Britney McGhee

I attribute my success first and foremost to my children. My babies are my greatest motivation, and I love them more than anything in this world. I want them to have the opportunities and experiences they want in life, and I want them to look back one day and know that their mom worked hard to help make those things possible.

I also learned that no one is going to hand me the life I want for myself or my children. If I want something different, I have to be willing to work for it. That mindset has pushed me through long days, two jobs, motherhood, and continuing my education even when I was exhausted. I want my children to see through my example that your age or where you are in life does not determine what you are capable of accomplishing. With dedication, determination, and a willingness to work for what you want, you can continue growing and pursuing your goals at any stage of life.

The best advice I have received came from my dad. He has always told me, “The sky is the limit, baby girl.” It may not have originally been intended as career advice, but those words have followed me throughout my life and have taken on even greater meaning as I have grown. To me, they are a reminder that I am capable of doing anything I put my mind to and work hard for. There is always another goal I can reach, another opportunity I can pursue, and another version of myself I can grow into. His words remind me not to place limits on myself or allow where I am today to determine how far I can go tomorrow.

My advice to young women entering human resources is to stand for something, or you will fall for anything. Be willing to stand up for what is right, even when it may not be the easiest or most popular thing to do. HR requires integrity, and there will be times when doing the right thing means having difficult conversations or making decisions that not everyone will agree with.

I would also tell young women not to feel as though they have to become someone else to be successful. Do not try to be like everyone else. Be yourself. Treat others the way you would want to be treated, and never forget that employees are people, not numbers. Every person has a life, responsibilities, challenges, and a story outside of the workplace. I believe good HR professionals recognize that while also understanding their responsibility to the organization.

Finally, do not be afraid to start at the bottom and work your way up. There is so much you can learn when you experience different levels of an organization firsthand. You see things, hear things, and gain an understanding of challenges that you may never fully appreciate from behind a title. Carry those lessons with you as you grow because they can make you a stronger, more compassionate, and more effective leader.

I believe one of the biggest challenges in human resources today is remembering the “human” in Human Resources. Organizations have goals to meet, policies to follow, and results to achieve, but behind every position is a person. When employees begin to feel unheard, unappreciated, or as though they are simply a number, organizations risk losing good people who might otherwise have stayed if they felt valued.

Employee retention and work life balance are also significant challenges. People want to know that the work they do matters, but they also want to know that their lives outside of work matter. I believe organizations have an opportunity to create workplaces where employees are held accountable and expected to perform at a high level while still being treated with respect, understanding, and fairness.

To me, that is where HR has one of its greatest opportunities. HR professionals can help bridge the gap between the needs of the organization and the needs of its employees. When leaders listen, communicate, recognize employees' contributions, and remember that they are working with people rather than numbers, they have a much better chance of creating a workplace where good employees want to stay, contribute, and grow.

The values that are most important to me are integrity, honesty, respect, loyalty, fairness, accountability, compassion, family, authenticity, and hard work. For me, these values are not separate between my professional and personal life. I believe who you are should remain consistent, regardless of where you are or who is in the room.

Integrity means doing what is right, even when it is difficult or unpopular. Honesty and accountability mean being willing to tell the truth, own my decisions, and recognize when I could have handled something differently. I believe respect and fairness should be extended to everyone, regardless of their position or title. Compassion is equally important because you never truly know what someone may be carrying outside of the workplace.

I also value loyalty, but I believe loyalty should never require someone to compromise their integrity or lose themselves in the process. Authenticity means being comfortable enough to be yourself rather than changing who you are to fit someone else's expectations. Hard work has been a constant throughout my life, and family remains at the center of why I continue to push myself and pursue new goals.

Ultimately, I want the way I treat people, the work I do, and the decisions I make to reflect the same values I hope to pass on to my children: work hard, treat people well, take responsibility for your actions, stay true to who you are, and have the courage to stand up for what is right.