We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alexis Guyton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexis, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

It all began with a realization of a significant gap in the market and a passion for addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals from black and brown communities in their professional journeys. As someone who has been part of these communities, I intimately understood the struggles and hurdles that individuals faced when seeking career guidance and navigating the job market. When I graduated college, there were very limited resources available to aid in the job search. I fell quickly into what some call “post-grad depression”.

I saw friends and colleagues having difficulties in securing opportunities aligned with their skills and salary expectations. It became clear that there was a need for a service that not only provided career consulting but also addressed the specific nuances and barriers faced by black and brown professionals. It wasn’t just about generic career advice; it was about understanding the cultural context, acknowledging the systemic challenges, and providing strategies tailored to overcome them. This is what set Your HR Homegirl apart.

Alexis, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Having quickly moved up the ladder in the professional landscape myself, I recognized the disparities and obstacles that individuals from underrepresented communities face. As soon as I broke into my career, I was determined not to be the “only one”. I networked with other HR professionals and career consultants, got certifications, and made myself the most marketable, ideal candidate to test the strategies out on. Nothing I provide as a service is done without extensive research and testing. I’ve helped clients land six-figure salaried roles, get offered retention bonuses up to $10K and pivot career fields. There are so many people taking advantage of job seekers – I refused to be one of them. For those who can’t book a service, I encourage them to follow me on social media or check out the blog for free advice.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I established the core of my social media presence during the 2020 lockdowns, striving to authentically represent myself – genuine, honest, and deeply rooted in the essence of Memphis. While HR is often perceived as adversarial, I aimed to defy that stereotype. My goal was for people to view me as their “homegirl” rather than an enforcer. HR was a path I stumbled upon, excelling at it even though it wasn’t my primary passion. Recognizing the importance of credibility in the field, I dedicated myself to mastery. I like to think of myself as a secret agent, offering my followers a unique perspective through my social media content.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Several years into my career, I found myself deeply entrenched in traditional recruitment, marketing, and HR roles. While I enjoyed the dynamic nature of these positions, I sensed a shifting landscape in the HR domain. The rise of technology and the increasing importance of data and analytics were transforming the industry. Recognizing the need to adapt, I made a pivotal decision to transition from traditional HR roles to a more technical and strategic position, focusing on HR transformation, systems, analytics, and automation.

As I immersed myself in the technical aspects of systems and automation, I began to witness the transformative power of technology in optimizing processes, enhancing employee experiences, and driving overall organizational efficiency. This experience became the foundation for my next venture, Bluff City Ventures.

Bluff City Ventures emerged from a dual realization. Firstly, there was a need for businesses to adapt to the digital age. Secondly, I recognized a similar challenge faced by black and brown entrepreneurs. Many were navigating the delicate balance between their entrepreneurial ambitions and the challenges of scaling their businesses. The focus shifted from just Career Consulting and HR transformation to providing comprehensive support for black and brown entrepreneurs looking to scale their ventures. The aim was to bridge the gap between the “side hustle phase” and sustainable business growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: yourhrhomegirl.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/yourhrhomegirl
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/your-hr-homegirl/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourhrhomegirl

Image Credits
Amber Jones, Owner of Social Gourmet is pictured in one of the photos