By Grace Flannery
Our NIU College of Business Executive Master in Business Administration (EMBA) program ended its semester with words of wisdom from a special guest, NIU alumna Jocelyn Moore, ’99, MBA ’09. Students listened as she shared insight at our Executive in Residence program Friday, April 12, 2024, at our Naperville campus.
“In today’s business environment, embracing diversity and fostering a growth mindset are no longer just buzzwords — they are essential components of building a successful and sustainable organization,” said Moore.
Moore is a distinguished human resource executive with a wealth of global experience. Her journey in HR began as an HR coordinator, gradually advancing to more complex roles, showcasing her expertise and dedication to the profession. Moore currently holds the position of general manager of global diversity and inclusion (D&I) at Microsoft, spearheading the company’s strategic initiatives in D&I for the gaming division and overseeing the overall practice leadership in this area.
With an impressive career spanning over 20 years in the field of HR, Moore has made significant contributions to renowned organizations such as Aon Hewitt, Medline Industries, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and DXC Technology where she led the recruitment efforts for 30,000 new employees annually across the company’s global footprint. Moore’s career responsibilities have encompassed a wide range of strategic initiatives including relationship management, workforce planning, talent acquisition and governance.
Moore’s academic achievements are equally impressive. As a “Double Huskie,” Moore not only earned her MBA, but also holds her Bachelor of Science in HR management. Moore was recognized as the Distinguished Alumni of the Department of Management in 2018 and as the Distinguished Alumni of the NIU College of Business in 2021.
Moore notes that when individuals from diverse backgrounds come together, they inevitably bring a variety of perspectives, ideas and approaches to the table.
“By embracing these different perspectives and fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are heard, organizations can tap into a wealth of creativity and innovation that can drive business growth and success,” Moore said.
Moore shared an example of how diversity was a powerful catalyst for innovation and
problem-solving that led to the development of some of Microsoft’s most successful products. By creating a team with different perspectives, new ideas can emerge.
But “diversity alone is not enough,” said Moore, who went on to share another ingredient to her recipe for business success. “To truly harness the power of diversity, organizations must also cultivate a growth mindset among their employees,” she said.
In illustrating what a growth mindset can look like in everyday life, Moore used an example of her adorable 8-year-old niece who has a passion for cooking. Moore shared that her niece’s willingness to take risks, learn from failure, and continuously improve herself and her cooking projects are exactly what a growth mindset is made of.
“The only way that you will make [an] impact is when you are not afraid to get it wrong. I get it wrong all the time. Just try again. Be more like my niece,” she said while displaying another photo of her young niece happily rolling up her sleeves for another cooking project.
With a growth mindset, individuals are more willing to take risks, learn from failure and continuously improve themselves and their work. In a diverse and inclusive environment, employees feel empowered to step out of their comfort zones, try new things and push the boundaries of what is possible.
“When failure is seen as an opportunity for growth and learning, employees are more willing to take calculated risks and innovate in ways that can lead to breakthrough ideas and solutions,” Moore said.
To learn more about our Executive in Residence program, go to go.niu.edu/NIUExecInResidence.
