Earlier this year, Genesis10 became certified as a Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE). We shared that CEO Harley Lippman, the sole owner of Genesis10, is neurodiverse. Although this may be new to some readers, Harley has always been open about his neurotype. His story is a clear example of neurodiversity in leadership.
In a 2013 interview with Forbes, he said: 'For me, it strengthens other traits that I have, like intuition, and being able to read people. It also forces me to ask people to give me the bottom line first.'
Harley's intuition and skill at reading people, along with other traits common among neurodiverse people, have helped him grow Genesis10. He founded the company in 1999. Today, SIA ranks it as one of the largest IT staffing firms in the U.S.
Harley's way of leading Genesis10 encourages openness, curiosity, deep listening, and focus. It now shapes our culture and helps us stand out from rivals.
What does diversity certification mean for staffing buyers?
Why does this matter for staffing buyers? Working with a disability-owned business enterprise like Genesis10 helps raise awareness of disability issues and neurodiversity. It can also help with supplier diversity goals.
Just as important is Harley's creative way of solving hard problems. It can help a company be more innovative and competitive. When you start with the end goal in mind and do not follow a straight path, your answer can be more creative. You also do not start with limits in mind.
In 2009, many companies tried to cut costs during the recession. They moved operations and IT work to lower-cost places like Costa Rica, Latin America, India, and the Philippines. Few considered moving work to lower-cost U.S. markets. But many of those markets, away from big cities, had strong talent. They had professionals who had worked in industries hit by layoffs and were looking for good jobs.
For a client with complex global projects, we needed to scale up fast and hire many contract workers. We created a creative solution. It let the client tap a very large pool of skilled talent in smaller U.S. markets. Genesis10 built our first U.S. domestic delivery center in Kansas City. Soon after, we opened more centers in Detroit, Cleveland, Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, and Charlotte. More than a decade later, the model is now a key part of our clients' workforce strategy and resourcing process.
For the consultants in our centers, the model gave them new clients and hard projects. It also helped them grow their careers in a tough global business market.
We have a similar story with our Dev10 talent creation program. Dev10 helps clients fill the software developer gap. It also helps recent college grads and career changers who love coding start new tech careers. The program pays for training and gives students a salary during training. As our associates say, Dev10 changes lives.
How is Genesis10 different from other staffing companies?
We've stood out because we embrace the force behind our culture. That shows up in strong results for our clients. Don't just take our word for it.
In 2023 alone, the industry has recognized Genesis10 with:
A Best of Staffing Client award for great client service. Fewer than 2% of staffing firms in the U.S. and Canada win it.
A spot for Harley on the Staffing Industry Analysts 2023 Staffing 100 North America list, which names the most influential people in staffing.
A Best Place to Work in the New York Metro Area Award, based on employee ratings and reported by Business Insider. It is the third year in a row that Genesis10, based in New York, has won it.
When you bring Genesis10 a challenge, we work to meet your needs and go beyond them. Working with a nontraditional leader like Harley helps us focus on what matters most: innovative, low-cost solutions that deliver steady results.
Q&A
Question: What does Genesis10's DOBE certification mean for clients?
Answer: Genesis10's certification as a Disability-Owned Business Enterprise helps clients raise awareness of disability issues and neurodiversity while also supporting corporate supplier diversity goals. The article also says the value goes beyond certification: Genesis10 links neurodiversity in leadership to creative problem-solving, innovation, and strong workforce solutions.
Question: How has Harley Lippman's neurodiversity influenced Genesis10's culture?
Answer: The article describes Harley's leadership style as one that encourages openness, curiosity, deep listening, and focus. His habit of getting to the bottom line first and his nontraditional way of solving problems have helped shape Genesis10's culture and set the company apart from competitors.
Question: What is an example of Genesis10 applying creative problem-solving for clients?
Answer: During the 2009 recession, many companies moved operations and IT work offshore to cut costs. Genesis10 took a different path by building domestic delivery centers in U.S. secondary and tertiary markets with strong talent pools. The first center was in Kansas City, followed by Detroit, Cleveland, Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, and Charlotte.
Question: How does Dev10 support both clients and aspiring technologists?
Answer: Dev10 helps clients fill the software developer gap while helping recent college graduates and career changers start tech careers. It removes financial barriers by paying for training and giving students a salary during training.
Question: What recognition has Genesis10 received for its work and culture?
Answer: In 2023, Genesis10 received a Best of Staffing Client award for service excellence, Harley Lippman was named to Staffing Industry Analysts' Staffing 100 North America list, and Genesis10 won a Best Place to Work in the New York Metro Area Award for the third year in a row.
