Meet Edi Hayes. MHRM, SHRM-CP | Career Instigator, DEI Enthusiast & Talent Advisor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Edi Hayes. MHRM, SHRM-CP and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Edi, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Her Career Café was birthed from my frustration of working in Human Resources (HR) over the past 15 years and seeing people of color unfairly treated during the recruiting process and in the workplace. As an HR professional and a double minority myself, I’ve always made it my purpose to advocate for underrepresented minorities, but felt like I could do more.

Hence, I thoughtfully created Her Career Cafe to help people of color navigate their career and inspire them to reach their full potential, while being their professional, authentic-self.

Our tailored career solutions to include; career consultations (i.e. pay negotiation, workplace conflict resolution, job search strategies), resume revamps, interview prep and overall – career coaching are for everyone; college students, 9-5’ers, and blue/white collar folks (I hate those labels) at all levels.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am most proud of leaning into my “why,” and showing up for others as a true ally. What excites me the most is seeing my clients gain the confidence and resilience necessary to be most successful in their career by implementing the best practices and self-advocacy that I promote, ultimately landing their ideal job.

What sets us apart from other career solution companies is the authentic connection we make with our clients and the tailored experience we provide. We pride ourselves on meeting clients where they are in their career journey, while providing practical advice and a tangible game plan on how to meet and exceed their goals. We don’t ask you to fill out a survey or chat with you for 15 minutes and then produce a service or product for you. Instead, our first action is to spend time getting to know each client to ensure we understand why they need our services and what is causing the challenges they are facing, which provides a tailored solution. There’s not one client that we’ve provided the exact guidance or service for and that’s something we are very proud of.

As an entrepreneur, there have been some tough lessons learned – streamlining services, learning how to attract and retain the right audience and creating a balance between the business, my 9-5 and home life. I say that with a smile and confidence, knowing that any adversities I encounter will be met by my grit, precision, and agility.

In all, I want the world to know, there doesn’t have to be a disconnect between who you show up as in the workplace and who you really are – what you deserve and what you accept. Her Career Café doesn’t just provide products and services to land a job, it provides life-long lessons for you to navigate your career.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hmmm…Well, my best friends and I are very laid back and we are all about great food, self-care and trying new things. Atlanta has such a diverse landscape of things to do. If it was up to me, I’d start with a nice dinner at C&S Seafood, which has an amazing atmosphere and thee best seafood. From there, we’d probably find a nice lounge to catch some good vibes and drinks – Parlor would be my first choice. Now, this trip would have to include some additional amazing food spots like – The Blue Art Bistro, 4B, Milk and Honey, Negril, Slutty Vegan and Harold’s….oh and the Waffle House! I’d make sure we’d have a day or two dedicated to the spa – maybe Jeju or something similar. I always look forward to some outdoor fun, so the beltline, piedmont park, stone mountain or a few spots around the Chattanooga river would be ideal to work off all that great food and connect with nature. I’m pretty sure we would spend a lot of time catching up and making room to simply rest and reset.

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?
Wow! Yes! First, let me say – there are so many people that have encouraged and inspired me to, “Just Start” and have been cheering for me along the way.

Someone in particular that has been pivotal in my business success thus far is my husband, who is also a 9-5’er and entrepreneur (Greenwood Whiskey), but he’s also my alarm clock, babysitter, cook, sounding board and the list goes on.

I remember when he first began his whiskey company and watching the pride and excitement it provided. I wanted that feeling too! It also made me realize that anything is possible when you are driven, resolute and persistent and I too could have it all – work a full-time job, be an entrepreneur a mom and still be great at it all.

He holds me accountable, provides me a space to thrive and encourages me to keep going.

Website: www.hercareercafe.com

Instagram: @hercareercafe