I Didn't Choose HR, HR Chose Me

How I stumbled into my life's calling

I’m a growth advocate with a passion for helping others know what they’re capable of. I equip young adults with tools & resources that empower them to realistically attain the growth of their dreams. I’ve always had a fascination with understanding people, so I obtained a Bachelor’s in Psychology. Contrary to popular belief at the time, I used that background as a backdoor entryway to Human Resources.

I believe HR became my calling because of some pretty grossly obscene experiences I had. At work, I’ve been sexually harassed by a male boss, mentally harassed by a female boss, threatened and verbally abused by a boss, physically attacked, retaliated against, racially discriminated against, and then some!



During these experiences, I always felt alone and cornered. Of course, I’d call on what was thought to be Human Resources, but no one was ever accessible. When they were, I became the problem just for making a fuss about my troubles.

Of course, I stayed, because I needed the work. But quite naturally, being mistreated at work can lead to disengagement and feelings of contempt, so I was fired. I was fired a lot… and I mean A LOT. Because I always spoke up.

Do I regret it? Absolutely not! It makes the work I do be that much more valid knowing that I stood on exactly the principles I work to foster in workplaces today.

My last toxic employment relationship ended 5 years ago. Since then, I’ve used my background to build ground-up HR departments for companies that have never had the function. This niche gives me the chance to set the tone for the way they treat and support their employees.

I bumped my head a lot along this journey because I was forced to process experiences that I hadn’t entirely been emotionally and behaviorally equipped to handle.

To help navigate this world of disarray, I started a personal growth journey that was centered around developing my emotional and behavioral competence. I read books, took trainings and attended conferences to expand my understanding. After a while, I started to see how your level of emotional intelligence can be used to guide your thinking and behavior. When I added that to my individual determination, I got G.R.O.W.T.H as a result.

Since then, I’ve continued to intentionally live a pretty peaceful and satisfying lifestyle. Fortunately, for me, my experiences have allowed me to foster a set of personal values that I get to authentically live out in my day-to-day life through my HR profession..

Now, I use Black In Business to guide young professionals into a peaceful, yet confident, state of success by equipping them with essential tools, and fostering developmental competencies and attributes.

Brittany McCollum, SHRM-SCP is the Owner of Black In Business. She is an expert in personal growth and HR effectiveness who has helped dozens of professionals attain their goals by bridging the gap between their vision and performance. As an advisor to company executives, students, and other growing professionals for over 7 years, Brittany McCollum, SHRM-SCP brings an influential approach to individual development & progression through her coaching. Brittany works directly with you to build out your professional growth plan. As long as you're realistic about where you are, she will make sure that growth meets you there!  Visit www.imblackinbusiness.com Connect Brittany McCollum