Tanesha Billingsly

I believe I get the blessings that come to me because we are servants at heart. We serve those, God's people who are less than we are, or who don't have what we have. That's how we pour into the storehouse so that we can receive the blessing that God said He'll open up the floodgates to us. Everything that we try to do, we always think of those that are less fortunate, those that may not have what we have, and how can we serve them. My philosophy is about serving others and maintaining good customer service - in order to serve people, you have to have good customer service. I've always been someone who takes up for those that don't have a voice, and I'm always the type that if I see something, I always like to try to fix it. I don't fit in - I'm peculiar - because I've never saw myself as the one to fit in. I like to see where the need is, meet the need, and gather people around me to help meet whatever that need is.

The best career advice I've ever received is do whatever your heart's desire. If someone else is doing it, then why are you doing it? Do something nobody else is doing. I don't fit in, so I always say that I'm peculiar, because I've never saw myself as the one to fit in. I like to be a loner sometimes, because I just like to see where the need is, and meet the need, and gather people around me to help meet whatever that need is.

Right now we're dealing with budget restraints, and we have to work with leaders on workforce development - do we have the talent that's needed, especially with our budget restraints? How can we be innovative and get people, unfortunately, to do a little bit more while maintaining the same salary? How do we do that effectively and still maintain morale? We're also in this AI world now, and if we don't learn it, we're behind the eight ball already. That's why I'm looking at getting a certification for AI and Human Resources as my next accomplishment. Another challenge I'm working on is getting people to truly understand that HR is not just about hiring and firing - we're here to help service both the employee and the employer. I'm trying to change cultures in HR and get people to see us as partners who help solve and resolve problems. One thing I'm really focused on now, especially after recently losing my father, is dealing with grief and life while still being a leader. Nobody talks about that. I'm trying to get people to understand empathy - how do you empathize with people that may be a bad performer, maybe a good performer, but life happens? What does grace look like?

Customer service is number one for me, and it's still a priority - in order to serve people, you have to have good customer service. I've always been someone who protects people and takes up for those that don't have a voice. Family comes first - I've learned from leaders who put their families first even while having demanding careers, and that is the type of leader that I strive to be for my team. Serving those that are less fortunate is my heart's desire - everything that we try to do, we always think of those that are less fortunate, those that may not have what we have, and how can we serve them. I believe in pouring into the storehouse by serving God's people, which is how we receive blessings. Grace and empathy are also critical - understanding what grace looks like when life happens to people, whether they're good performers or struggling. I'm always looking to bridge the gap and be a voice for people, whether you're a leader in the organization or boots on the ground.