Zundra Bryant Shares Importance of Celebrating Women

03/16/2022

Zundra Bryant headshot.

缅北强奸 is highlighting women leaders who make an everyday impact at 缅北强奸 this Women鈥檚 History Month. Zundra Bryant joined 缅北强奸 in 2019 and is now Vice President, Human Resources (HR) Operations. Learn even more about Zundra, her background and role, her perspectives on intersectionality, and the importance of highlighting and celebrating the contributions of women.听

Q.听听听听Tell us about your background and your current role at 缅北强奸?

A.听听听听Earning my undergraduate degree in actuarial science from Howard University set me on the path to achieving a successful, multi-disciplinary career. My career spans over 25 years, with diverse experiences, including management consulting, program and project management, customer relationship management, strategy, information technology, finance and HR shared services, healthcare, and payment processing.听I鈥檓 also a strong internal and external corporate citizen leading diversity and inclusion initiatives, serving on both civic and community boards, and have received multiple leadership recognitions and awards.

As Vice President, HR Operations, I lead multiple services, including the HR contact center, employee relations intake, payroll Tier 1, proof of vaccination validation, unemployment claims processing, interview scheduling, temporary-to-permanent conversion services, and HR digital services (technology capabilities).听My organization is responsible for delivering critical employee support by optimizing services and simplifying engagement.

Q.听听听听 What is the most meaningful part of your job?

A.听听听听Without question, working with my team.听I鈥檓 committed to cultivating an environment that offers the opportunity for every team member to thrive and unleash our collective brilliance in carrying out our day-to-day responsibilities.听Setting strategic direction, providing guidance, and removing roadblocks to support my team鈥檚 success is how I approach my every day.

Q.听听听听Who influenced you most during your career and why?

础.听听听听My who has been and continues to be a village of diverse individuals and groups that support my personal and professional aspirations. Choosing just one person would be impossible. Participating in the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Experience Program and subsequently forming a three-year accountability partnership with two other Fellows based on principles in the book by Jan Torrisi-Mokwa, 鈥淏uilding Career Equity,鈥 were both life-altering experiences that propelled the trajectory of my career.听

Q.听听听听How do you feel about 缅北强奸鈥檚 approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion?

A.听听听听Every company is unique and at different stages of the diversity, equity, and inclusion journey, which makes it difficult to compare. I do appreciate that 缅北强奸鈥檚 diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts focus on both our internal corporate practices, how we deliver our services, and that we take an active role in addressing healthcare disparities.

Q.听听听听Can you talk about the importance of intersectionality?

A.听听听听Let鈥檚 first define intersectionality. Kimberle Crenshaw coined the term 鈥渋ntersectionality鈥 in 1989 to acknowledge that people are disadvantaged by multiple sources of oppression 鈥 race, class, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, etc.听I personally experience oppression during my career at three sources 鈥 female, African American, and African American female.听All three have come with unique and similar challenges. The third, African American female, is both the most challenging and most rewarding.听Following my own advice, staying unapologetically true to who I am and understanding my worth continues to be foundations to my personal success and triumph.

Q.听听听听What are your thoughts on the significance of Women鈥檚 History Month?

础.听听听听Women鈥檚 History Month provides an opportunity to focus on and highlight the contributions and greatness of women.听It鈥檚 a wonderful time to pour love and support on a group of individuals who often are underappreciated and/or undervalued.听Women often give to others at our own expense. We need to practice receiving from others and being the center of attention. Those who know me, know I like to be seen and don鈥檛 shy away from an opportunity to show my pearly whites.