We had the good fortune of connecting with Stacia Harvey-Randall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stacia, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When I think about risk, I think about being fearless. I had the barrier of fear for a long time because I was criticized very often that I became my worst critic. After being exhausted and asking myself “Why did you work so hard to accomplish what?” I began to passively search for new opportunities and when one presented itself that I completely overlooked, I thought “I need to take a risk.” If I would have not taken that risk I would have become very stagnant and comfortable in my role. I didn’t work hard to become stagnant. I worked hard to be an achiever.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My title officially is a Human Resources Director. I work for a company that has a culture which embraces loving and caring for one another. I call myself the Director of the Heart Center. When associates hear “HR”, they think about the principal’s office. When they come to the Heart Center it is a place to stabilize their emotions, have melt downs, find out the resources that we offer such as the Employee Assistance Program, 401K, dependent care, emergency childcare services, bereavement pay, tuition reimbursement, etc. and feel the culture of love. This is what sets me apart from others, because HR is not a function it is an action of love and care. I am most proud of not giving up or letting obstacles defeat me. The role is definitely not easy, but with the right leadership support that I have it takes the weight off of your shoulders. I had to work hard, make connections, be willing to learn from my mentors, and have doors closed before I reached my professional goal. Now I am in the stage of helping advance other women as well. I was able to co found an organization which is called Black Women of Hospitality. It a non profit organization that focuses on women of color in the travel, leisure, and food industry. In this organization women will be able to obtain educational resources and build with a network of women that can assist them in advancing them in their careers. The lessons that I learned along the way, is to wait for the right door to open, and when one closes let it be because it is not your door. I want the world to know that I if I can make it, they can make it. If you are looking for opportunity where you are just not a name on employee roster, then come and join the HEI Family.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So if I had a friend in town for a week. I would take them to the following places:

Ponce City Market, Atlantic Station, Botanical Gardens for site seeing. To learn about history definitely the Civil Rights Museum, visit the home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and the King Center. Piedmont Park, Centennial Olympic Park, The Starling Hotel for great vibes and drinks, and Stone Mountain Park. Great places to eat would be Poor Calvins, Fat Matt’s Rib Shack, The Optimist, Sweet Auburn Seafood, and South City Kitchen.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shout out to HEI Hotels and Resorts for giving me an opportunity to be great, and for not speaking the culture of loving and caring for one another but showing it everyday. I also would like to shoutout to my partner Johnetta Moultrie, Founder of Black Women of Hospitality for taking a risk on me after meeting me for 30 minutes to say let’s start a movement because your expertise and passion is needed, and I want you to work beside me. Most importantly my husband Austin Randall, who challenged me with the question everyday ‘Why are you not a Director, What are you waiting for?”

Website: blackwomenofhospitality.com

Instagram: @blackwomenofhospitality

Linkedin: Stacia Harvey-Randall

Facebook: Black Women of Hospitality

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