Meet Maggie Feazell, Senior Recruiter, Diversity Sourcing and Recruiting

Maggie Feazell is a Senior Recruiter for Sodexho. In this role, she has a focus on Diversity Sourcing and Recruiting within the Talent Acquisition Group. She is a first-generation Cuban- American, born in Miami and raised in Colombia, South America.

How did you get started with your career in the company? 
I began employment with the company on August 9th 2006, as a Senior Recruiter specializing in diversity sourcing and recruiting initiatives.  Although I have overall recruiting responsibility for Corporate Services National Accounts in the Southeast region, I am also involved with sourcing initiatives that aim to increase diverse candidate representation for our job openings.  In addition to organizing and participating in numerous diversity career fairs, I am currently working on developing a formalized process whereby we can proactively solicit candidate referrals from employees at all levels within the company. 

Tell us about our background? 
I am a first generation Cuban-American, born in Miami, Florida and raised in Colombia, South America.  I hold a Bachelors degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences and have been working in the HR field for just over 10 years.  Prior to joining Sodexho, I worked in the financial services industry in recruiting, relationship management and project management roles. 

What makes Sodexho an employer of choice for diverse candidates? 
Well, we are very proud to have recently ranked #13 on DiversityInc.'s Top 50 Companies for Diversity and also ranked #9 on the Top 10 Companies for African Americans.  Although Sodexho has received numerous awards and accolades in the area of diversity, I feel that the best indicator of a company's commitment to diversity and inclusion is how it is carried out throughout the organization.  At Sodexho these values have been molded into our strategic imperatives for the company and even measured on a quarterly basis.  

What advice do you have for college students looking to begin their career? 
My advice to college students stepping into the workforce is to not only focus on finding the "perfect" job but to also fully research the companies that they are applying to.  Many times the job that you start off doing is not the job you initially thought it would be.  If you have aligned yourself with a company that values their employees, you may find that you are given the opportunity to learn and grow within a different department and/or job function.  The true and complete learning comes from seizing any opportunity that develops and strengthens your skills and knowledge of the big picture within that organization, assuming of course that you have chosen a company that is in support of your development.