Her Story
About Hailey
Hailey Stone is an accomplished employee benefits consultant and sales leader with nearly two decades of experience helping organizations improve workforce management, employee engagement, and benefits strategies. Currently serving as an Employee Benefits Consultant at Higginbotham, she works closely with employers to design and implement comprehensive employee benefits programs, including group health insurance, open enrollment services, and employee education initiatives. Known for her relationship-driven approach, Stone has built a reputation for responsiveness, trustworthiness, and delivering long-term value to her clients.
Before transitioning into the benefits consulting industry, Stone spent more than 17 years with Paycom, one of the nation’s leading providers of cloud-based human capital management software. During her tenure, she advanced from Sales Representative to Charlotte Sales Manager and later Nashville Sales Manager, leading high-performing teams and driving significant business growth. Her success was recognized through numerous achievements, including multiple President’s Club selections, two Founders Awards, and several regional leadership honors. She also played a key role in developing new markets and mentoring sales professionals throughout her career.
A graduate of Reinhardt College, Stone earned a degree in Marketing and Business, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the department’s marketing award for highest GPA. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she remains committed to community involvement through volunteer efforts with local faith-based and charitable organizations. Guided by principles of integrity, loyalty, and hard work, Stone continues to help businesses navigate complex benefits decisions while fostering lasting relationships built on trust and exceptional service.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Hailey
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think from an early age, I've always kind of known who I was, what my identity is, and what makes me tick and what I love, and I found a vocation to support that. I understand now that when you fail at something, you're one step closer to achieving that thing that you're working so hard for. I've just always been someone that's willing to go the extra mile and work hard, but I've also learned that you don't always have to just work hard - once you've worked hard, you can learn how to work smart once you understand a concept. I've been a psycho planner since seventh grade - I've literally carried a paper planner and planned out my week on a Sunday night, checking things off and time blocking. That's just how I've operated, and I still do to this day.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career and life advice I ever received was that the most important thing in life are relationships, so treat them that way. I took this wholeheartedly when I first started my career, and that's how I go about every call I make, every meeting I go on, and every client I bring on.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The biggest thing is know who you are, know what you love - figure that out first. Then make sure your vocation supports that, because people want to work with people that they trust and people that they like. So know that you understand you and what makes you great, because then other people are going to feel that when you walk into a room. Also, become an expert. Know that when you first step into benefits or sales or whatever it may be, you aren't actually going to be the expert. But when you're young like that, as long as the person across from you knows that you're going to work harder and that you're going to figure it out, they're gonna partner with you, even if you don't have all the knowledge. But during that time, become an expert in what you're doing, so then not only are you working hard, but that's when your life's going to shift from working so hard to working smart, because you actually understand all the aspects of what you're doing.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field today is the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI). While organizations must navigate issues such as data privacy, ethical use, and workforce adaptation, AI also offers significant potential to improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, drive innovation, and create new opportunities for growth and competitive advantage.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Loyalty is number one for me. As a manager, knowing that someone's gonna work hard - not even for me, but for themselves - that's what matters. If you're gonna tell me your goals, know that I'm going to hold you to them. That's one thing I was known for as a leader. Integrity is also crucial - I just think you have to work with someone that's gonna be transparent and honest. And honestly, hard work is essential. Life is not easy, and what you look at as easy now, you probably didn't look at as easy at one point. Why is that? Because you put in a lot of hard work to make that thing that's hard now easy. The thing that once was hard becomes easy and just part of your routine.
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