First African American woman to own billion-dollar personnel company shares secrets to her success

By Iris Raeshaun

    This week as America celebrates National Small Business Week, U.S. Presidential special appointee, entrepreneur, author, mentor, founder, and CEO of the ActOne Group Janice Bryant Howroyd shares advice to entrepreneurs on how to reach personal and professional success.

Howroyd, the first African American woman to own the largest privately held billion-dollar personnel company founded in the United States currently employs 2,800 professionals in over 30 countries (including Poland) with 50 various languages and currencies. Her success came from her first company she started with a $900 loan from her mother she added to $600 she had saved.

   Whether your breakout or come up is through entrepreneurship or employment, Howroyd adds values, education, and leadership ability to any financial equation to equal success. 

   During conversations with Bishop T. D. Jakes of the Dallas-based Potter’s House and an interview with OURNEWS Magazine at the International Leadership Summit earlier this month, Howroyd says the first staple to her success is freedom and innovation to excellency in delivery, understanding everything matters, providing excellency in business, and taking time to understand (FEET).

   “My FEET are the values I stand on,” she said. 

Freedom and innovation to excellency in delivery

   “We have to be better and more thoughtful in order to compete against these white-owned companies, and it is better that other people buy your services rather than buy your businesses.” 

   With limitations such as glass ceilings and racial and gender inequalities Howroyd says technology is an ally.

   “Technology puts our brands in global arenas,” she says, adding that the best and most lucrative careers are in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.

Everything Matters

   “Do not delegate everything in your business without touching and breathing on it yourself.  Anything you are silent about or not touching is dying.”

Excellence in business

   “Educate yourself about your business. Don’t be dumb about the data. Find your audience. Who is responding to you? Who thinks what you have and what you have to say is valuable?

   “As a leader, you owe your people clarity.  People have choices to belong to any community they want. Good leaders understand that and that both wisdom and knowledge are critical for success.” 

   Howroyd describes her leadership style as serviceship. 

   “Leadership isn’t always about the you, but about you getting the teaching, the information and knowledge and redistributing it.  

   “I do not manage people. I manage processes. People do not leave leaders. They leave managers.  

   “Do things you know you can be proud of and share out loud.  Do not compromise yourself personally to become who you want to be professionally.”

Time to understand

   “Ask one time and listen three times,” Howroyd says.  “Most people hear the first seven word spoken from a person and the rest is their perspective. When conducting business, it is very important to have someone present you with a document from which to work.  You should ask them to repeat to you what you said in order to see if they understood you correctly.  If not, you can clarify.”    

   Once Howroyd uses her FEET, she rests.

   “I need quiet time. I am now doing more listening than petitioning.  It isn’t about the things I say to myself, but just taking time to say nothing and listen.  Sometimes, especially women, we do everything and take care of everything and everybody but ourselves.  Take care of yourself, eat well, and sleep. All of this matters to remain constant. Call God daily, be quiet, and listen.”

For those seeking more business help, the SBA’s National Small Business Week virtual conference will offer free educational webinars, free business advice, and an opportunity to network with fellow business owners. Registration is required; individuals interested in the conference can register here.