Cierra Gross, Founder And CEO Of Worklution Inc. Talks Success In Human Resources
Cierra Gross is the founder and CEO of Worklution, a company dedicated to improving employees’ lives and work experiences using advanced technology, AI, and data analytics. Through Worklution, Cierra has pioneered workplace advocacy with two brands she bootstrapped to $1M+ in revenue in two years, Caged Bird HR and Wrk Receipts. Caged Bird HR provides independent HR support to employees at major tech companies and Wrk Reciepts allows employees can log workplace events and safely store their documented “receipts.”
Her Agenda spoke with Cierra to learn more about her entrepreneurial journey and advice to millennial women in HR.
Her Agenda: What advice would you give HR professionals new to the field in the current political climate?
Cierra Gross: “They should come work for me.” The most important aspect is finding the right company, trying to do HR properly, and finding an organization that fits what you want to do.
You will find places like that are smaller organizations, startups, and those run by Black and people of color. I find those types of businesses genuinely want to do better. You should also set realistic expectations for HR. When working in HR, I thought I would be able to make companies better, but I found that I wasn’t there to make anyone’s job better for the employees.
Her Agenda: What advice would you give to Black women who want to make an impact in the HR field?
Cierra Gross: I would tell them that you can [have an] impact in other ways outside of corporate America. I want them to set reasonable expectations. I would say go into HR, but if you are not as fulfilled as you thought [you would be], don’t forget that you can make an impact in other ways. You can volunteer to help people with their resumes or do mock interviews.
HA: How can millennial women who work in HR/corporate America put their mental health first?
Cierra: The main thing is using your benefits and using your time off; we don’t use our benefits and time off nearly as much as our non-Black counterparts, and that contributes to the problem. We come from a generation where our parents told us to put our heads down and just work. We can use FMLA and other health benefits to improve our mental health. We must release ourselves from the idea that we must always be working, especially Black women.
HA: What advice would you give to Black women who are ready to jump in their careers?
Cierra: Don’t do what I did. I’ve been working full-time at Worklution since I started. I had no other income source, but people didn’t understand that I had a big severance check that sustained me. If you are going to start a business, make it a true side hustle. Keep your 9-5 and work on your business during nights and weekends. That would be the most important thing I would tell people. Don’t take the hard route.
HA: What advice would you give to women unsure how to take the next steps in their careers? They have many skills and ambitions but are uncertain how to utilize them.
Cierra: What most people do is they ask someone else what they should do. They hire a coach, ask their friends, and take the first job offered to them because they feel like it’s a sign. The most important thing you can do is to silence yourself and be introspective. When you are the most fulfilled, what are you doing? Close your eyes and envision a life when you are happy and healthy, have a work-life balance, and have a healthy personal life. Too often, we allow the environment to tell us what we should be doing, and we give up our agency to decide what we want to do and what kind of company we want to work for. We tell people at Caged Bird HR that when you are interviewing, you should pay attention to what is being said and what is not being said. Don’t give up your agency when deciding what you will do next.
