Mallory Herrin shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Mallory, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity, without question. Hopefully we are still learning things every day, but intelligence on its own without emotional intelligence doesn’t take you very far.
Energy is also necessary, but optimal only when we find a balance of pressing the gas without burning out. Even then, that energy still has to be directed intentionally to create meaningful results.
Integrity is foundational. You can be the smartest person in the room and the most ambitious, but without integrity, talent and ambition can easily be misused. It becomes very easy to make choices that harm people or compromise your values without integrity. Integrity shapes how you lead, how you treat people, and how you show up when no one is watching. It’s the quality that determines whether everything else has purpose and impact.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m the founder of HerrinHR, which is an HR outsourcing company. We provide full-service payroll processing and other HR services such as group benefits and administration, recruiting, training, and consulting for small to midsize businesses. When people start a small business, so much of their time is taken by administrative work, and there is a lot to learn and maintain. There’s so much compliance when it comes to HR functions too. We take that burden off of our clients so they can focus on what they do best and know that we’ve got them covered.
What sets HerrinHR apart is that we work with our clients to develop their people strategies. We see it as the foundation for how people experience their work. We believe that great workplaces are intentionally built, and great workplaces allow everyone to thrive. People are the heart of any business. Creating a place where individuals are successful in what they do, confident, and know they are supported has a significant positive impact to the business and to the lives of those working there. You can’t shut off your work stress when you get home, and if you’re in a toxic environment the stress is overwhelming. Creating a healthy and positive environment helps businesses achieve their goals, increases their profitability, and drives innovation.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me the most about work was my dad. From a very young age, having a strong work ethic wasn’t optional. It was absolutely the expectation, and he required me to have a job throughout high school (and sometimes I had two at once). At the time I hated it but it really shaped a lot of who I am. The message from my dad was that whatever it was that needed to be done, no one is going to do it for you, so you need to be able to figure things out on your own. That stuck with me. I don’t think that’s the best way to approach life, but it taught me discipline, self-reliance, and the ability to push past perceived limitations. That mindset has carried me throughout my career and in all aspects of my life. That foundation of hard work and personal responsibility is a big part of why I’m able to do what I do today.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
There have been times in my life when I had no money and I was dealing with some pretty rough stuff, including domestic violence, and my entire focus had to be on survival. Those seasons brought back the message my dad instilled in me early on: no one is going to figure it out for you and you have to find a way. That mindset pushed me to keep moving forward and I needed that to change my circumstances even though at the time it felt impossible.
Those experiences built a level of resilience that has stayed with me. When you’ve had to rebuild your life from the ground up, challenges at work or elsewhere don’t intimidate you the same way anymore. You know you can get through hard things because you already have. It also gave me a deeper sense of empathy. Everyone has their own story and their own battles and I want to be the person others can rely on so they don’t have to figure everything out on their own.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to subscribe to the idea that success is a competition. I have always been ambitious and I want to do my best and keep improving, but comparing myself to others, especially those further along in their journey, was toxic. I think that naivety was influenced by that behavior being modeled by some leaders and colleagues, and I’m glad I don’t think that way anymore. There is more than enough room for everyone to be successful. We all bring something different to the table, and when you stop seeing everyone as competition, you start seeing them as collaborators and peers. This shift has made my work and my life so much better. I cheer on other women and professionals and offer whatever support I can give. We’re all building our own lanes, and there’s no limit on what any of us can achieve. I think we can all get so much further and make more positive change in workplaces if we all support one another.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I’m at that place right now. I genuinely love my job and what we’re building at HerrinHR. It doesn’t mean the work is always easy. I’ve gone through burnout before, and there are still days that are challenging, overwhelming, or emotionally heavy. That’s just part of running a business and doing meaningful work with people. Overall I feel fulfilled in a way I haven’t always felt in my career. I’m excited about our clients, our team, the direction we’re headed, and the impact we’re making. It’s such a great feeling to see the outcomes of your work and how it’s made a positive impact on others. It’s really energizing building something that aligns with your values and watching it grow into what you always hoped it could be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.herrinhr.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malloryherrin/
