A glimpse of Leapgen
Leapgen is a global digital transformation company shaping the ‘Now of Work’. Since its inception, it became a highly respected visionary partner to various organizations looking to design and deliver a digital workforce experience that will produce valuable outcomes. Leapgen joined forces with Mercer on March 1, 2023, to provide digital HR strategy globally, and Jess’s work continues to extend valuable support to the industry’s HR technology vendors.
Leapgen’s foundation was laid on the values of Love, Energy, Audacity, and Proof with a bold mission to shape the ‘future of work’. Jess says, “We lead digital transformation in an industry poised for the most significant change it will see in our time.” Business and transformation leaders who bring Love, Energy, Audacity and Proof (the LEAP in Leapgen) to their work and lives to make a radical difference in the world. Mercer | Leapgen consults enterprise organizations on their HR transformation journeys, “but we don’t take a cookie-cutter approach,” adds Jess. She has contributed by meeting organizations where her venture was with bespoke solutions that recognize change as part of the strategy, not the enemy. It takes a human-centered approach to reimagine solutions for the workforce, applying whole-person design thinking when she and her team coach enterprise transformation leaders as well as vendors who design technology solutions to make work better. “Work wasn’t designed for people; it was designed for profit. We believe people can win, too,” Jess proudly says.
Moreover, Mercer | Leapgen founded Leap4All, its social giving program, to ensure its impact is far-reaching. This includes group and individual volunteer efforts and their charitable activities for several organizations that support mental health and community outreach. Besides Jess’s role at Leapgen, she is also the volunteer president of Diverse Daisies, a non-profit organization that provides enrichment and empowerment activities and opportunities to girls ages 11 to 15. This is a big part of her personal mission to change the world by changing the conversation around women, girls, and their place in the world.
Paving path in a new direction
Jess, in a way, is changing the world as we know it—not only the world of work but also for girls and everyone else. “I do this by being a visible leader for change, by challenging conversations and conventions that don’t serve us any longer, and by encouraging and uplifting as many voices of support as I can,” she adds. She requests championship often and asks for participation and followership to pave paths in new directions. “That’s the constant goal, and the means to that end change as often they need to,” Jess continues.
Further, she states that when leadership breaks down or leaves something to be desired, it’s usually a lack of communication. Transparent, respectful, and bi-directional communication is so humane. It’s the first and best way to see a person: “I see you; I acknowledge you; and I care,” she quotes. A culture of connection relies on trust, and that’s exactly what communication builds when it’s reliable, consistent, accurate, and personal. “Good communication is the single most important ingredient to a well-aligned, highly engaged, inspired, and loyal workforce,” she mentions.
Moreover, Jess believes mentorship is powerful. She asserts that when one is influencing change and driving innovation, they have to be able to imagine and put faith in a future that does not yet exist. Thus, being surrounded by tried leaders, sources of inspiration, and mentors helps to gain better coaching and insight. They can assist in mitigating risks, thinking more broadly, and envisioning new opportunities. She developed her own Personal Board of Directors, a trusted circle she harnessed as a sounding board every time she considered a career move, a personal opportunity, or asked for feedback or advice. To those who aspire to develop their careers in any vast industry, she advises seeking people who can question them and will challenge them for the better.
To conclude, Jess’s greatest accomplishment is found in daily moments, and that’s in the form of raising girls. “Everything I do is for them,” she asserts. She is reshaping the world, including the world of work, every day—for them. She leads a non-profit to change the future for girls. “I know how my work matters and why that makes a difference, and that fuels me to keep going. To make the world better than how I found it.”