Today we’d like to introduce you to Garland Fuller.
Hi Garland, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started working in Talent Acquisition within commercial real estate (CRE) almost a decade ago. I realized quickly that I was often the youngest and one of a few women of color in leadership meetings. Los Angeles being such a diverse and vibrant city, I found it odd that the workplace didn’t reflect the richness of the city. I made it my mission to work to change the narrative. I launched a podcast in 2020 called Full Circle with Garland to highlight the origin and career stories of pioneers and impact players to provide inspiration and motivation to the next generation of Black and Brown professionals.
Most recently I started a consulting business where I help enterprising women of color in the CRE industry land their dream job and build an impactful career. I also advise organizations on the career strategies that propel their HR teams forward to increase retention and decrease attrition for women and people of color.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s not been a smooth road and most things worth having don’t come easy. Working in what is now known as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is difficult because the level of awareness and willingness to take steps forward vary by individual and thus by organization. Covid 19 and the “Great Resignation” has amplified a lot of toxic work cultures and behaviors in addition to empowered workers to get clear on what work/life balance looks like for them. Some of the struggles have been around personal transformation helping individuals trust in their abilities and talents to land in the next best job opportunity. Leaders and HR Teams have similar challenges with trusting the process; the discomfort with challenging biases, prejudices, processes, and systems.
We’ve been impressed with Fuller Circle Consulting, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I work with organizations who want to focus on retaining and developing their most marginalized team members. With the shifting demographics of the workforce, organizations must be preparing their work environments to be inclusive and meeting the needs that speak to the intersectional identities of all employees. I offer workshops directed at HR and Hiring Managers to address the following topics:
Internal Mobility
Hiring Manager Bias
Diversity hiring: Moving away from culture fit to culture add
DEI Recruiting and Hiring Best Practices
DEI Campus Program Assessment and Strategy
I also offer 1:1 career coaching program for early to mid-career professionals around:
Networking
Personal Branding
Interviewing Best Practices
Mentorship & Sponsorship
What sets me apart is that I have a warm, tough love approach and am able to adapt solutions when appropriate.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can find me by going to www.garlandfuller.com to sign up for my newsletter or book a call. Please listen to Full Circle with Garland where podcasts are found: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music to subscribe and share this great weekly dose of inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.garlandfuller.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garlandrfuller/
Image Credits
Jason Lewis/The Los Angeles Standard Newspaper took the evening photo shaking hands.
