# ActOne Group: Janice Bryant Howroyd (2018)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-12-28
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-28-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd-2018

## Summary

Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder of ActOne Group, explains how she launched a staffing agency in Beverly Hills with $1,500 in the late 1970s, eventually growing it into a billion-dollar workforce management company. She details the strategic pivot from one-on-one placements to contract staffing, which necessitated building proprietary technology called Acceleration to manage reporting and payroll. Howroyd also discusses the decision to merge with her husband’s company, AppleOne, to create a unified entity and the importance of minority certification in accessing corporate contracts.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-28-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd-2018#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor Read
- [2:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-28-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd-2018#t=143) Janice Bryant Howroyd and the Origins of ActOne
- [5:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-28-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd-2018#t=320) Early Life in North Carolina and Family Values
- [16:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-28-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd-2018#t=999) Moving to Los Angeles and Starting the Business
- [26:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-28-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd-2018#t=1590) Certification and the Shift to Contract Staffing
- [33:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-28-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd-2018#t=1987) Building Proprietary Technology: Acceleration
- [36:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-28-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd-2018#t=2185) Merging with AppleOne and Family Dynamics
- [38:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-28-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd-2018#t=2314) Navigating Racism and Sexism in Sales

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- ActOne Group (company)
- AppleOne (company)
- Billboard magazine (company)
- Motown (company)
- Visa (other)
- NPR (company)
- acceleration (product)

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