Today we’d like to introduce you to Darryl Adams Jr.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Darryl. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.Picture it. Spartanburg, South Carolina February 1997, I was a little black boy trying to figure out who I wanted to be for my debut in our church’s Black History Month Program. In years prior, I had participated in the program, but with minimal effort needed on my end. You know just the typical dressing up as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X and just 1-2 speaking lines I had to learn. But this year… 1997 was my year to show my talent, but more importantly, this was the year I discovered a budding passion for equality, the community, and culture. See, through researching prominent and prolific black leaders, I began to learn of the many stories of inequality, inequity, and strife taking place in underrepresented communities, and not just the black communities. So throughout my childhood and teenage years, I always looked for ways to create small and large changes and to use my access and opportunity to create access for those who otherwise would not have the opportunity. I have also always had a passion for education and development, so deciding to major in Education was a no-brainer for me. Whether that was giving back by volunteering with various Non-Profit organizations or spending time in schools impacting students through various forms of Education and awareness, it is truly a passion. My parents and grandparents instilled in me strong values of service and integrity, and they have stuck with me all of my life.
Today I have taken that passion and my talents to the corporate sector by working to create inclusive and diverse work environments as a Diversity & Inclusion professional I strive daily to create a culture where teammates can leverage their abilities, perspectives, styles, and ideas while understanding and maximizing on our differences. It is my goal to continuously foster environments where teammates can be engaged in the work they do, enabled to be their authentic selves.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Has it been smooth? Hmm. As my Uncle Mack would sing, “There’s a rough and rocky road before you get to Heaven” LOL! The road to equality & equity for everyone is not going to be a smooth path like the new part of a highway. It will come with its share of struggles; for me, the struggle has been overcoming the barriers of being a black man in a world that has traditionally looked at black men as a threat. So many times, I had to be strategic and intentional about how I used my voice, especially in spaces where access was limited for minorities. So despite the struggles to have a seat at the decision-making tables, it is my belief that when your passions intersect with roadblocks and barriers that have systematically been put in place you have to fight even harder to make positive changes in the establishment or what some call the status quo. So I grab my sword and shield and march into battle. I am now at a place in my career where my talents speak for themselves and I have built strong relationships both within my organization and outside and we work together to create that positive change so many employees are looking for in a work environment.
RealPage, Inc. – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
RealPage, Inc. is a leading global provider of software and data analytics to the real estate industry. Clients use our platform to improve operating performance and increase capital returns. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Richardson, Texas, RealPage currently serves nearly 12,200 clients worldwide from offices in North America, Europe, and Asia.
At RealPage, I am a Human Resources Professional that specializes in Diversity & Inclusion and Community Relations. I am the culvert of TALENT, CULTURE, and ACUMEN! I strive daily to create a culture where teammates can leverage their abilities, perspectives, styles, and ideas while understanding and maximizing on our differences. With a background in human resources, learning and development, organizational and leadership development, and public relations, I interface with every level of staff (from C-suite to entry-level). One of my most notable accomplishments over the seven years I have been at RealPage was the 2.5 years I ran our Corporate Onboarding series, giving me the opportunity to interface with every new teammate that started in our US offices.
As an Organization, we are most proud of our culture and growth. When I facilitate new teammate orientation for the organization, those are two of the most consistent answers I receive when I ask new teammates “What made you choose a career at RealPage?” Knowing that I make it my goal to continuously foster environments where teammates can be engaged in the work they do, enabled them to be their authentic selves and organically innovating. Three Goals I strive to reach daily are: 1) Identify – pay attention to who’s included or excluded 2) Engage – encourage teammates to embrace opportunities and speak up if they do not have them 3) Advocate – Mentor people to enable them access, experience, and development.
Philosophies I live by that set me apart from others are: seeing and embracing the opportunity in organizational change, treating others with respect and kindness, having great laughs with people every day, and always being the one in the room willing to take on new opportunities and go above the status quo. But the biggest philosophies I carry with me at all times is “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” President Barack Obama – January 8, 2008.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I personally define success through the impact my work has on others. I look for small and large wins and whether or not I met my goal. So if I am volunteering with Richardson Independent School District STEM/STEAM students teaching them about professional development, or taking the time out to listen to an employee’s feedback about their experiences within the work environment and then using that to make that environment even better, see while both of those are very different things I can find success in both because I was able to make an impact and be intentional about how I made that impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryladamsjr/
- Email: jr.adams.d@gmail.com
- Instagram: IdealGuy_D
Image Credit:
Jesse Patterson, Photographer
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