Helping people is alumna Ali Yoder’s greatest resource
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Labor laws and human resources compliance may fill much of Ali Yoder’s (B.B.A.’07) workday, but they don’t exactly inspire her to leap out of bed each morning. Helping people is what makes Yoder seize every new day, and that passion took root and grew through the knowledge and experiences she gained at Western.
The first in her family to attend a four-year university, Yoder arrived at WMU with a clear goal.
“I declared human resource management as my major my first year and never changed it,” she says. “I knew I wanted to pursue a career in business, and my dad, who spent his career in manufacturing within senior leadership roles, encouraged me to consider HR. He felt it fit my personality and strengths, and he was right.”
Yoder’s dad also believed that a college degree was something no one could ever take away from his daughter: “It might open doors immediately, years later or lead to a different path in life, but my dad felt it was an investment in my future and wanted to equip me with every opportunity to succeed.”
Whether carrying a full tray of orders or a packed schedule of classes, Yoder learned to master the art of balance. Determined to graduate early, she worked part time as a waitress while taking an extra-full course load, earning her bachelor’s degree in just two years and 10 months.
“Balancing an extra-full course load while working part time taught me discipline, time management and accountability,” she says. “Those skills have served me throughout my career and as a business owner.”
Yoder credits Western Michigan University for preparing her for what came next. “I left with confidence, a strong education and a degree that carried credibility with employers,” she says. “It opened doors early in my career and gave me opportunities to continue growing.
“One experience that has stayed with me was a class where we spent several weeks role-playing and negotiating a union contract,” she continues. “It gave me practical insight that I drew on early in my career when supporting multiple union contract negotiations.”
After graduating, Yoder has gone on to lead a more than 20-year career in human resources, holding leadership roles across multiple organizations and eventually taking an unexpected chance to start her own business (Latitude HR Group) following the elimination of a corporate position. Owning a business was something she’d always imagined doing some day; she just thought it would happen much later down the road.
“Today, I have the privilege of helping small and midsized businesses access affordable, experienced HR guidance that they may not otherwise have,” she says. “It's incredibly rewarding to serve as a trusted partner while also having the flexibility to be present for my husband and our four children. Looking back, none of it would’ve been possible without the experiences I gained throughout my career, and many of those opportunities began at WMU.”
Although campus and the Mitten State are in her rear view, Yoder’s love for the Kalamazoo area and WMU pride remain strong. She fondly remembers tailgating before football games but most often recalls those walks across campus after a big snowfall.
“Living in Kentucky now, those snowy walks have become the stories I tell my kids—my version of ‘I walked uphill both ways,’” she adds. “I love wearing my alumni gear and getting stopped by fellow Broncos (or even the occasional Chippewa!). It always leads to some fun banter and conversations.”
Yoder encourages current Broncos to be open to the journey. Most fulfilling careers don’t follow a straight path, and growth usually happens outside the comfort zone.
“It’s okay to not have everything figured out,” the proud alumna says. “Say yes to opportunities, stay curious and soak up as much knowledge as you can, and always be kind to everyone you meet. You never know when your paths will cross again or who might become a future colleague, client, mentor or friend.”
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.