Cynthia's Journey to Drive a More Inclusive Recruitment Process

Say hello to Cynthia, a senior talent operations specialist based in Austin, Texas, who is passionate about making a difference through her work.

In this monthly blog series, we shine a light on Procorians across the globe who are living our values of ownership, openness and optimism as we work to improve the lives of everyone in construction. They are Groundbreakers in every sense of the word, and these are their stories.

What do you do at Procore?

I'm a senior talent operations specialist on the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIBs) team. I partner with the talent acquisition team to help our recruiters create a more welcoming and inclusive candidate experience for people from all backgrounds who want to explore a career with Procore.

What is your reaction to being called a Groundbreaker?

My initial reaction is, "no, I’m not," because I'm generally someone who never really thinks about the work I’ve done or my accomplishments. It may stem from my recruiting background and always telling myself, “you’re only as good as your last hire,” but if I think about the strides I've made in helping to mitigate bias during our hiring process, that is an amazing feat. Overall, I think the work our entire DIBs team is doing is really groundbreaking.

*Editor's note: Cynthia is a team player, and we cosign to the notion that DIBs work is truly a group effort. You can check out some of their work around diversity, inclusion, and belonging on our website.

Where are you from, and what Procore city do you work out of now?

I was born and raised in Oxnard, California, and began my Procore career in 2015 as a recruiter out of our headquarters in Carpinteria, California. I relocated to Austin, Texas, in 2017 and was actually Procore Austin’s very first recruiter before transitioning into my current role! The move from California to Texas was a bit of a culture shock, but I quickly fell in love with the city, the BBQ, and sunny days spent on Lake Travis. On the flip side, I’ve also seen the biggest bugs in my life here.

Cynthia soaking up some sun at the park with her son (Trey) and dog (Jaxx).

Can you describe your path to your current role?

This role is still very new to me. I originally started at Procore as a recruiter, but when we all witnessed the murder of George Floyd and the impact that had on society as a whole, I sat back and wondered how I could focus on inclusivity and help identify biases that some people from underrepresented groups face in the tech space overall. What has been the most surprising is not only the emotional toll this work has had on me but also the willingness of individuals from these groups, both in and out of Procore, to feel comfortable enough to share their experiences. At the end of the day, as difficult as this work is, it reminds me that we’re all human and have our own struggles and shortcomings. It's extremely humbling that I've been put in a position where I can be an ear for those who don’t think anyone is listening.

What is a fun fact about you that other folks might not know?

I played softball all my life, and now I'm a volunteer coach for a girl's softball team (ages 9-11). I love softball because it creates lifelong friendships, helps you perfect your craft, and challenges you to push your limits.

What is something you are excited about right now (both inside and outside of work)?

Outside of work: I'm going to Jamaica in May for the first time! Inside of work: I'm excited to continue partnering with the talent acquisition team to find new and better ways to attract, find, and hire individuals from underrepresented groups. This will be critical as we continue to grow because it’s been proven that innovation increases by 83% when employees feel they belong and that the company is committed to diversity and inclusion. The team and I are also working on launching an Early Talent Program in 2023, where we connect with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and others to focus on bringing in untapped talent and giving them internships and apprenticeship opportunities.

Any tips for aspiring Procorians?

Spend some time getting to know our company, product, and the industry we serve. Procore’s website, Community page, and news platform, Jobsite, are all great resources. We love resourcefulness and seeing how you gather and process information, so be ready to share what you learned.

A big thanks to Cynthia for sharing her story with us!

We’re always looking for Groundbreakers like Cynthia to help us continue to improve the lives of everyone in construction. Come explore a career with Procore today, or join our Talent Community to stay connected.

Kiersten Albert
Talent Brand Communications Specialist