Monique (Baker) Honaman

Why did you choose to major in Psychology and how has that affected your career thus far?
I have always been fascinated by how people think, by true stories, and by documentaries. As a kid, I would always read biographies because I was fascinated by the people and their stories. I thought I wanted to become a doctor, and chose to major in psychology. Even after I realized that med school was not the right path for me at the start of my senior year at Michigan, my psychology degree has come in incredibly handy for all the different paths I have taken in life.  

What was your career path like?
After graduating from the University of Michigan, I headed north up I-96 to East Lansing where I was accepted into the Master’s Program in Labor and Industrial Relations (MLIR) at Michigan State University. MSU has one of the best LIR programs in the country and was known for providing very hands-on pragmatic training to its students.

While at MSU, I landed an internship in Human Resources with General Motors which provided me with fabulous corporate work experience to supplement my education. General Electric recruited on-campus, and I was selected to join their Human Resources Leadership Program (HRLP) which is a two-year rotational program.  I graduated with my MLIR in March 1992 and moved to New York to join GE.

During this time, I realized that many GE leaders in Human Resources had their law degrees and I found that really fascinating. Two years later, after graduating from HRLP, I started at Albany Law School while continuing to work full-time at GE (that was a heavy load … and an incredible experience). I started law school knowing I didn’t intend to ever formally practice law, but the experience of learning how to think, analyze, communicate and write like a lawyer has proved incredibly valuable.   

I continued to work in HR at GE, and actually relocated with GE from New York to Atlanta, Georgia where I continued working in various human resources leader roles and ultimately graduated from law school. I now had the perspective of having a Bachelor’s in Psychology which provided insight into how people think. I had the perspective of a having Master’s in Labor Relations which provided insight into the mechanics of human resources. And, I had the perspective of having a Juris Doctorate which provided insight into how to think and communicate while looking at situations from various viewpoints.

For the next few years, I continued working in HR at GE gaining valuable experiences across several different GE businesses, until ultimately deciding to venture out on my own. I loved the leadership development work I was doing at GE, and wanted to spend more of my time focused on that specialty area within HR. I launched ISHR Group in 1999 and have been focused on leadership assessment, development and coaching for the past 18 years.

Along the way, I transitioned from being a solopreneur, and brought on two amazing business partners, and we have built a fabulous team of coaches. We work around the globe, primarily with mid- to large-size corporations and private equity firms. It’s a fantastic career. Everyone has a story, and working with leaders to help them become even better, more effective versions of themselves brings those stories into pay. As an entrepreneur, I’ve had to go outside my comfort zone of HR and leadership development and become the CIO, CFO, CMO, CBO, CSO, etc. The learning curve is tremendous, and incredibly rewarding.  

I discovered an entrepreneurial spirit and have since launched two other companies. In 2010, I launched High Road Less Traffic which is my platform for speaking and talking about relationships, marriage, divorce, parenting, co-parenting … and everything in between. I published two books, became a regular contributor to Huffington Post and eHarmony, and appeared on NBC’s The Today Show.

In 2016, my husband and I co founded a product development company called Contender Brands and we are currently bringing three very different consumer products to market. This company was launched out of our desire to do something with the new ideas that popped into our heads instead of simply talking about new ideas and taking no action.

What advice do you have both professionally and personally for students and recent alumni who are interested in pursuing a career similar to yours?  
My advice would be to stay flexible, be open to opportunities, be a constant learner, and, most important of all, don’t be afraid to take a risk. One of my mantras is, “What’s the worst that can happen?” My career path from starting as a pre-med psych major at the University of Michigan has certainly taken many twists and turns. I would never in a million years have predicted the paths I have taken, but I have been open to those twists and turns and have never shied away from exploring them to see where they would lead. Take advantage of every opportunity to gain new experiences that will build your portfolio of expertise.

If possible, would you change anything about your career path?
I would not change one single thing.  I believe my career path has evolved exactly as it’s supposed to, and I could never have predicted that I would end up here. I believe it’s important to stay flexible, to stay true to your values, and to pursue your passions. Life is too short and we spend too much of it working to not truly enjoy what we choose to do with our careers.

I’ve had some less than fabulous assignments, but I learned from all of them, and frequently it’s those less positive experiences that we go through where we are challenged the most and where we learn the most. Most people don’t look back on their vacations as times where they have really learned about who they are … it’s those times of stress and challenge where we figure out what we stand for, what we are good at, how we can continue to grow and develop, etc.

What has contributed most to your career success?
A few things come to mind here. One, not being paralyzed by fear. Don’t be afraid to try new things, even if they seem impossibly daunting. If you are asked to take on a new big assignment, then go for it. When you break things down to one step at a time, they become much more manageable. Two, do more/take on more than expected of you. Step outside your comfort zone to learn more and contribute more (e.g., special projects, volunteering) to add to your experience. Three, build your network of supporters and sponsors, and make sure you are supporting and sponsoring others as much as you have been supported yourself. Make investments in others and be a team player.

Why do you love Psychology?
Psychology exists at the root of all interactions because it is the study of the human mind and human behavior. If you look at my career path, as varied as it has been, one consistent theme is human behavior and human dynamics. This is true for my roles in human resources, and with the work we do at ISHR Group in terms of leadership development. We are looking at why leaders act the way they do, and how they can best leverage their behaviors to become even more effective leaders. This holds true for my work with High Road Less Traffic in terms of how people interact with each other in their relationships. And, this holds true for my work with Contender Brands where our mission is to develop and cultivate ideas that bring simplicity, joy and laughter to others.

Why do you love Michigan?
I love the University of Michigan because it provided such a strong foundation on which to start my secondary education. Having a degree from Michigan carries a cache and a prestige that is known throughout the world. Its reputation brings immediate credibility. I made great friends during my years at Michigan, and loved living in Ann Arbor. It’s the perfect college town … great sports teams, access to great arts, proximity to the great outdoors that the state of Michigan offers, access to large corporations, medical institutions and global companies for internship and work opportunities, and the list goes on!