Alysa Southall (A People Partner, CEO & Executive) (A People Partner, LLC)
Changing HR cultures across the US
Alysa Southall, CEO of A People Partner in Rowley, Massachusetts, set out to change the workplace culture when she launched her company in June of 2022 and hasn’t looked back since.
“I saw a need to change workplace cultures across the US, and I knew I couldn’t make a large impact if I was doing it under the umbrella of just one company.” Southall explained. “A People Partner was born with a vision of advocating for people-first work cultures where leaders pour into people every single day.”
A People Partner provides project-based Human Resource (HR) support, recruitment services, and job seeker support for companies and people looking for work across the United States. A People Partner is focused on increasing transparency in the HR and recruiting industries.
“We advocate for diverse work environments that lead with empathy and act with kindness,” Southall explained. “Our overarching mission is to remove barriers for employees by creating cultures that allow them to thrive, be authentic, and be treated equally.”
After spending eight years working in corporate HR, recruiting, and graduating with a Master's in Human Resource Management from Southern New Hampshire University, Southall set her sights on starting her own business. She defined her ideal client, aligned herself with those who keep her grounded, and set off to change the world of HR.
Southall said her ideal customers are those companies with zero to four people in their HR department. “These are the people who impact their organization in a unique way. HR and recruiting processes definitely need a revamp in this country, and A People Partner is here to help lead that change. Our goal is to create cultures where people want to work, feel safe to work, and feel appreciated at work.”
Starting a new business doesn’t come without its speed bumps and challenges. Southall said she is very intentional about how she works and what tools she uses. One of the free resources she’s found is through the Boston Public Library. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is another key ingredient to making A People Partner successful.
Southall is also passionate about giving back to her community. She is president of the North Shore Women Connect group, teaches a job readiness class at Northern Essex Community College, and is very involved in the Essex County Habitat for Humanity. From a business perspective, A People Partner offers support to the job seeker at no charge. She also hosts a regular podcast and newsletter discussing different “people topics.”
“Equal opportunity, especially living-wage employment, doesn’t exist in our world,” Southall said, “and I want to help those people looking for jobs by offering my time and experience for free. We have a long term vision of opening community resource centers across the US providing free computers and WIFI to improve digital literacy and upskilling in communities across America..”
A People Partner believes in living their values daily, advocating for diversity, empathy, equality, inclusion, teamwork, and transparency. They encourage empathy and understand the value of empathetic leadership.
A People Partner has been an Accredited BBB Member since 2023.
For more information on A People Partner, check out their BBB Business Profile. To learn more about BBB and read more stories like this, visit Behind the Business Stories with BBB in Eastern MA, ME, RI & VT.
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