Day: April 17, 2023

In addition to winning industry awards and helping clients achieve their goals, award-winning Human Resources (HR) consultant Alexandra McGroarty, the author of “Bridging the Gap: Reducing Gender Bias in the Workplace,” has found time to write not two new books. The first, “So Now What, Harnessing Grief after Major Losses,” will be coming out in late summer; and the second, “Until We Meet Again, Leo,” will be released this fall. While the former is for adults and the latter is for children, both focus on how to cope with loss.

“My husband, Michael, passed away suddenly in 2021,” McGroarty explains. “‘So Now What, Harnessing Grief after Major Losses’ tells my personal story about navigating loss in the hopes it can help others on their journey in grief.”

Forthcoming books help others feel seen

When asked why it was important for her to write these books, McGroarty answered that she wants to be of service to others. “There weren’t a lot of books focused on grief from a normal person who went through it,” she explains. “We see books from psychologists, or experiences with the afterlife, but this is from the perspective of a now single parent, daughter, sister, and business owner.”

While the death of a loved one is often an isolating experience, McGroarty’s books enable those who are grieving to feel less alone. “While I never wish anyone to be in a place to read about grief, I am hopeful my experiences can help those going through loss,” she says. “There are many people going through this journey, and you don’t have to go through it by yourself.”

“So Now What, Harnessing Grief after Major Losses” takes a practical approach, including concrete examples of the tools and tips McGroarty found helpful during her own journey through grief. For instance, she discusses the importance of acknowledging feelings, finding effective ways to honor memories, and tapping into the power of creativity to express emotions.

The book also explains how people can best support their grieving friends and family members. “It’s important to remember that experiencing negative and complex emotions is a normal, natural part of mourning,” McGroarty says. “People who have lost a loved one need space to feel whatever they feel without fearing judgment from others. Perhaps the most important thing you can do for people in this situation is to listen to them without trying to fix anything or urge them toward a more positive perspective.”

Since children face unique challenges when coming to terms with loss, McGroarty realized she would need a second book to help them feel seen and understood. That’s why she wrote “Until We Meet Again, Leo.” “Many parents don’t know what to say to their children when their family members or pets pass away,” she says. “This book gives them a way to discuss these painful issues in a way that fosters connection.”

An award-winning HR industry leader

For McGroarty, these books constitute a natural extension of her distinguished career in HR. “My HR work is all about helping people,” she explains. “These books help people from a personal perspective.”

A Certified Diversity Professional and Certified Professional Coach, McGroarty has won multiple prestigious awards for her consulting business. The South Jersey chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) recently named her the 2023 Business Owner of the Year. McGroarty received the award at a gala in front of over 300 of her fellow business owners from the Delaware Valley. “It was a humbling experience,” she remembers.

In 2022, McGroarty also won in the Executive Coach category of Ragan’s Top Women in Wellness and HR Awards due to her unparalleled ability to help employers incorporate diversity and inclusion initiatives. Ragan also applauded her support for a center where urban teenagers can gain access to technology, learn how to code, produce music, and develop other skills to launch their careers in the tech industry. She was also a finalist in Ragan’s 2022 National Platinum HR Awards, as well as a finalist for Ragan’s HR Person of the Year Awards in 2021.

An advocate for women

McGroarty‘s mission is to empower women in the workplace, which seems fitting since she is a high-performing, powerful woman herself. “While the number of women in senior leadership positions has grown in the last five years, women are still underrepresented at every level of corporate America,” she notes.

As an HR consultant, she helps organizations find, engage, develop, and retain top talent from diverse backgrounds. “In today’s competitive business environment, companies need women’s ingenuity and perspective to succeed,” she says. “Connecting employers with brilliant women and ensuring the long-term success of these relationships is my passion.”

In her first book, “Bridging the Gap: Reducing Gender Bias in the Workplace,” McGroarty not only exposes the persistent problem of gender bias, but also outlines a path for reducing it. As a result, her work promises a future that will benefit everyone, regardless of gender.

An experienced consultant

McGroarty delivers unparalleled results due to her years of experience in various HR positions at multiple major institutions. She also has impressive academic credentials, holding a bachelor’s degree from Rowan University, an MS in Administration from Utica College, and a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Sustainability from Cornell University. She has also earned her People Analytics Specialty Credential (PASC) from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

A trusted advisor and coach, McGroarty specializes in creating and leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Councils, Sustainability initiatives, and Employee Resource Groups. Her expertise also includes both HR Project and Change Management. 

Whether serving in her capacity as an author, industry leader, high-powered woman, or trusted advisor, McGroarty’s focus on results remains the same. In consequence, those who rely on her can count on success.