Janice Bryant Howroyd

Entrepreneurial Legacy

Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder and CEO of the ACT•1 Group, a preeminent international staffing company based in Torrance, Calif., grew up knowing she wanted to create a business culture based on solid relationships, cooperation, dignity and ingenuity by observing her first executive mentor - her mom.

Raised as one of 11 children in the tiny North Carolina town of Tarboro, her mother’s exquisite running of the household impressed upon Ms. Howroyd a strong faith, an irrepressible optimism and the value of teamwork where everyone from the top down makes sacrifices for the good of all.

“My mom taught me, you don’t ask someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself,” Ms. Howroyd said in an exclusive interview with the National Association of Women Business Owners. “You have to allow employees to keep their dignity. You have to be open and honest with them. Especially now, they have to see that you’re walking along with them.”

Grounded in that corporate philosophy since starting her company in a small Beverly Hills office in 1978, ACT•1 Group conglomerate now realizes $900 million in annual gross sales. The group includes ACT•1 Personnel Services for temporary, direct hire and contract employees; AT-Tech, including professional and technical hire support; A-Check America, a Web-based pre-employment and background screening service; and DSSI, a document and electronic file management solutions provider. Ms. Howroyd’s Agile•1 Solutions group also provides full-service technology and management solutions.

Last year, Ms. Howroyd opened both staffing and Agile•1 Solutions offices in the United Kingdom, complementing offices in more than 75 U.S. cities as well as locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and India. She plans to expand into Brazil and Germany this year.

Today, Ms. Howroyd is one of the nation’s pre-eminent African-American women business owners. On March 13, Ms. Howroyd will be among honorees at the 23rd annual NAWBO-LA Leadership & Legacy Awards Luncheon, paying tribute to top achievers among women leaders who have established a legacy of entrepreneurial excellence and contributed significantly to the community.

Ms. Howroyd attributes a corporate culture that values transparency and adaptability among its nearly 2,000 employees for the group’s identification nearly two years ago of changing economic conditions. The early recognition of the shifting economic landscape allowed the group to work quickly with customers needing revised service agreements. Employees also realized the increasing importance of localized solutions, understanding “what works in Bakersfield might not work in New York City.”

By involving employees in solutions, Ms. Howroyd said her team remains motivated to work strategically and understands the need to adapt, even when tough decisions have to be made.

“My perspective is that it’s really about how to plan for change. Every business should be agile….You need a team of people that really understands that.” 

Ms. Howroyd said women business owners who have created such a workforce may have more flexibility in a down economy with employees willing and capable of becoming part of the answer, even if it means some sacrifices.

In today’s recession, while owners increasingly have to evaluate which employees are “strategic,” creative managers often can find ways to retain workers by helping them dust-off old skills, reconfiguring hours, or assigning work at home. 

Not to be overlooked in retooling is the importance of integrating technology intelligently, she said.

“A lot of women business owners are not using the technology they bought in the most strategic way… Connectivity is the key in this day and age.”

Ms. Howroyd said women entrepreneurs in some cases would benefit by spending more time “upfront” with clients, and insisting contracts be clearly written before entering into deals. And she cautioned business owners not to rely on branding as an excuse to cut back on services. She currently is spelling out those and other business principles in a book, “The Art of Work: How to Make Work Work for You.”

With an expanding international business, Ms. Howroyd suggests the best way to grow globally is to provide superior products and service in each local market.

“No matter where you are in business, you are competing in the global marketplace.”

A strong advocate for women-owned business, diversity and inclusion, Ms. Howroyd says women have made great strides in business and politics with the Internet helping to level the playing field, especially for start-up businesses. She said today’s women now have more of a “voice” in international matters, with men increasingly prepared to accept women in leadership roles.

As an African-American woman entrepreneur, she gives the same advice to every business person regardless of race or gender: “Go where you want to go, as long as you’re prepared.”

“Be honest in evaluating your strengths, and make sure your business is a passion and not your hobby.”