to have a few cheeky gifs to illustrate the exasperations everyone in the industry feels at some point.

#SRtweetpick

#2 William Tincup: The Straight Shooter

Writer, speaker, RecruitingDaily President, and Texas native, William Tincup is all about the ‘dater’. As in ‘you can try anything but you better have the dater to back it up’. His Twitter is a great mix of interesting news shares and humorous takes on the pain points of HR. For some live and in person sass/insight from William register for Hire18, here! Happing March 12-14 in San Francisco.

#SRtweetpick

#3 Lisa Wang: The Motivator

Take a big breath now if you’re going to read the following list aloud because Lisa Wang is more accomplished at 29 than most of us will ever be: founder/CEO of SheWorx, Forbes 30 Under 30, USA Hall of Fame Gymnast, Forbes columnist, host of her own podcast #Enoughness, motivational speaker, and Yale Alumna. Lisa’s Twitter is a great resource for information on women in tech, the future of AI, and management strategies all broken up with a light sprinkle of motivational messages. To catch her in person March 12-14 in San Francisco register for Hire18 here!

#SRtweetpick

#4 Kathryn Minshew: The Culture Cultivator

Founder , author of  of Work, Forbes 30-under-30, and INC 15 women to watch in tech – if Kathryn Minshew isn’t in the office she’s probably checking off another country off of her bucket list with 60 down so far. Her Twitter focuses on enriching company culture and making your office a place top-candidates want to be.

#SRtweetpick

#5 Lou Adler: The Veteran

The original headhunter, Lou Adler is the CEO and founder of the Adler Group, which has trained over 40,000 recruiters and hiring managers. His books, The Essential Guide for Hiring and Getting Hired and Hire With Your Head have been on Amazon’s bestseller list and he’s been around, well… forever. He knows his stuff. His Twitter is full of tips for hiring smarter with data backed articles on evaluating and improving your recruiting methods. Lou will be joining us for Hire18 in San Francisco March 12-14, register here!

#SRtweetpick

#6 Gemma Jamieson: The Wonderkins

HR Coordinator at Wattsnexthr, Gemma Jamieson tackles contemporary HR issues like mental health, diversity, and media distraction at work. She’s a newbie to the business but her thoughtfully curated Twitter, that’s both sleek and informative, as well as her 30k followers, say she’s got a future here.

#SRtweetpick

#7  Angela Bortolussi: The Techsplainer

Angela Bortolussi is the Partner & Recruiting Manager at Recruiting Social specializing in engineering, product and data roles. That means she’s right at the intersection of tech and HR and can see how one will be affected by the other. Follow her Twitter to learn about the latest tech concepts that everyone’s talking about but no one seems to understand. Blockchain? She’s got you. Cryptoassets? That too.

#SRtweetpick

#8 Soumyasanto Sen: The Sentinal

Management consultant and blogger, Soumyasanto Sen is always on the lookout for the next tech breakthrough that will change the way we work. As a founder and partner of the brand new management consulting startup, People Conscious, he has to stay up to date on the latest in HRIT and you get to benefit. His Twitter is a journal of what matters now in information systems so take advantage.

#SRtweetpick

#9  Jannis Tsalikis: The Sass Master

You would expect any employee of Vice to equipped with quips, and their HR Director for Germany, Jannis Tsalikis, is no exception. He’s an expert on employer branding and his Twitter perfectly toes the line between humorous personal angst and HR best practice. Just a heads up, it’s all in Deutsch but the gifs alone are worth the translation.

#SRtweetpick

#10 Josh Bersin: The Architect

HR analyst and founder of the research and advisory firm Bersin by Deloitte, Josh Bersin focuses on bolstering companies through strengthening their workforce. His Twitter explores management, leadership, and HR tech strategies to help employers attract and retain the best people, as well as exploring the wider political trends that affect the job market. He sees the moving pieces that contribute to the design of employment trends today. To hear more from Josh in person join us March 12-14 in San Francisco for Hire18, register here!

#SRtweetpick


#11 Kasia Borowicz: Voice of the People

Social recruiting and sourcing trainer, Kasia Borowicz is all about getting your systems aligned but she knows how hard it can be when the small things get in the way –especially tech that’s supposed to help you be faster! Her Twitter makes light of all the common pain points recruiters experience, so if you need some reassurance that you aren’t the only one who gets locked out of LinkedIn, turn to Kasia.

#SRtweetpick

#12 Anna Ott: The Scout

Anna Ott spends her days trying out new HR systems with startups at the Deutsche Telekom incubator Hub:raum. She wants to recruit faster, with less fuss, so don’t talk CVs with Anna, she’s already left those relics behind. Her Twitter is a great news source for the latest systems innovations so follow to be on the avant-garde.

#SRtweetpick

 

#13 David Green: The Big Picture Guy

David Green is the Global Director of People Analytics Solutions for IBM Watson Talent as well as a writer, speaker, conference chair and consultant. Somewhere in there, he manages to get out a couple hundred characters a day on Twitter to let us know whats happening in recruiting from his global perspective. If you want to understand the larger trends in the world economy and the implications tech has on our work future, this is the twitter for you.

#SRtweetpick

The post 13 HR Thought Leaders You Need to Follow on Twitter Now first appeared on SmartRecruiters Blog.]]>