The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 13, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place virtually Dec. 8.
Next is HR Executive of the Year finalist Jennifer Bailey, who’s chief administration officer at Cognosante. Here, she talks success in her current role, shaping the next generation of industry leaders, overcoming career struggles and more.
What has made you successful in your current role?
People power is our business. Developing the ability to identify the right talent and create a high-performing team are critical success factors in my career. Today, I lead a multi-disciplinary department whose leaders are dedicated to our organization’s mission and contribute to measurable key performance indicators.
I started my career in human resources, gaining experience across the traditional HR functions. At a time when HR was largely regarded as an administrative facilitator for hiring and benefits, I sought to understand our business’ growth drivers and the relationships between business functions. This background let me appreciate how HR aligns to and keenly supports strategic outcomes.
Keeping program requisitions filled with billable candidates and retaining top talent are how functions like talent acquisition, learning and development, human resources, and marketing contribute to the bottom line — furthering Cognosante’s strategic mission, and reinforcing our core values.
What are you most proud of having been a part of in your current organization?
I’m immensely proud of how Cognosante is weathering COVID-19 and the employee-first programs created to support the physical, mental and financial well-being of our team.
While all government contractors were challenged to shift to remote work, Cognosante also focused on mental and psychological safety. We expanded our employee assistance program and facilitated conversations among executives and their teams. Partnering with the nation’s leading health insurers, we recently strengthened our health benefits package beyond traditional medical benefits to offer telehealth and holistic wellness resources at no cost increase to employees.
Our COVID response also included empowering our team through remote employee engagement activities. Listening to team member input, we expanded our corporate social responsibility and community outreach efforts and made financial donations to local nonprofit organizations nominated by Cognosante team members.
During times of stress, communicating regularly makes all the difference in team morale. Cognosante immediately instituted weekly Lunch & Learns featuring external guest speakers from leading medical institutions and leaders from across the company. Topics focus on emotional, physical, mental and financial wellness, as well as program reviews and updates on key corporate initiatives. This ensures corporate strategy and organizational priorities are communicated consistently to all employees.
Cumulatively, these efforts positively impacted workforce engagement — resulting in Cognosante’s certification as a Great Place to Work for two consecutive years (2020, 2021). This award is based entirely on what current employees say about their work experience. This year, the company scored 26 points higher than the average U.S. company for employees who rated their workplace as a great place to work.
How do you help shape the next generation of government leaders/industry leaders?
Investing in early career or re-careering professionals is a passion. Three things are vital: exposure, opportunity and work-related power skills.
At Cognosante, we nurture young professionals’ exposure to the work world through internships and our newest impact program, our Historically Black Colleges and Universities Partner Alliance. Moved to make a difference, our Founder and CEO Michele Kang established our HBCU Partner Alliance. The program’s components were developed in close collaboration with the leadership of three HBCUs. Through the program, we’ll influence the next generation of government contracting leaders by providing a greater understanding of roles, responsibilities, how to interview for a job and what it really means to lead in the work world.
Another critical component shaping the future workforce is opportunity. As a country, we’re making headway on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, but we have further to go. Cognosante is addressing disparities in opportunity through our recruiting practices. Reaching and recruiting people of color, women, veterans, military spouses and people with disabilities requires thinking beyond the average job posting.
Finally, for young and re-careering professionals alike, enhancing power skills can be so influential. For years, the common vernacular was “soft skills.” But over time, the business world recognized there was nothing soft about them. In fact, emotional intelligence has an overwhelming impact on success in the work world. So, Cognosante invests in training and provides mentoring to help employees develop and enhance these skills.
What was your biggest career struggle and how did you overcome it?
Managing the real-time response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s twists and turns has been a career challenge unlike any other I’ve experienced. Notably now, I’m tested in crafting Cognosante’s response to the vaccine mandate.
The culture Michele built is one of diversity of thought, expression, opinion and respect. As chief administration officer, requiring specific action for something as personal as health decisions weighs heavy. Analyzing the executive order from legal and HR perspectives and putting aside personal beliefs and preferences, I’m leading the team responsible for ensuring compliance as a federal government contractor. However, from direct interactions with team members, I know this is not an easy decision for some of our employees. Supporting and respecting their choice while making them aware of their options is my focus.
Pushing through this challenge requires a strong professional support system. That starts with Michele and my peers on Cognosante’s executive leadership team. It also includes trusted advisors from my HR and legal network, my talented team and respected professional groups. As a leader, recognizing when and who to bring in to solve problems — especially complicated issues like the COVID vaccine response — is vital.
The pandemic also contributed to the current challenge of the Great Resignation, leading to stiff competition for talent. I’m staying focused on employee engagement initiatives and implementing creative, industry-leading recruiting strategies to attract talent to the company.
What’s your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Two personal career priorities have served me well: continuous learning and informed risk taking. The two go hand-in-hand. There’s much to be learned from pushing yourself to do things you haven’t done before. That philosophy led me to expand my role throughout my career, and today, I’m leading a multi-disciplinary group as chief administration officer.
To grow, look for adjacent opportunities and get comfortable taking calculated risks. And if you fail, which will happen, learn quickly and move forward.