Janice Bryant Howroyd, Founder and CEO of ACT-1 Group, has built the largest employment agency in the United States owned by a minority, making her the first African-American woman to own a billion dollar business.
Her journey to success began in 1976 when she went on a vacation to visit her sister in California, and decided to stay for good. After searching for employment for two years, Howroyd decided to start an employment agency of her own with a business loan of $900, and in 1978 the ACT-1 Group was born.
“Sometimes when you don’t have anything, you can be bolder than someone who has something and is afraid to lose it.“
For almost 40 years now, Mrs. Howroyd has been helping citizens with employment opportunities, and providing hope to individuals who are looking for a second chance.
My mother used to always tell us, ‘In order to be outstanding, sometimes you’re just gonna have to stand out,’ so I grew from that root of really working forward, not being held back.”
Today she also sits on seven boards, including the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard and her alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University.
Watch her interview with Today below and learn about her core values, and journey to running a billion dollar business.
