Today we're talking to Jill Willcox, Founder and Managing Member of Iterators LLC, a WBENC (Women-Owned and Certified) software testing company in the City of Boston.
Jill began her career in the nursing field, working with individuals who had catastrophic work injuries causing a decrease in the quality of their lives.
She also worked at Northwestern University for 17 years as the Assistant Risk Manager for the university and managed a self-insured student health plan as part of her responsibilities.
Iterators LLC is a social impact company that is Neuro-inclusive, hiring individuals who can work and excel at software testing services. Accessibility Testing is a large part of Iterators' mission enabling people with disabilities to use websites and other Information Communication Technology in the same manner as those without a disability. Jill, is a Trusted Tester, certified by the Department of Homeland Security to complete Accessibility Testing, along with all of the employees at Iterators LLC.
We asked Jill a few questions to gain insight on her experience in the field of neurodiversity so you can see why we are so excited to talk to her at our upcoming virtual Rise & Diversify event.
Tell us something about you not in your bio...
I had an injury when I was twelve playing Red Rover and it impacted me for 40 years. No longer!
What attracted you to your current industry and role?
Starting Iterators LLC was a necessity. I saw that individuals that had a disability were marginalized in the hiring process and I wanted to do something about it.
What tools or resources have you used that have been crucial to your success?
Iterators LLC is women-owned and certified company and that’s the best asset you can have. Our employees were marginalized during the hiring process and they wanted a chance to be hired because of their abilities, and not defined by a disability.
Our employees are also an excellent asset.
What is your proudest achievement?
Our proudest achievement is being 3 years old and viable. No one knows what will happen in life, especially with a pandemic but you can have a successful company and have a social impact too.
What do you think needs to happen or have you seen done successfully in the past to create an inclusive workplace/corporate culture?
There is a business impact to companies that don’t hire people with disabilities and slowly, too slowly, they are figuring that out.
Until they do they won’t be as successful as they could be.
Is there anything else you want to share with our readers?
Fear is its own disease. Don’t let fear stop you from working on important issues you feel strongly about. What’s the worst that can happen?
Ready to learn about neurodiversity and how you can be more Neuro-inclusive?
Register for the upcoming virtual Rise & Diversify event on Wednesday May 20!