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What No One Tells You About Being a CEO: Lessons I Learned After 5 Years in the Role
What No One Tells You About Being a CEO: Lessons I Learned After 5 Years in the Role
Five years in, I’ve learned that the hardest parts of being a CEO aren’t strategic—they’re human. Five years into being…
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Michelle D. Sims shared thisIf you’re in talent leadership, we know the pressure: “Cut costs but keep talent quality high." It’s a paradox, because if your talent is executing, are you really cutting costs? In the contingent staffing world, simply filling a role isn’t enough. We need to be building resilient programs that balance talent quality with fiscal targets. This is why I’m looking forward to ProcureCon Contingent Staffing, April 14 - 16 in Las Vegas. I’m excited to be IRL with leaders who are mastering that balance, and who aren’t afraid of talking about what it really takes to build world-class programs. YUPRO Placement is a lead sponsor of ProcureCon CW this year, and we’re incredibly proud to support its mission. Contingent work is key to creating upward economic mobility, allowing talent to make an impact in an organization immediately. Are you attending? Let me know in the comments! #ProcureConContingentStaffing #ContingentWorkforce
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Michelle D. Sims shared thisIndecision is a decision. When making tough decisions, it’s natural human inclination to avoid difficulty - it’s ingrained into our fight or flight response. But by delaying that decision, you’re giving away your agency. You’re letting the situation, or worse, other people, decide for you. To reclaim your decision making power, consider these three ideas… 1. Gather the data (the 70% rule: if you have 70% of the info, move). 2. Trust your gut (your intuition is just "pattern recognition"). 3. Make the call and move on. Worst case: it wasn’t the right one, and you can course correct. But wouldn’t you rather fix in the moment (and learn a lesson along the way), than have to revisit said decision down the line? This also goes back to what I said earlier this month on leadership: Trusting in yourself and your decisions is a muscle you must intentionally build every day. We’re human. Your team doesn’t need you to be perfect. They need to know you are capable of finding a solution. Stop overthinking and start deciding. #LeadershipTips #DecisionMaking #Part3
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Michelle D. Sims shared thisToday is #EqualPayDay, marking how far into the year a woman must work to earn what men earned the previous year. The progress report is in, and for the second year in a row (❗), the pay gap has widened. The latest Census data shows that women working full-time earn $.81 for every $1 paid to men. Last year, it was $.83. We also know that a woman's career might ebb and flow as life progresses. When we look at all working women (including part-time and seasonal) the reality is really $.76 to the dollar. This data is discouraging, but it’s why we continue to do what we do at YUPRO Placement. Through skills-first hiring, we’re changing how organizations think about qualified talent. We know that hiring for skills and abilities creates opportunities, along with creating programs that build those skills first-hand, like apprenticeships and internships. While the Equal Pay Day trends might not be what we want to see, I’m encouraged by the work we do every day, alongside other mission-driven organizations pioneering the change we need. Let’s keep working. 💪 Sources linked in the comments.
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Michelle D. Sims shared thisYou have to choose your hard. Are you aware of the “Hard Now vs. Hard Later” principle? It’s the framework I use for almost every major decision. The logic makes sense. Addressing difficulty today prevents massive complexity tomorrow. And this applies to a lot in life… - A difficult conversation now avoids having 10 separate conversations later. - Setting clear expectations now avoids debating performance issues later. - Protecting your sleep, movement and rest now avoids leading from a place of burnout later. I use this methodology when making my decisions. My goal in making decisions is always momentum. It’s not to be right. It’s not to have ego. It’s purely to keep things moving. By making the hard call early, I create a pathway to a solution. I keep the wheels turning so my team feels supported before the "fog of uncertainty" can spread. Next week, I’ll be diving into Part 3 of this series. In the meantime, what is one "hard thing" you are doing today to avoid a "harder thing" next month? #LeadershipTips #DecisionMaking #Part2
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Michelle D. Sims shared this💪 What is your superpower? At this stage in my career, mine is clearly defined: decision making. I didn’t learn how to do this in the boardroom. I learned it as the eldest child of divorced parents, making decisions for myself and my younger brother early. I went to work at 15, and haven’t stopped since. My circumstances led me to have to make tough decisions early on, and I’ve been practicing and honing this muscle ever since. I’ve made great decisions. I’ve made bad ones. But here’s what I’ve learned: - Experience isn’t just time spent; it’s the sum of your decisions. - Every choice (whether it’s right or wrong) is a data point for the next one. This week and next, I’ll be talking about decision making, and sharing my lessons on how making tough decisions has made me a better CEO, mother, spouse, and human. I want to know: what’s your superpower? Bonus points if you let me know how you discovered it! #ExecutiveLeadership #DecisionMaking #Part1
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Michelle D. Sims shared thisHow many recruiting filters are you using? 😰 To fix our broken talent pipelines, many companies are adding even more filters to their recruiting, making the problem worse. And at a time when hundreds apply to one job opening, and half may be a bot and not a human, organizations end up hiring for filters, not skills. I had the privilege of working with SHRM’s reporter Martha Ekdahl on her recent article that tackled the challenges of “occupational mismatch,” a dynamic which currently impacts more than a third of all open roles. With simple shifts - like writing job descriptions that focus on specific skills, eliminating some ATS filters, and refining your interview process to use consistent rubrics and scoring - you can set your team up to prioritize abilities over credentials and support organizational stability and growth. 📈 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gZnD5Bpz #SkillsBasedHiring #FutureOfWork #HRLeadershipSkills-First Hiring and the Future of the Talent PipelineSkills-First Hiring and the Future of the Talent Pipeline
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Michelle D. Sims shared thisFriday is the first day of Spring. It’s not just a change in the weather. For me, it’s a chance to refocus on what’s next. For those in Houston, I know Spring doesn’t mean much, but we do have bluebonnets! (IYKYK) We’ve spent Q1 navigating year-end data, predicting what’s next, setting budgets and executing strategies. As a new season begins, I’m starting to think about the possibilities of the rest of the year. I’m pausing. I’m realigning. And I’m reflecting on a few things: Pruning for growth: What legacy processes are we holding on to that might be stifling our teams’ mobility? New clarity: As Q1 shifts to the rearview mirror, where is the talent market moving? How are skills-first opportunities evolving as the year moves and AI continues to shift? Are you doing any Spring reflections this week? Or maybe you call it Spring cleaning? I’d love to hear more in the comments. #SpringEquinox
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Michelle D. Sims shared thisIs your Q1 finishing with "precision" or just "pressure"? As we wrap up the first quarter of 2026, the staffing landscape has shifted. We’re moving past the "AI hype" and into the reality of precision hiring, where the gap between "available talent" and "verifiable skills" feels…pretty wide. On March 31, we’re breaking it all down… I’ll be joining the American Staffing Association’s State of the Industry Webinar Series for our Q1 update. Alongside Eric Gregg, Stephen Dwyer, Toby Malara, and Noah Yosif, we’ll be diving deep into the latest industry trends, top research, and legislative updates you’ll want to know. If you’re feeling the Q1 squeeze, these sessions are designed to give you the clarity and data needed to lead with confidence in Q2. I hope you’ll join us! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gN3_MUp6 #StaffingIndustry #SkillsBasedHiring #FutureOfWork
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Michelle D. Sims shared thisIn a world where upskilling is more accessible than ever, the data is catching up to the reality: According to new research from Express Employment International and The Harris Poll, 74% of job seekers and 71% of hiring managers now view skills acquired through informal online platforms as credible. At YUPRO Placement, we champion skills-based hiring, knowing that it closes talent gaps and creates a more equitable workforce. Identifying those skills is built into our process, with standardized skills-first interview questions and evaluation criteria to assess proficiency within those skills. Whether self-taught or formally trained, a skill gained is a skill validated. I’m energized by seeing this research. Read the article via Staffing Industry Analysts: https://lnkd.in/gH8NF5dr #SkillsBasedHiringSelf-taught skills land credibility with job seekers and employersSelf-taught skills land credibility with job seekers and employers
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Michelle D. Sims liked thisMichelle D. Sims liked thisAs March wraps up, I’ve been reflecting on my second season at #SXSW Apart from the evolving event footprint and logistical shifts, here’s what changed for me going into year 2. Last year, I showed up eager to learn, absorb, and find my footing. This year felt different. But in the best way! I walked into the 2026 season with confidence and a stronger sense of direction (literally and figuratively). The hard work, meaningful connections, and a deeper level of intentionality came together in how we navigated our new creative villages, which each team poured so much thought and effort into building. Over the past year, I’ve grown into a greater sense of ownership in my role. I’ve spent time refining my skills, expanding my perspective, and finding stronger ways to support our Partnerships and Experience teams. As I look toward 2027 and beyond, I’m excited to see what each year brings. Working in events and digital media means constantly adapting to change, but that’s part of what makes it so exciting. After all, there’s no business like show business! Special shoutout to my manager, Peyton D. who led our mini RevOps team! Thanks for the support this season, Mayra Toscano & Lanesia O. #SXSW #ProfessionalGrowth #Networking #CareerJourney
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Michelle D. Sims liked thisMichelle D. Sims liked thisWe need to talk about degree requirements. In 2026, it feels more obvious than ever that requiring a bachelor’s degree for roles that clearly don’t need one is outdated and frankly, a barrier that keeps talented, capable people out of the workforce. I’ve spent years in talent acquisition. I’ve hired entry-level staff, seasoned specialists, clinicians, leaders, and everything in between. Here’s what I see over and over again: Experience, performance, and real-world skill almost always predict success better than a diploma. Some of the best problem solvers, leaders, and top performers never followed a traditional academic path. Many “degree required” roles neither rely on coursework nor benefit from it. We can value education and acknowledge that it’s not the only path to competence. When a role doesn’t truly require a degree or certification, we limit our talent pool, and often overlook people who learned through doing, not through sitting in a classroom. Skills-based hiring isn’t just “progressive.” It’s practical, inclusive, and good for business. Organizations that have embraced it are accessing larger talent pools, improving retention, and leveling the playing field for people with non-traditional education paths. Degrees are valuable. But they shouldn’t be a proxy for talent when they’re not relevant.
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Michelle D. Sims reacted on thisMichelle D. Sims reacted on thisMost leadership teams I talked to at Staffing Industry Analysts #execforum weren't confused about what to do. They’re delaying what they already know needs to happen. What stood out across every session I attended was describing the same problem from a different angle. 👉 The AI conversations were really about data quality and broken workflows. 👉 The growth conversations were about teams not evolving as the business scales. 👉 The culture conversations came back to accountability and what gets tolerated. 👉 The strategy conversations were about lack of clarity and trying to do too much at once. Different topics but the same underlying issue. Leaders are still too deep in execution, decisions get pushed because the timing feels off, data isn’t clean enough to actually run the business, and roles and ownership aren’t clearly defined. Then AI gets introduced into the mix and it doesn’t solve those problems. It just removes the ability to ignore them. On the closing panel, YUPRO Placement CEO, Michelle D. Sims, stated it plainly: Growth doesn’t usually stall because the strategy is wrong. It stalls when leadership doesn’t adjust fast enough for what the business now requires. You could see exactly what that looks like with teams operating like a smaller company while trying to grow into a larger one. Leaders expecting different results without changing how decisions get made. Organizations adding tools instead of tightening how work actually flows. That’s where things break. The companies gaining ground right now aren’t doing more but instead, they’re getting sharper. Fewer priorities, clear ownership, clean data, and systems people actually use. Not because they have fewer problems, but because they’re dealing with them earlier. Most leadership teams already know where the friction is. The difference is whether they act on it now or wait until the business forces it. And separate from all of that, the best parts of the week was getting to learn and spend time with people I genuinely enjoy working alongside. A few of those moments captured here, and a reminder that this industry is a lot smaller and more connected than it looks from the outside!
Experience & Education
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YUPRO Placement
View Michelle’s full experience
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Volunteer Experience
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Board of Directors, Board Member
YUPRO Placement
- Present 7 years 8 months
Economic Empowerment
Serve as CEO and a member of the Board of Directors supporting YUPRO in the social mission to close the Opportunity Divide through skills-based job placement of Opportunity Talent in jobs providing socioeconomic mobility and career progression, driving workforce impact at entry-level careers and beyond. Serve as board member from 9/2018 until accepting the position of CEO in 3/2020, and continue to serve on the board.
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Women's Leadership Board Member
Women and Public Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School
- Present 4 years 8 months
Civil Rights and Social Action
As a member of the Women’s Leadership Board (WLB) I serve to support the Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP), a research center of Harvard Kennedy School that specializes in gender research, teaching, training, and outreach. WAPPP and the WLB ask what we can do to create gender equality and improve lives around the world. Our work at YUPRO directly reflects supporting a workforce of tomorrow where we overcome the barriers to an equitable and inclusive workforce and our diverse backgrounds…
As a member of the Women’s Leadership Board (WLB) I serve to support the Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP), a research center of Harvard Kennedy School that specializes in gender research, teaching, training, and outreach. WAPPP and the WLB ask what we can do to create gender equality and improve lives around the world. Our work at YUPRO directly reflects supporting a workforce of tomorrow where we overcome the barriers to an equitable and inclusive workforce and our diverse backgrounds and perspectives are celebrated every day.
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Council Member
Forbes Business Council
- Present 3 years 4 months
Economic Empowerment
The Forbes Business Council is an invitation-only, professional organization where top CEOs and entrepreneurs build professional skills and gain connections to positivity impact their companies, industries, and the workforce. As a council member, I have access to relevant data and top leaders of dynamic organizations offering diverse perspectives in advancing communities, people and businesses.
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Network Champion
Women Business Collaborative
- Present 1 year 5 months
Civil Rights and Social Action
Women Business Collaborative (WBC) is an unprecedented alliance of 80+ partner organizations and hundreds of business leaders building a movement to achieve equal position, pay, and power for all women in business. As a WBC Champion, I support the various initiatives and bring awareness to these social issues that impact our business and our lives related to women in leadership, or lack thereof.
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Strategic Advisor
Grateful Giving
- Present 2 years 4 months
Social Services
Grateful Giving is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a vision that every time the world spends, we can all give. If every transaction in the world included 1/2% for good, we could solve global hunger in 1 day. As a strategic advisor, and a client, and user of this innovative giving for good technology platform, I look forward to sharing with other mission-driven organizations how they can incorporate Grateful Giving into their business strategy.
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Member and Volunteer
American Staffing Association
- Present 5 years 4 months
Education
The American Staffing Association brings the staffing ecosystem together and I am proud to serve on the Women in Leadership Council, bringing women in staffing together for professional development, networking, and support to drive diversity, equity, inclusion and most importantly, belonging among women of all stages in their staffing career.
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Member
YPO
- 1 year
Education
YPO is an American-based, non-profit worldwide leadership community of chief executives with approximately 29,000 members in more than 130 countries offering networking, peer-to-peer learning and idea exchange among peer presidents, chairpersons, and CEO's.
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Wildflowers Chapter, Northwest Houston, Member
National Charity League, Inc.
- 6 years 11 months
Social Services
National Charity League is a mother-daugher, non-profit, national organization serving the local community. We volunteer in nursing homes, at the library, the local food pantry, and many other amazing causes to ensure that our community has the support to sustain itself.
Honors & Awards
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SIA's Global Power Women 150 - Americas List 2022 & 2021
SIA
SIA complies a list of women in the staffing industry that is not a ranking but a shout-out to those whose unique vision and contributions take the industry forward, in niche as well as global markets. The final selection is based on the influence and achievements of those nominated.
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American Staffing Association Elevate Award 2022 & 2021 for industry's best Work-Based Learning Program
American Staffing Association
A 2-year consecutive winner for this recognition by ASA, YUPRO offers employer partners a 26-week paid apprenticeship which provides professional development, including soft and hard skills training, as well as community-building and access to free and reduced cost social assistance programs. Apprentices earn an hourly wage of $19 or higher, receive one-on-one support from a career coach, and participate in a weekly professional development series on career advancement topics such as “Building…
A 2-year consecutive winner for this recognition by ASA, YUPRO offers employer partners a 26-week paid apprenticeship which provides professional development, including soft and hard skills training, as well as community-building and access to free and reduced cost social assistance programs. Apprentices earn an hourly wage of $19 or higher, receive one-on-one support from a career coach, and participate in a weekly professional development series on career advancement topics such as “Building a Relationship with Your Manager.”
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SIA 2022 & 2021 DE&I Influencers List
Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA)
SIA publishes their list of DE&I Influencers annually, recognizing individuals from across the workforce solutions ecosystem who standout in their actions and commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in their organizations and communities.
The list, which will appear annually, honors professionals, executives and leaders from the US and Canada whose hard work is moving the workforce solutions ecosystem in the right direction and creating needed change. With a growing…SIA publishes their list of DE&I Influencers annually, recognizing individuals from across the workforce solutions ecosystem who standout in their actions and commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in their organizations and communities.
The list, which will appear annually, honors professionals, executives and leaders from the US and Canada whose hard work is moving the workforce solutions ecosystem in the right direction and creating needed change. With a growing crescendo around the need for workplaces to be more equitable and inclusive, conversations around diversity, belonging, fair treatment of workers, equal pay, hiring bias, discrimination, racism and more must be given top priority, especially by individuals and organizations on the frontiers of talent. The DE&I Influencers are having those conversations, and in highlighting their impact on the ecosystem, SIA hopes to provide insights and connection to help drive positive change and drive people to engage in these conversations.
http://dei.staffingindustry.com/honoree/michelle-d-sims/ -
Best of Staffing Client Satisfaction Award 2023, 2022 & 2021
ClearlyRated
ClearlyRated is the nation’s only staffing industry service excellence award that identifies which firms are delivering the highest quality of service through third-party validated responses from clients and job seekers. YUPRO is proud to earn this from their clients year after year.
https://www.clearlyrated.com/staffing/ga-usa/dawsonville-ga/yupro-dawsonville-ga -
Troublemaker for Good
TroubleMakers for Good Nonprofit Organization
TroubleMakers believe there is a world where we all come together and cause trouble for good, where difficult conversations happen in order to make the world a more equitable, inclusive place. https://troublemakers.org/troublemakers/michelle-sims/
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American Staffing Association Elevate Award 2020 for Best Work-based Learning Program
American Staffing Association
Industry-leading staffing award for best work-based learning program for YUPRO's assignment-based coaching program, which improves retention, increases productivity and job satisfaction and ultimately increases conversion to placement for traditionally underrepresented talent.
https://americanstaffing.net/posts/2020/10/01/asa-honors-best-work-based-learning-programs/ -
Master Trainer Certification Train the Trainer for Targeted Selection
DDI Developmental Dimensions International, Inc.
Targeted Selection® offers the skills to master the world's most widely used interviewing program.
Organizations
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Women's Leadershp Board advancing the Women and Public Policy Program of Harvard Kennedy School
Leadership Circle Member
- PresentThe Women's Leadership Board supports the Women and Public Policy Program of Harvard Kennedy School to advance women and gender equity in economic opportunity, political participation, and education by creating knowledge, training leaders, and informing public policy and organizational practices. No other organization in the world builds on behavioral insights to create evidence-based organizational designs that can promote women's empowerment, overcome gender bias, and provide equal…
The Women's Leadership Board supports the Women and Public Policy Program of Harvard Kennedy School to advance women and gender equity in economic opportunity, political participation, and education by creating knowledge, training leaders, and informing public policy and organizational practices. No other organization in the world builds on behavioral insights to create evidence-based organizational designs that can promote women's empowerment, overcome gender bias, and provide equal opportunities for women and men, like the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School. And no other entity provides assistance to organizations with the goal of consulting, learning and teaching at the same time, benefiting from the talent pool of Harvard faculty, students and fellows.
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CEO Action for Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Signatory and Pledge Member
- PresentAll the CEO signatories serve as leaders of their companies and have committed to implementing the CEO Pledge. The persistent inequities across our country underscore our urgent, national need to address and alleviate racial, ethnic and other tensions and to promote diversity within our communities. We collectively manage thousands of employees and play a critical role in ensuring that inclusion is core to our workplace culture and that our businesses are representative of the communities we…
All the CEO signatories serve as leaders of their companies and have committed to implementing the CEO Pledge. The persistent inequities across our country underscore our urgent, national need to address and alleviate racial, ethnic and other tensions and to promote diversity within our communities. We collectively manage thousands of employees and play a critical role in ensuring that inclusion is core to our workplace culture and that our businesses are representative of the communities we serve. Moreover, we know that diversity is good for the economy; it improves corporate performance, drives growth and enhances employee engagement. Let’s come together to make good on the inherent promise that all of our people should be able to bring their best selves to work and unleash their full potential. By working together toward diversity and inclusion within our workplaces, industries, and broader business community, we can cultivate meaningful change for our society.
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American Staffing Association - The Women in Leadership Council
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- PresentProud member of women's council within the America Staffing Association as the leading industry program which strives to advance women in the staffing industry.
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