Meet Dr, Akilah Bradford | CEO of The HR DOC Consulting, LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr, Akilah Bradford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr, Akilah, how has your background shaped the person you are today?

I grew up on the South Side of Chicago with a blue collar family. My parents worked for the Chicago Fire Department and US Postal Service, my Aunts worked for the Chicago Police Department and Department of Aviation so I have been surrounded by worker bees. Everyone worked a lot of hours and put in years of sweat and tears.

Watching my family provide for the community AND our family has made my work ethic one of my most admirable assets and what continues to drive me today. I have worked since the 8th grade, and I attended school non-stop until I obtained my PhD is Organizational Leadership. My family has provided me with the opportunities I have had to attend college, travel, and ultimately leave Corporate America to start my own Human Resources Consulting Firm.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I am the CEO of The HR DOC Consulting, LLC. I serve as the “HR” for Small Businesses who cannot afford to hire a full-time on-site HR representative. I help small businesses with all their HR needs from Legal Compliance, Recruitment, Performance Management, and Conflict Resolution. One component of my business is Career Coaching. I use my years of experience in corporate HR to help individuals with resume writing, interviewing prep, salary negotiating, and career changing. Both components of my firm allow me to help people reach their goals whether it is landing a dream job or a client opening a second or third location. It is why I do what I do and what I am most proud of.

I started my business during COVID after being laid off from my HR Director job. I knew there was still a need for HR Services despite the pandemic. The challenge was that unless you have some HR experience, you do not realize how much you need HR guidance.  Many business owners many only see HR as the department who hires and fires. The fact is HR keeps business owners out of trouble. We provide strategic advice on the growth and sustainability of their business because we know PEOPLE. I remind my clients that they are the experts in their line of business but I know HR and I know how best to serve the employees so that their business can continue to thrive.

Starting my business was not challenging…growing the business has been. I had to learn to become an entrepreneur, a salesperson, a BOSS rather than a HR Expert. The skills set needed to be a successful entrepreneur is slightly different than the skills I have been accustomed to using in the HR world and that was the biggest lesson in my transition to freedom as I call it. Not returning to Corporate America and deciding to make some serious sacrifices and focus on the growth of The HR DOC Consulting Firm has allowed me to have a level of freedom I have worked so hard for. That freedom has allowed me to help more small to mid-sized organizations maneuver through this ever-changing world of Human Resources. The HR DOC Consulting, LLC is the firm that will help businesses recruit and retain during this Great Resignation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Spending a week in Chicago is not long enough to experience all there is to offer a tourist. Chicago has the best food, architecture, sports, neighborhoods, did I mention food?!?!

Some of my favorite Spots in the city include Azul in the Goose Island Neighborhood. La Luna is the historic Pilsen neighborhood. One cannot visit Chicago and not visit one of President Obama’s favorite restaurants in the Hyde Park neighborhood, Valois. Visiting Chicago in the summertime is amazing. We have several great festivals and large picnics from the Hyde Park Brew Fest to the Taste of Chicago. There is something for everyone to do and see in Chicago from walking along the lake downtown to having a dirty martini on any of the many rooftop bars. On a beautiful day, you can visit Navy Pier and take a boat ride to see the skyline up close, and rent bicycles and ride along the river to a wine bar before dressing up and going out to Untitled Super Club.  So much to name…

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This Shoutout goes to my Village. My Village consist of my parents, daughter, brother & sister, my family and close friends who constantly remind me to keep pushing forward, they always step in and knocked down hurdle after hurdle to allow me to keep going. I would have not been able to reach my goals if they were not there being my cheerleaders and supports.

Website: www.hr-doc.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hr_doc/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thehrdocconsulting

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THEHRDOCCONSULTING

Other: https://linktr.ee/HRDOC

Image Credits
Belen Aquino