Skip to main content
Contact Sales Support Careers
United States (English)
Americas
  • United States (English)
  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • Mexico (Español)
Europe, Middle East & Africa
  • United Kingdom (English)
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland (Deutsch)
  • Nederland (Nederlands)
  • Other EMEA Locations
Asia/Pacific
  • India (English)
  • Australia (English)
UKG logo UKG logo
Search
Get started Get started
    • Solutions
      Solutions by Need
      People icon
      Human Resources
      Payroll icon
      Payroll
      Talent icon
      Talent
      People connected icon
      HR Service Delivery
      Clock with Person
      Time & Attendance
      Calendar day icon
      Scheduling
      Document check shield icon
      Compliance
      Chart bar statistics icon
      Reporting and Analytics
      Product Suites
      UKG Pro

      A culture-driven HCM suite designed to support your enterprise organization's needs.

      UKG Dimensions

      Workforce Management solution helping you redefine the work experience for your people.

      UKG Ready

      HR solution to help small and mid-size organizations focus on growth and making a difference for your people, every time.

      View all products
      Find the product that best fits your needs.
      Get started Get started
      get started
    • Customer Experience
      The UKG Promise

      With over 70 years of expertise with BOTH people systems and systems of work, no one knows people and how they work better than UKG.

      Our Promise
      Customer Experience

      We think you’re pretty special when you’re a UKG Customer. That’s why we build products designed to inspire your people — and your organization — to grow and thrive.

      Partner for Life
      Implementation
      Support Experience
      UKG Community
      Working Smarter Café
      Customer Stories
      Belle Tire

      UKG Pro streamlines and automates administrative and HR tasks, so that field teams and managers can spend more time with customers, and coach, train, and listen to their people.

      Eventide Senior Living Communities

      Eventide Senior Living Communities uses UKG to drive employee engagement and streamline workforce management and HCM, including cutting PBJ reporting time by 99%.

      See all customer stories
      Collaborate, learn, and get support for your UKG solution!
      Visit UKG Community Visit UKG Community
    • Resources
      • Research & Insights
        Research & Insights
        • By Business Need
        • By Type
        See all
        Growth icon
        Human Capital Management
        People icon
        Human Resources
        People connected icon
        HR Service Delivery
        Payroll icon
        Payroll
        Talent icon
        Talent
        Chart tree people icon
        Workforce Management
        Clock with Person
        Time & Attendance
        Calendar day icon
        Scheduling
        Document check shield icon
        Compliance
        Chart bar statistics icon
        Reporting and Analytics
        Lightbulb icon
        Product Info
        Video player icon
        Product Tour
        Article featured icon
        Analyst Report
        Document icon
        White Paper
        Book icon
        eBook
        Organization icon
        Industry Brief
        Chart bar icon
        Infographic
        News people icon
        Article
        Video player icon
        Webinar Replay
        Interactive
      Research & Insights
      • By Business Need
      • By Type
      See all
      Growth icon
      Human Capital Management
      People icon
      Human Resources
      People connected icon
      HR Service Delivery
      Payroll icon
      Payroll
      Talent icon
      Talent
      Chart tree people icon
      Workforce Management
      Clock with Person
      Time & Attendance
      Calendar day icon
      Scheduling
      Document check shield icon
      Compliance
      Chart bar statistics icon
      Reporting and Analytics
      Lightbulb icon
      Product Info
      Video player icon
      Product Tour
      Article featured icon
      Analyst Report
      Document icon
      White Paper
      Book icon
      eBook
      Organization icon
      Industry Brief
      Chart bar icon
      Infographic
      News people icon
      Article
      Video player icon
      Webinar Replay
      Interactive
      Events
      Tradeshows
      Conferences
      Webinars
      See all events
      Blogs
      The People Purpose Blog

      Your source for the latest life-work trends and ideas from UKG experts and leaders. Stay informed and put people first in all you do.

      Workforce Institute

      Think tank that helps organizations drive performance by addressing HCM and workforce management issues.

      Workplace Resources
      Great Place To Work
      Pay Equity Resources
      Human Insights
      UKG Developer Hub
      UKG Pro Ranks Highest in 2022 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Cloud HCM Suites for the North American Midmarket Use Case
      Get The Report
      Get The Report
      Reference Image
      UKG Ranks Highest in 2022 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Cloud HCM Suites

      Read the Gartner® Critical Capabilities analysis for UKG Pro®.

    • About Us
      About UKG

      Learn more about UKG and how our HR solutions inspire workforces and businesses around the world to drive people-focused results.

      About Us
      Why UKG
      UKG Leadership
      Newsroom
      Awards & Recognition
      UKG Ambassadors
      Culture
      Our ESG Program
      Partners
      UKG Marketplace
      Analyst Reports
      Careers

      Look to your future. If you're interested in working for a company that truly invests in their people to create a culture of belonging and innovation, we want you on our team.

      Careers at UKG
      Early Career & Internships
      Benefits
      Life at UKG
      Featured Locations
      FAQs
      Experience awesome at work.
      Search jobs at UKG Search jobs at UKG
    Contact Sales Support Careers
    United States (English)
    Americas
    • United States (English)
    • Canada (English)
    • Canada (Français)
    • Mexico (Español)
    Europe, Middle East & Africa
    • United Kingdom (English)
    • France (Français)
    • Deutschland (Deutsch)
    • Nederland (Nederlands)
    • Other EMEA Locations
    Asia/Pacific
    • India (English)
    • Australia (English)
    Find the product that best fits your needs.
    Get started Get started
    get started
    Search Get started Get started
    News people icon
    Life at UKG

    Black History Month: Reflecting on the Experiences and Achievements of Black U Krewers

    February 7, 2023
    Celebrating Black History Month
    • Share
    See all blog stories See all blog stories
    Stay up to date with The People Purpose Blog
    Subscribe via email Subscribe via email
    Subscribe via RSS

    Written By

    Carmen Mason
    Carmen Mason
    Principal Talent Acquisition Brand Manager

    As Principal Talent Acquisition Brand Manager, Carmen Mason leads UKG’s talent brand efforts and partners across the organization to promote UKG as an employer of choice. Carmen has a passion for storytelling and finding creative ways to engage candidates.

    UKG Staff Editors
    UKG Editors
    UKG Editors

    UKG editors contribute stories about people, products, and events at UKG, as well as life-work trends and technologies that help UKG customers, employees, and partners put people first.

    White Paper
    Taking the Path of Diversity - Mobile
    Taking the Path of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging

    There are many benefits to encouraging diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging (DIEB) in your organization. Learn how these values can come alive at work in our Taking the Path of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging white paper.

    Download now Download now

    Topics

    Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Employee Resource Groups Employee Resource Groups UKG News and Culture UKG News and Culture Workplace Culture Workplace Culture

    At UKG, we are committed to building a culture of positive change and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. So, in celebration of February’s Black History Month, two members of our employee resource group BUILD (Black U Krewers in Leadership & Development) share their rich cultural journeys and important lessons they learned along the way.

    Knickeita B, Public Sector Principal
     

    Knickeita B., Public Sector Principal

    Origin story: Growing up in a majority Black country, I was blessed to be surrounded by a tapestry of Black excellence, where the contributions and achievements of Black individuals were celebrated and acknowledged every single day. I was privileged to see the representation of myself at every level of success and have the opportunity to find inspiration in those who looked like me, spoke like me, and reflected me. However, one individual who stood out as a shining light of inspiration was my elementary school principal, Mrs. Ellis. She was a formidable leader and a mentor who challenged me to be my best self and never to settle for anything less than my potential.

     

    Mentorship is everything: As a high-achieving epileptic child, I knew that my disability would never be an obstacle to my pursuit of excellence. Despite occasional setbacks, I learned that extra lessons and hard work would ensure that I remained at the top of my class. With Mrs. Ellis' guidance, I graduated as valedictorian and received recognition from the Prime Minister of Jamaica for my academic and all-around excellence. Her unwavering belief in me and her message of ambition and grit instilled the confidence that I could achieve greatness and that my potential was limitless.

     

    Migration journey: Migrating to the U.S. at ten years old gave me a new perspective on the realities of being Black. I came face-to-face with the subtle and insidious ways in which subjugation still exists in our society. I now understand oppression, not just the type that my inspirations like Nanny of the Maroons or Harriett Tubman fought to abolish, but the kind that many of us still struggle with daily. However, instead of being disheartened, this realization only served to fuel my passion for being an ally, mentor, and champion for all marginalized communities.

     

    Culture of change: I am honored to work for a company where our leadership is committed to building a culture of positive change and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our advanced software makes it easy for organizations to pay equitably and drive diversity, inclusion and belonging. Internally, we sponsor incredible ERGs like BUILD. Socially, we drive positive change by investing in pay equity for organizations like the National Women's Soccer League and supporting associations aimed at improving access and equality, like HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and NSBE (the National Society of Black Engineers), to name a few.

     

    Our purpose: When asked what I'm proudest of at work, I can say with unbridled enthusiasm that it is our purpose. At UKG, our purpose is people, and we live that purpose daily. I am empowered to use my voice to speak out for marginalized people and to serve as an ally for those who may not have the same privilege. I am incredibly proud to be a part of a company that is making a real-world impact. We are creating a future where every individual and organization can become great, and I am honored to be a part of that journey.

     

    Joan M., Principal Solution Consultant

     

    Joan M., Principal Solution Consultant

    Defining moments: In Kenya, where I grew up and went to school, the education system dictates a student’s path based on standardized test scores. I really struggled with school because of unavoidable outside factors. Right after high school, I decided not to pursue studies in a Kenyan University but attended a vocational college to study Hotel and Tourism Management. My mother was surprisingly supportive. Her unwavering support for my curious and adventurous mind exposed me to opportunities to work in the hotel and airline industries, to travel to some of the most amazing places in the world, and more importantly to believe in my ability and capability to excel in whatever I chose to do. This support eventually led me to immigrate to the U.S. where I pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees and started my career in human resources and payroll.

     

    Feeling seen: As a Black woman of African descent, I have experienced all sorts of workplace microaggressions that made me feel unseen, misunderstood, and unappreciated. But the hiring manager I met during my initial interview at UKG quickly changed my career trajectory. Elliot W., a white man, saw me, understood me, asked me about my family, my needs, and what he could do to support me so that I could succeed in my career. For the first time in my career, I felt valued first as a person and secondly as an employee. I have always had a leadership team that saw me and tried to understand my unique needs as a first-generation immigrant.

     

    Finding community: I stay at UKG because I like the people I work with, I like my manager, I enjoy working with my customers, and I feel empowered to be my authentic self at work. The ERGs at UKG have been the most impactful programs for me. BUILD has been empowering because it provides people like me a platform where our uniqueness is welcomed, our struggles are heard, and we can collectively come up with solutions that can be implemented.

     

    Looking back: For me, Black History Month is a reminder to honor the Africans who were taken from their home countries, suffered through unbearable and unimaginable trauma as slaves, and fought for their rights as humans. I take time to learn something new about the history of Black Americans during this month, and to pay homage to my ancestors who paved the way for me and generations to come.

     

    • Interested in joining the U Krew? Explore careers at UKG.

    • Learn about the 4 Best Practices for Employee Resource Groups in this information-packed white paper. 

    • Learn more about UKG’s employee resource groups (ERGs).

    • Find out how UKG is building an inclusive environment for all people.

    • The People Purpose Blog
    • Black History Month: Reflecting on the Experiences and Achievements of Black U Krewers

    Related Stories

    Steps to prepare for a job interview
    The People Purpose Blog

    How to Ace Your Job Interview in 5 Steps

    Learn five easy steps to prepare successfully for your next job interview. 

    UKG celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
    The People Purpose Blog

    Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with UNIDOS

    In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, three UKG employees share their stories.

    UKG Intern Appreciation Day
    The People Purpose Blog

    UKG Interns Reflect on Their UKG Intern Academy Experience

    In honor of National Intern Day, three UKG interns share their experience with the UKG Intern Academy. 

    UKG logo

    Footer menu

    • Human Capital Management
      • Human Resources
      • Payroll
      • Talent
      • Reporting and Analytics
    • Workforce Management
      • Time & Attendance
      • Scheduling
      • Compliance
    • Product Suites
      • UKG Pro
      • UKG Dimensions
      • UKG Ready
    • Customer Experience
      • Implementation
      • Support Experience
      • UKG Community
      • Customer Stories
    • About Us
      • Why UKG
      • Culture
      • Our ESG Program
      • Leadership
      • Newsroom
      • Careers
      • Privacy and Security

    Sub Footer

    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Accessibility
    • Cookie Choices
    • Cookie Notice
    • Terms of Use
    • Trademarks
    • CCPA Notice
    • Licenses
    • Privacy Notice
    © 2023 UKG Inc. All rights reserved.

    Kronos SaaShr, Inc., a UKG Company (NMLS ID#1698726) provides money transmission services on behalf of UKG Inc. customers and in connection with certain UKG products.