"Leading with Experience & Compassion"

Evelyn Reed is a dynamic and progressive HR leader with over ten years of experience in various industries and markets throughout North America. She is double certified, holding her SPHR and SHRM-SCP, HR certifications, and she is an official member of the Forbes HR Council. Additionally, she is a commissioned licensed Notary Public in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Throughout her career, she's worked with major global brands such as Amazon and Hertz and multinational brands such as Jacent Strategic Merchandising. Evelyn has also worked with various Philadelphia-based non-profits and healthcare leaders.

Most recently, while working full-time, as Head of the HR Operations & Diversity, Equity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging, and attending graduate school for her MBA, Evelyn has launched her newest venture, HR Jawn, LLC. HR Jawn is a boutique firm offering HR, Business, Notary, and Advocacy services for individuals, startups, and small to midsize businesses. Stay tuned for the release of the HR Jawn app that will provide members access to on-demand resources and connections.

Evelyn has always actively worked at spearheading various programs to enhance women's leadership. She understands that leadership is hard in general; add being a woman, and one faces barriers; add being black to the equation, and a black woman hits invisible ceilings.

“I offer to other women leaders, the wisdom from the many lessons I have learned over the years, in hopes that they can navigate better in spaces I had to push and make my own path into. Additionally, my company, HR Jawn, offers fee-based consulting and other services for businesses and individuals specific to HR, Business, Notary, and Advocacy spaces.” Evelyn adds, “I try to motivate and encourage my team members and partners, to tap into their full potential. I believe my ultimate goal as a leader of people is to develop them to meet or exceed mine and their own expectations professionally. That is what a successful leader looks like in my book. For me, “success” is when you are able to be 100% authentically yourself in the spaces that you are in. For so long, as a black woman leader, I felt like I was fighting to get there; and with 10 plus years in the game, I am finally able to see the fruits of my hard labor and feel successful” Evelyn continues on to say, “The biggest lesson I’ve learned on this journey is to trust your gut instincts, don’t be afraid to take chances, get a mentor or corporate sponsor, and when possible, see and explore the world. Changing your environment will help you see, experience, and bring a different perspective to the workplace.”

As an HR Professional, mental wellness and self-care are top priorities for Evelyn; so it’s no surprise her first business venture she started in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, was After Effex co. After Effex is a small business where she makes and sells curated wellness boxes and small-batch hand poured natural candles infused with essential oils and herbs and other botanicals that fuse together to create an aroma and vibe that helps shift your mood to a better mental space to empower self-care. Evelyn states, “Oftentimes; as an HR professional, I see many employees burnout or stay in toxic environments while losing themselves because they fail to put themselves first. It’s 100% OK to be a dedicated and invested employee; but it’s also 100% OK to put yourself first by knowing your limits and caring for yourself. Self-care is needed so you can ultimately put your best foot forward and limit burnout.”

Evelyn believes her biggest leadership lesson that’s unique to being a woman leader is; to know what you know confidently and unapologetically. She states, “I think too often women leaders tend to second guess their knowledge or expertise. Do not. Ever.”

The steadfast leader's most significant achievement to date is launching her own businesses. “Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart, and the biggest hurdle most times is getting over your own self-doubts and just trusting in your own process and path” she explains. “Right now, I am revamping After Effex offerings and still working towards building out the mobile app for HR Jawn. I want my HR and Business resources and support for clients and community members to be accessible and at their fingertips. The build out phase is challenging, but definitely worth it in the end” Soon after the launch of the app, Evelyn would like to start focusing more on the space of advocacy, particularly in the space for pay equality and equity. Evelyn feels this focus area ties together all corners of her business ventures and who she is as a person. Connecting her passion and belief for equality and equity for women and minorities to her company’s mission and goals, to uplift and empower the underserved. WL