Marcus Sawyerr
Founder & CEO, EQ Community
Recovering Fortune 500 Executive
HR Tech Investor & Board Member
Visionary & Change Maker
What I Do
Marcus spent the last 15 years climbing from the front line to Executive of a Fortune 500 company focused on online recruitment and digital transformation, along with a notable Microsoft Services Executive Board position.He started as an inside sales rep armed with a powerful thirst for learning and appetite to thrive. Marcus was fortunate enough to build relationships and capabilities that propelled his career. However during that time, he witnessed only a surface level evolution of access to meaningful and life-changing jobs, especially for people of color.Marcus is now turning his attention to providing the required access to empower capable and diverse talent to thrive as Founder & CEO of EQ.Community. EQ is a private members community cultivating 👋🏾 Connections 👊🏿 Community 👩🏾💻Careers for multicultural professionals interested in tech.Marcus was built by 🇯🇲 and 🇳🇬, raised in London 🇬🇧, and is now living in California 🇺🇸.Authored articles
What's EQ.Community?
March 2021
EQ.Community is a global members community empowering multicultural professionals to thrive. We do that by bridging the gap between multicultural professionals and a world of meaningful opportunities through connections, community, careers, and capital. Learn more
Insight Partners Blog: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - It Starts with the Four “Cs”
February 2021
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion have been front and center in the past year. Marcus shares his views on how ScaleUps can drive significant and lasting change on Insight Partners' blog. Read now
How to Make the Most of Your Freelance Talent
June 2019
Working with independent freelance talent offers an opportunity to flexibly augment your team's ability to propel your company's growth or just get more done more quickly. However, how to grow with the help of freelance talent isn't always that clear. Learn how to get the most out of your freelance employees—and keep them happy, too. Read now
Move Over Gig Economy: The Freelancer Economy is Here to Stay
April 2019
People commonly use the phrase “gig economy” to refer to the labor market where one can use tech to request freelance workers on short notice for a variety of services, from car rides to event staffing to data science. However, I believe “gig” undermines the careers professionals in this market build, creating a rift between employers and workers—an us-versus-them atmosphere. So, I prefer to call it “the freelancer economy.” Read more
A Quick Guide to Understanding AI’s Impact on the Future of Work
October 2018
The belief that robots will replace human workers is fairly widespread. But Marcus believes about 47% of jobs might be impacted by AI, but that doesn’t mean the entire job will be eliminated. His estimate is that only about 9 percent of jobs are at risk of full replacement, while the majority will be amplified by AI. In many instances, AI will even create jobs. Read more
How the Gig Economy Will Bring Big Data to Every Market
April 2019
Data is infinite. Any organization that wants to grow at a meaningful pace would be wise to learn how to leverage the vast amount of data available to drive growth. With so much growth evolving from a seemingly infinite ocean of data, tomorrow’s leading companies will be those that understand how to capture, connect, and leverage information into actionable insight. Read now
Podcasts, Videos & Articles
Marcus shares his views on the Future of Work, Diversity & Inclusion, and MoreFireside Chat: The Small Business Storytellers with Seth Silvers
April 2021
Marcus shared his entrepreneurial journey with Seth Silvers on on the dynamic podcasting platform co-Founded by Falon Fatemi & Mark Cuban called Fireside . Listen now
The YOSS Journey with Marcus Sawyerr & Insight Venture Partners
December 2019
Marcus had an opportunity to collaborate with Insight Venture Partners to discuss the YOSS journey and evolution from Adecco Group X, to incubation, to the present day. Watch now
Bringing Staffing to the Platform Age
October 2019
If the world of work is changing, there’s arguably no industry poised to change more over the next few years than the staffing industry. Talent Tech Labs interviewed Marcus for their Remote Work Trend Report to learn what this model of work means for the staffing industry and to get a sense of what it’s like running a startup inside one of the world’s largest staffing firms. Read more
An Insider's Guide to Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Work (Video by ContactEngine)
June 2018
Laura van Beers (Head of AI at ContactEngine) interviews Marcus Sawyerr, CEO of Yoss USA (The Adecco Group), on artificial intelligence used in recruitment today and what could be in store for the future. Watch now
Impacting the World of Work (What 2 Know Podcast by W2O)
May 2018
Providing flexibility for employees is necessary in today's modern workplace. Marcus Sawyerr, President of Adecco Group X shares the various ways companies can provide this flexibility, the books that are currently inspiring him, and Taekwondo…all in a killer British accent. Listen now
Forbes Leader's Talk: Facilitating the relationship between companies and freelancers
December 2019
In an interview with Forbes in France, Marcus shares the story of YOSS and how the company is connecting top freelance talent with top companies around the world. Watch now
Speaking Engagements
Marcus has been invited to speak about the future of work, digital transformation and innovation within the world of work, the gig/freelance economy, and diversity, equity and inclusion at several conference and events.Where AI & ML will really make a difference in staffing
World Staffing Summit
February 2021
Connecting and Optimizing the Talent Supply Chain
SIA's Collaboration in the Gig Economy, San Diego, CA
Sept 2019
Delivering Success While Leading Through Disruption
Microsoft LQ Conference, Anaheim, CA
February 2019
Flexible Working:
A Career and Lifestyle Pathway
Linkedin Talen Connect, Anaheim CA
October 2018
Disruption Today: Online Platforms and Their Impact on Talent Supply Chains
SIA Collaboration in the Gig Economy, Dallas TX
October 2018
The Emergence of the Online Talent Market (Masterclass)
Beyond HR Forum, Amsterdam NL
June 2018
The Future of Work
Evolving Business Models: Finding Next Gen Customers
Staffing Industry's Response to Brexit and Related Workforce Challenges
One Year On – How are Organisations Responding to Brexit?
Mercer, 1 Tower Place East, London
9 March 2018
Digital Transformation for Staffing Firms
Winning with Digital Innovation
The Adecco Group Global Leadership Conference
Vienna, Austria
December 2017
"AI Powering the New Workforce"
AI and the Future of Work
Beyond HR Forum, Amsterdam NL
July 2017
Workplace of the Future
Collision Conference, New Orleans LA
May 2017
Testimonials
“I've moderated three panels that have involved Marcus; two (at separate events) in which he provided strategic advice and thought leadership to an executive audience of 200+, and one where he was tasked to evaluate startups in a "Shark-Tank"-style format in a keynote session with 800+ attendees. In each, he was thoughtful, engaging, articulate, and provided actionable arguments and insights that attendees overwhelmingly noted in feedback forms as thought provoking and beneficial. Marcus knows the industry and understands technology, and can intelligently articulate his thoughts and difficult concepts in a way that is relevant, nuanced, and meaningful for stakeholders. In short, Marcus is an excellent speaker and distinguished thought leader and it has been a pleasure to work with him. Marcus would be an excellent asset to whatever event was lucky enough to have him."
– David Francis, Former Sr. Research Analyst at Staffing Industry Analysts
"Marcus has been a keynote speaker at two Insight IGNITE Innovation Roundtables in 2017 and again this year. During both of his sessions, we got great feedback from the audience on his energy, presentation style and most importantly the clear insights he delivered on accelerating Digital change.”
– Emmet B. Keeffe III, Founder, Insight IGNITE at Insight Partners
"We were fortunate to have Marcus speak during our SXSW events. He joined fellow panelists to discuss evolving business models in order to find next gen consumers, the panel was incredibly thought-provoking and we were excited to have the opportunity to speak with him more [in our podcast].”
– Aaron Strout, CMO at W2O Group
Opinions
Marcus is a subject matter expert on digital innovation and the world of work. He frequently speaks on the following topics:- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- AI Powering the New Workforce
- Blockchain in the World of Work
- Digital Innovation Strategy
- New Ways of Working
- The Rise of the Gig Economy
- Corporate-Startup Partnership
Press Mentions
YOSS: Facilitating the relationship between companies and freelancers
December 2019
Marcus was invited to share the story of YOSS with Forbes' Leader's Talk in France. Watch now
Democratizing the Freelance Economy in the New World of Work
August 2018
Marcus share his thoughts on the dynamics of the labor market that support the rise of freelancing. Read now
Contact
Send Marcus a note to learn more about his work or engage him as a speaker.
Marcus Sawyerr © 2021