GoDaddy Inc.'s You Empower pilot cohort has proven the power of one-on-one personalized coaching for entrepreneurs eager to improve their small business' digital presence and branding by leveraging its deep expertise as the world's largest services platform for entrepreneurs worldwide.

GoDaddy You Empower is a 12-week, skills-based, full-time employee volunteer assignment that pairs employees with Empower by GoDaddy non-profit community partners. The pilot's goal was to provide an enriching professional development experience for GoDaddy employees while also providing much-needed additional digital support and training to microbusinesses in the Empower by GoDaddy program. Most participating entrepreneurs prioritized developing skills in website creation and digital presence, as well as other critical marketing, social media, and branding tools.

Empower by GoDaddy is the company's signature social impact program, which provides digital tools, training, and resources to entrepreneurs from underserved communities in order to accelerate their small business journeys. Empower by GoDaddy works with non-profit partners to understand local communities and the small business landscape in order to identify gaps and develop customized, neighborhood-based programs to support entrepreneurs at all stages.

Empower by GoDaddy created You Empower as a 12-week pilot in which three GoDaddy employees collaborated virtually and in person with three Empower by GoDaddy non-profit partners. Impact Hub Baltimore, Better Business Bureau of the Pacific Southwest, and Alabama State University's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) were among the initial program partners.

At the end of the pilot cohort, Empower by GoDaddy's non-profit partners reported that the GoDaddy volunteer coaches' one-on-one attention, deep expertise, and highly encouraging and personable support propelled participating entrepreneurs' website content, strategy, and operations forward. Feedback also indicated that the entrepreneurs were motivated to create or update their websites and strengthen their marketing and digital efforts as a result of the coaches' individualized, constructive guidance and accountability.

“Most of the entrepreneurs were intimidated at first,” explained Mesha McMiller, a GoDaddy You Empower volunteer. “The entrepreneurs were hoping to convert more customers whether through driving product purchase, scheduling appointments, etc., so we helped them dial in on their goals and get to where they wanted to be.”

All three GoDaddy You Empower volunteers were asked to keep journals throughout the program, reflecting on their personal and professional experiences, and were interviewed at the end. Among their thoughts were:

“Over the course of several years, I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge that has enabled me to successfully connect customers with the right product to meet their needs in the way of websites, digital media and server technology. You Empower allowed me to take those interactions further. I was able to not only connect with the entrepreneurs in a personal way but could also act as a sounding board and coach as they published and revamped their websites, began using social media pages, or set in motion plans to expand their online audience. The entrepreneurs highly valued the coaching we provided and were eager to learn and finally present their work. The experience was deeply satisfying and empowering. I cannot wait to see how the You Empower program evolves and affects not only the entrepreneurs we serve but also other employees here at GoDaddy.” said Mesha McMiller, GoDaddy Website Specialist II

“You Empower granted me the ability to work on the ground with people I’ve always had a connection with – small businesses making an impact in their community. Through getting to know them personally and seeing them with their first online win – what I had been doing with GoDaddy for years now finally clicked. This is why I love my job and the people I get to interact with every day. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to see the program grow to help others feel the same.” said Cody Mahaffey, GoDaddy Marketing Services Account Manager III

“This experience afforded me the opportunity to see things I would have never seen [being in Alabama]. The program gave me an understanding of who I am – the uniqueness of who I am. I now approach my work with even more conviction. I can help anyone lean in more and stretch.”   said Desmond Sweet, GoDaddy Learning Program Manager.

GoDaddy offers the following key insights from its You Empower pilot to other companies looking to build full-time, skills-based employee volunteer assignments with their community partners:

 

“I’m thrilled that hundreds of Empower by GoDaddy entrepreneurs received the additional skills-building and coaching that they sought,” said April Skeete, GoDaddy employee engagement leader.

“I’m very proud of how committed GoDaddy is to truly being there for entrepreneurs throughout their journey with ongoing support, no matter an entrepreneur’s circumstance or background. These efforts really signify how GoDaddy lives out its mission of making opportunity more inclusive for all.”

The global workforce is undergoing significant change. An unprecedented number of workers will resign in 2021. What began as an economic trend known as the "great resignation" has resulted in long-term workplace changes.

"It's redefining and recalibrating the relationship between employee and employer, and more specifically, what the employee perceives to be the employer's responsibility to them," said Steve Pemberton, Workhuman's chief human resources officer.

Why are employees leaving their jobs, and where are they going?
According to a Pew Research Center survey, the top reasons Americans will quit their jobs in 2021 are low pay, a lack of opportunities for advancement, and feeling disrespected at work.
According to Kimbrough, a desire to work from home in remote jobs is also driving some of the labor market turnover.

“Nearly half of all applicants on our platform apply for at least one remote role. And this is up from an infinitesimally small number pre-pandemic,” said Kimbrough. “So, one thing everyone is looking for is that flexibility, and a lot of that comes through remote or hybrid opportunities.”

Making work more engaging and meaningful
According to research, employees want a sense of purpose in their professional lives that aligns with their personal values.

According to a recent poll, more than half of U.S. employees would be willing to take a pay cut to work for a company that shares their values.

Kauss, whose company was founded with the goal of eliminating single-use plastics, has seen the benefits of this purpose-driven mindset.

“I was very surprised by the caliber of employees that were choosing to come to a smaller startup like S’well because of our purpose,” Kauss said.

"Quiet quitting"
Quiet quitting, a popular term popularized by a viral TikTok video, is when employees stop going above and beyond in their jobs and instead do the bare minimum. According to some experts, quiet quitting is a residual effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout, and the "great resignation" because it empowered employees to take control of their work-life balance.

“I think what’s indicative is whether or not employers are going to meet humans halfway in their recalibration of what work looks like, how it’s done, where it’s done, and with whom it’s done,” said Steve Pemberton.

Although many people believe that the decision to leave a company is in the hands of employees during the "great resignation," Kimbrough claims that LinkedIn data is showing a hiring slowdown and an increase in the mention of "layoff" in their feed.

 “To some, quiet quitting may mean getting the basic job done, but in these uncertain economic times, quiet quitting can mean lower productivity for the whole company, and it could push employers to let workers go,” she said.
 
The "Great Resignation"
We have seen some of the most significant disruptions to the workforce and workplace in decades, but there have been some positive developments. "I think the most positive thing that has come out of this time is the increased emphasis on social issues and the importance of individuals in leading great teams and making positive change in the world," said Kauss .

You can learn more about Merck’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) by clicking here.