Her Story
About Tracey
My career has always been rooted in purpose — being a voice for people who may not always have a seat at the table or feel heard. I’ve spent more than 30 years in Human Resources, beginning my journey in pharmaceutical supply chain operations right out of high school, without a college degree. I learned through hands-on experience first, gaining real-world knowledge before later pursuing formal education.
One pivotal moment in my career changed the trajectory of how I viewed leadership and advocacy. I was sitting in a boardroom meeting when a leader made a dismissive comment referring to a brown marker. In that moment, I realized how important it was for people to speak up, challenge bias, and create environments where everyone feels valued and represented. That experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and inspired me to make a greater impact.
From there, I became deeply involved in community outreach and advocacy work. I helped build a Second Chance program focused on supporting formerly incarcerated individuals — primarily women — by creating pathways to employment, empowerment, and reintegration. I also worked to strengthen workplace culture by supporting diversity initiatives and building partnerships with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, NAACP, Assembly of Affinity Groups, and the National Organization for Victim Assistance. Through this work, I focused on helping women advocate for themselves, find their voices, and recognize their value. I was honored to receive the President’s Award for my contributions and community impact.
Today, I proudly work with Synkriom LLC, a cloud and technology consulting organization led by strong female leadership, including CEO Komal Dangi and Director of IT Staffing Amy Malecki. Joining this organization was very intentional for me. After spending much of my career working in male-dominated environments, I wanted the opportunity to collaborate with and empower other women leaders.
What I love most about Human Resources is that no two days are ever the same. You can prepare and plan, but you still have to be ready for the unexpected — what I jokingly call “Live at Five.” HR requires resilience, adaptability, empathy, and the ability to lead through uncertainty.
At the core of everything I do is a commitment to helping people recognize their potential, use their voices, and believe in themselves. I’m also a strong advocate for mental health awareness and encouraging people not to be afraid to seek help when they need it. True leadership is not just about business results — it’s about creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tracey
01What do you attribute your success to?
I've been inspired by people who live with integrity and purpose, which has taught me that success isn't only about results, but also about how people are treated along that journey. I've learned from everyday individuals who demonstrated resilience, compassion, and strength, and I've always tried to give that back and pay it forward. My mentor, Alma Dickerson, gave me my very first job in HR right out of high school when I had no experience, and we still stay in touch today. When situations come up, I reach out to ask if she ever experienced something similar, what went well, what didn't go well, and how she thinks I should handle it. I share my perspective and get her input. My father was also a huge influence - he was such a hard worker who worked two jobs and would still come home, cook dinner, and make sure our homework was done. He instilled those ethics in me. I've also had the support of Anthony Dodson, who was the director of one of the companies I worked for, and we still have that lifeline of support even though he's retired now. And of course, my spouse Samuel Booker has been my champion throughout this journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was to never stop learning and never allow your current title to define your potential. Growth often happens when you’re willing to stretch beyond what’s familiar and comfortable.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For upcoming HR professionals, one of the most important things to understand is that Human Resources is about far more than policies, paperwork, and compliance. HR sits at the intersection of people and business strategy. Your ability to build trust often matters as much as your technical knowledge.
A few principles that can carry you through your career:
- Learn the laws, but learn people too. Employment laws, compliance requirements, documentation practices, and investigations are foundational. At the same time, emotional intelligence, active listening, and conflict resolution are what often separate good HR professionals from exceptional ones.
- Be curious before being reactive. Employees may bring concerns that seem straightforward on the surface but have deeper causes. Ask questions, seek context, and avoid making assumptions.
- Protect integrity above convenience. There will be moments when decisions are difficult, unpopular, or uncomfortable. Your credibility becomes your professional currency. People may not always agree with you, but they should trust your fairness and consistency.
- Understand the business. HR professionals who understand operations, finance, staffing needs, and organizational goals become strategic partners rather than administrative support.
- Develop communication skills. You will spend a large part of your career delivering difficult messages, coaching leaders, conducting interviews, facilitating conversations, and advocating for employees. How you communicate often determines outcomes.
- Find mentors and be willing to learn continuously. HR changes constantly—new workplace laws, evolving expectations, technology, and workforce trends. Stay teachable.
Remember that not every problem can be solved immediately. Sometimes your role is to advocate, sometimes to coach, and sometimes to guide people through decisions that are hard.
“HR isn’t simply about managing people; it’s about creating environments where people can thrive while helping organizations succeed. Lead with empathy, operate with integrity, and never stop learning.”
Never underestimate the impact you have. Sometimes HR professionals are the first person someone turns to during the most difficult moments of their career. That responsibility matters. People matter.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in Human Resources right now is balancing the needs of the business with the evolving expectations of employees. Today’s workforce is looking for more than just a paycheck—they want flexibility, purpose, growth opportunities, well-being support, and workplaces where they feel valued and heard. Organizations are also navigating changing labor laws, talent shortages in some industries, and the impact of technology and AI on the workplace.”
At the same time, those challenges create incredible opportunities. HR has evolved from being viewed primarily as an administrative function to becoming a strategic business partner. We have the opportunity to shape culture, drive employee engagement, create meaningful development pathways, and use technology to improve both the employee and employer experience.
I think one of the greatest opportunities right now is using leadership and innovation to build workplaces where people can truly thrive while helping organizations achieve their goals. HR is no longer just about managing people issues—it’s about helping define the future of work.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are integrity, compassion, authenticity, and service. Integrity is at the center of everything because I believe trust is built through consistency and doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult. Compassion matters because everyone is navigating challenges that we may not always see, and I believe people deserve to feel heard and respected.
Authenticity is also important to me because I believe in showing up as my genuine self and creating spaces where others feel comfortable doing the same. And service has always been a guiding principle in my life and career. I find purpose in helping others grow, advocating for people, and creating opportunities that can positively impact someone’s journey.
For me, success isn’t measured only by accomplishments or titles; it’s also measured by the lives you touch and the difference you make along the way. People matter and trust is everything, once you compromise trust, you are no longer effective.
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