The Recruiter Who Started a Restaurant and a Global Tech Platform to Provide Workers with Dignity

Episode Description: Holly Diamond arrived in New York with $400 and a dream, faced the heartbreak of job searching during the 2009 recession, and eventually opened a restaurant during the pandemic to employ her parents. Now she's the CEO of Work Onward, a map-based hiring platform connecting small businesses with local workers, especially in immigrant-owned businesses and blue-collar industries.What You'll Learn:How to turn personal struggles into scalable solutionsThe power of taking action before you feel readyCreating dignity in employment for overlooked populationsBuilding technology that serves vulnerable communitiesBalancing profit with social impact in businessKey Timestamps:[00:00] Introduction and Holly's nomination[01:30] What is Work Onward and how it works[04:30] The restaurant origin story during COVID[10:45] Holly's "Just Do It" philosophy[12:30] The concept of dignity in employment[18:30] Self-care and taking care of your wellbeing[24:15] Who Holly nominates for the showKey Takeaways:Sometimes the craziest-sounding decisions are exactly what the moment requiresYour personal struggles can become your professional superpowersTechnology should make opportunities visible, not create more barriersDignity in work starts with how we see and treat each otherCommunity and collaboration are essential for creating lasting changeResource Links:Work Onward: [Platform information]Holly's Restaurant: [Location details]Connect with Holly: [Professional contact information]Guest Bio: Holly Diamond is the CEO of Work Onward, a map-based hiring platform that connects small businesses with local hourly workers. Originally from South Korea, she moved to New York in 2009 and has spent over 10 years as a recruiter specializing in blue-collar industries. In 2020, she opened a restaurant to employ her parents during the pandemic, which became the inspiration for Work Onward's mission to create more inclusive hiring practices.Host Bio: Aransas Savas is a researcher, coach, and host of The Uplifters Podcast. Connect with her:Instagram: @aransas_savasPodcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcastTikTok: @theuplifterspodcastWebsite: www.theuplifterspodcast.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theuplifterspodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aransassavas/Keywords: career transition, immigrant entrepreneurs, job search platform, social impact business, small business hiring, dignity in work, pandemic pivots, family entrepreneurship, tech for good, inclusive hiring Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe