Debi Brady Wolfe, chief people officer at Hays U.S., was born to overcome stereotypes. From growing up in a predominantly male, patriarchal community to facing barriers on her way to earning her BS in biochemistry, she came to crave justice, equity and opportunity at a very young age.
After experiencing harassment, exclusion, inequity and discrimination as a young female professional in the early 1990s, Wolfe realized that she needed to be an agent of change and serve as a voice, not just for herself, but also for those who had been silenced for years. “That’s when the seeds of DE&I were first planted,” she says.
At Hays, Wolfe drives initiatives that support all aspects of DE&I, including a focus on women’s empowerment and gender equality, neurodiversity, and the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Through her initiatives, Hays has seen a 52% increase in its BIPOC employee population over the past year.
Wolfe also established Hays’ “Celebrating People” program. This effort creates an environment where employees can feel accepted and included by identifying opportunities to honor the richness of Hays’ diversity throughout the year.
A strong advocate for women, Wolfe regularly speaks at conferences and seminars focused on female empowerment and served as a panelist and featured speaker at the 2021 Florida Diversity Council’s Tampa Bay Women in Leadership Symposium, which focused on equal pay and promotion of women.
Wolfe also helped establish a national outreach connection between Hays and Think Big for Kids, a division of The Boys & Girls Club that is dedicated to helping children from historically excluded communities explore career opportunities.
A trailblazer in every aspect, Wolfe considers justice, equality and human dignity as part of her core values and thrives on accepting and honoring the differences in individuals. “We have more in common than not, but our differences make the greatest impact on our world. They help drive innovation and growth,” she says. “Recognizing people in their element and accepting who they are makes this world beautiful. Everyone has a story to tell. Let’s honor, respect and cherish each other for that story to be a good one.”
2023 DE&I Influencers List