Janice Bryant Howroyd

In 1978, Janice Bryant Howroyd started ActOne Group with just a small office, a phone, and a fax machine.

She had no connections, no investors… just a vision for a better way to match companies with talent.

Today, ActOne operates in 33 countries, serving 17,000 clients and providing workforce solutions to Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized businesses, and government agencies.

She became the first Black woman in the U.S. to own and lead a billion-dollar company.

Her leadership extends beyond business: she’s advised the White House, served on Harvard’s Women’s Leadership Board, and championed diversity in STEM and workforce development.

Her mantra is "never compromise who you are personally to become who you wish to be professionally."