Meet the Recruiter: Neika Powell
New York native and Consultant Advisor Neika Powell hasn't lost her sense of big-city adventure during her years spent in the Atlanta suburbs. An avid foodie, traveler, motorcyclist and even a trained trapeze artist, Neika graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta and specializes in Epic consultant placement.
Q: How did you get here (to Alpharetta and HIT Leaders)?
A: I relocated from Covington, Ga., from my prior job because the commute was awful. I applied on LinkedIn, and one of the principals [Ted Justiss] called me in for an interview. I remember Ted telling me to dress casual; it was so weird coming to an interview in jeans. I interviewed with [six people] and got the job the same day.
Q: What is your favorite Healthcare IT Leaders company memory?
A: Within the first two months of being here, I attended several company outings. From then on, I knew this was a great company to work for.
Q: Who would you most like to meet, in history or current?
A: Jay-Z. I admire his entrepreneurship – he made something out of nothing. You have to respect that.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
A: Shopping, eating and travel. In my next life I would like to be Anthony Bourdain.
Q: What was your favorite TV show when you were little?
A: Sesame Street and Julia Childs.
Q: What’s your favorite food or favorite kind of food?
A: Italian food.
Q: If you could be an animal, what animal would you be and why?
A: A lioness – queen of the jungle.
Q: Least favorite animal and why?
A: Spiders. They are gross.
Q: What would you do or buy if you won the lottery?
A: I would pull an “Eat, Pray, Love” and travel first to Italy and eat, then I would go to Africa and travel the entire continent from Egypt to Cape Town. Then I’d spend two years in Jamaica and get familiar with the birthplace of my mother and father.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about recruiting?
A: Getting to speak to different people every day. The different personalities keeps it interesting.
Q: If your life was a movie, which would play you?
A: Kerry Washington. I’m a fixer.
Q: What about you would surprise your coworkers?
A: I’m a trained trapeze circus artist… and I ride motorcycles. I’ve been riding since 2008. I am actually the Vice President of a motorcycle club in Atlanta.