Executive Partner Joyce Hoggard Influences Diversity in the Workplace
Before relocating to Williamsburg, Virginia and becoming an Executive Partner at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business, Joyce Hoggard recruited for some key financial and financial regulatory institutions within the United States. Organizations like the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), relied upon her expertise to strategically acquire talent to fit their varying needs.
“I characterize my career as one of continuous learning because I feel I have been through so many changes over the years and have been involved in change initiatives at companies as they’ve adapted to new technologies, changing markets, and economic crises,” she explained.
Hoggard is a native to North Carolina and earned her bachelor’s degree in English from North Carolina Central University before moving to New York City at the onset of her career. Human Resources became an early career interest and after working a few years, she pursued and earned her M.S. Degree in Human Resources Education from Fordham University.
Living and working in New York City during major disasters such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the financial crisis of 2008-2009, and Hurricane Sandy in 2012 reinforced her appreciation for the resilience and toughness that characterize New Yorkers. She likes to think she has acquired some of that resilience and toughness over the years.
Four years ago, Hoggard decided to move to Virginia to be closer to family. “I like the pace of life here and I enjoy being in a college community,” she said. “But I have to admit, from time to time I do miss New York and the energy of the city. I spent most of my adult life in New York so I actually call it home.”
In addition to helping to prepare graduate and undergraduate business students for the corporate workplace, Hoggard serves as Chairwoman of the Learning & Development Subcommittee of the Mason School’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and she continues to serve corporate and non-profit clients as an Executive Recruiter.
“I’ve always said I wouldn’t retire so I continue to take on projects as they come through,” she explained. “A primary interest of mine is to help others to succeed. I have a passion for developing individuals to realize their full potential.”
An eye for talent
Corporate recruiting is a fast-paced endeavor that involves a tremendous amount of pressure, but Hoggard found she thrived even in the most challenging of circumstances. Her career as a corporate recruiter included roles with Philip Morris USA, EY, Revlon, Unilever, Standard & Poor’s, and more.
In 2008, she worked with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to recruit professionals into the bank supervision group as it navigated the economic crisis. She was responsible for finding individuals who could analyze data and assess risk within financial institutions and recommend appropriate actions.
“I had a behind-the-scenes look at how the federal reserve system works and it was amazing to see the passion of employees at the Fed as they pulled together to ensure the viability of our financial system. It also was rewarding to see talent that I helped to recruit succeed and make an impact,” she said.
From there, Hoggard went to work for FINRA where she recruited risk, compliance and financial audit professionals responsible for the safeguards that are in place for the New York Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of Options, and other exchanges within the United States. Then, in her last role prior to leaving New York, Hoggard recruited talent for the second largest investment bank in Japan, Mizuho Bank which provided her with insight into the innerworkings of an investment firm in addition to how business is conducted overseas.
“I think what I’m most proud of is the fact that I have been able to adapt very quickly to different environments which allowed me to make immediate contributions in each of these instances,” she explained. “In recruiting especially, accomplishments are measured on the number of people you bring into an organization and there’s a sense of accomplishment in seeing those individuals advance within an organization and be successful.
Reversing roles
Hoggard became an Executive Partner at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business in order to support undergraduate and graduate students who were in the early stages of their careers. Thus far, she has participated in several networking events, facilitated in-class learning opportunities, and provided mentorship for students seeking advice on their interviewing skills and subsequent job searches.
She says it is fulfilling to be able to counsel young professionals before they get into the corporate interview process since this increases their confidence and the likelihood they will have more successful interviews.
“As a support to faculty and Graduate Career Management Services, Executive Partners interact with students in a variety of settings. It is an intense effort and you can actually see the students’ professional growth in just a matter of weeks,” she said.
But Hoggard hasn’t stopped there. Knowing the importance of diversity in the workplace, she looked to have a deeper impact on the educational experience for Mason School students related to diversity and inclusion. So, she expanded the reach of her influence by joining the newly-formed Diversity & Inclusion Committee in the fall of 2019 and volunteered to chair the Learning & Development Subcommittee.
“One of the most important foundations to diversity and inclusion is creating an environment in which all people are able to make a contribution, to feel valued, and to realize their full potential,” she said. “There’s an elevated need and a desire for dialogue and understanding the issues of diversity. We as a committee have a unique opportunity now to help foster that awareness.”
As one of the three thematic pillars on which the administration looks to build future strategic initiatives, the Leadership & Development Subcommittee has the tough role of establishing a comprehensive integrated program to address the knowledge and skills shortfalls related to diversity and inclusion within the business school while meeting the varying needs across differing constituencies.
Hoggard and the L&D subcommittee members are working to facilitate activities across the student body of graduate and undergraduate students as well as enhance the understanding of diversity and inclusion among leadership and staff at the business school.
“We are a resource for students, staff, faculty and leadership on issues of D&I. Students receive a solid foundation on D&I and organizational effectiveness offered by faculty. As a subcommittee, we look to build on the classroom learnings and give students the opportunity to explore D&I beyond the classroom. We also have planned a leadership retreat in 2021 for business school faculty, staff and administrators,” she said.
“In the case of students who, early in life, have not had exposure to a lot of diversity, the university provides a safe environment for them to learn and interact with different people. This increases their capability to work effectively with diverse teams,” Hoggard explained. “It’s very important to understand and appreciate the value of diversity. If we as executive partners, staff, and faculty are more comfortable with diversity and inclusion, we can impart a higher level of comfort to the students within the university setting.”
Promoting Inclusivity of Women Globally
Williamsburg may not be the global metropolis of New York City, but Hoggard has certainly kept busy in this vibrant college town. In addition to her continued work as a corporate recruiter, and her contributions to the Raymond A. Mason School of Business through the Executive Partners program and Diversity & Inclusion Committee, she likes to spend her time reading, cooking, and interacting with a diversity of people through group activities.
She’s also an avid traveler and says over the years she’s visited Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the Caribbean in addition to at least 40 of the 50 states – including Hawaii.
But one of her biggest passions is advocating for disadvantaged women around the globe. When she lived in New York, Hoggard belonged to the New York Coalition of One Hundred Black Women, a professional and community service organization, as well as United Nations Women, an organization which advocates on behalf of women around the world by educating communities on issues such as human trafficking and childhood hunger.
Hoggard says the issue of human trafficking is a cause she continues to be passionate about and hopes to find ways to bring awareness to the issue to affect change.
“I think that it is something we don’t give adequate attention to unless it has a direct impact on our lives,” she said. “And I will continue to be passionate about the lives of women and children who are exploited in various ways for various reasons.”
