Leilani Quiray’s Story

Human Resources + Philanthropy… how does one do both? I found a way… by founding be the change HR, Inc. Of course it wasn’t as easy as that since we all know building a business isn’t for the weak of heart and neither is the trials and tribulations of life.

When I launched my company in October of 2017 I wrote a blog post entitled, “The Beginnings of be the change HR”:

I’ve been doing HR since I was 16 years old when the neighbor wanted to hire me to do his payroll. My career since then has been beautiful mix of hard work and opportunity. Through my HR career I began volunteering at Working Wardrobes, coaching men and women who are transitioning back into the workforce out of some type of difficult life situation: homelessness, abuse, addiction, sex trafficking, and veterans entering civilian life. I give blood, donate money, feed and clothe the homeless.

But I wanted to do more.

I had been toying with the idea of a company who donated a percentage of the money it made to charity.

Companies who are not only “for-profit” but also companies who promise to always give back. Why couldn’t I do it?! Why couldn’t I build a company who promised to always give back.

And that was the birth of be the change HR, Inc.

Truth be told I have it tattooed on my back -> “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Overnight I built what I had been dreaming of. And seconds after I was able to launch I got my first client.

Ugh. I am blessed.

I am also out to change the world.

My dream… that I will influence others to be a “conscious capitalist.” That my company will grow into several consultants who believe in great work and the betterment of the world through their work.

And I don’t think it’ll be just a dream…it’s going to happen.

So to all our future clients, thank you for being part of this change. Together we can “be the change” and do some great HR work in the meantime!

And here we are, present day, in my second year of business.

What I failed to mention in my initial blog is there was a burning desire to help others because I myself had struggled immensely in my 20s. I had been like the client’s I serviced in the nonprofits I worked for. I had lost nearly everything and hit rock bottom myself. The minute I felt I was at a place both career-wise and health-wise I promised I’d give back to those who were in need. From that moment on I had such a passion for helping others.

I feel it is our responsibility to lift others up when they cannot lift themselves up. You see if it weren’t for the love of my family, friends and complete strangers I wouldn’t of made it to where I am today. There is no way. And so here I am with my hand outstretched to others to pull them up with me. It’s a serious climb outta rock bottom. It’s one step in front of the other with a relentless drive to be “better” for yourself and those you love until you climb out of the hole and that is only the beginning. Then there is the trek to be better, do better, strive for some type of success. It’s a long road but we can all get there.

So there is my “why?” Because we all need a helping hand. We all have a story. We all need someone to turn to us and say, “Hey, look at me… you can do it too.”

Oh and what does my business do besides give back and have a kick-butt founder at the helm? 😉

be the change HR, Inc., an Orange County-based conscious company and social enterprise, provides HR support for small-to-medium sized businesses in any facet of HR from pre-hire to post-term and everything else that happens in between. If it involves your employees, call us and we can handle it. We make HR easy and change our little part of the world.

“Be the change you wish to see it the world.” -M. Ghandi

Yup, we’re doing just that!

-LeiLani E. Quiray, Founder and CEO of be the change HR, Inc.