Mirrors: Jodi Loar, Matchmaker for Inclusive Hiring
The AdaMarie Mirrors reflect back to us the many roads (often winding, never smooth) to success! Real stories to see yourself reflected in. At first, you’ll see Jodi in this mirror, but eventually, we hope you’ll see yourself.
Welcome, Jodi Loar!
Getting to Know You:
Field of Work: Job Board Management, User Happiness, Client Development
Expertise In: I specialize in inclusive hiring strategy and bridging the gap between underrepresented talent and purpose-driven employers. I help companies not just fill roles, but communicate them in a way that resonates, attracts, and retains the people they want to hire.
Current Company: AdaMarie
Job Title: Job Board and Client Development Lead
One-liner About What You’re Working On: I advise companies on how to attract, engage and retain diverse talent in STEM; bridging the gap between what candidates need and what companies want.
Currently geeking out over: Niche job boards (like AdaMarie’s) that are geared towards specifics (in industry, role types, etc…), are now outperforming generalist platforms!
STEM Hero: Dana Bolles- NASA Engineer and disability-rights advocate + Katharina Volz- CEO of OccamzRazor- a company that uses ML to develop drugs for brain diseases.
Tell us about your professional journey – how did you get where you are now?
My original background is in education. I was a teacher and then left when my kids were born. I was a stay-at-home mom for six years when I really felt like I needed something more. My life was all carpool and PTA, and I felt stuck. I knew I had more to offer and wanted to make a difference somewhere outside of the classroom. A friend told me about a 5-hour-a-week role with Women Who Code (a non-profit also geared towards women in the tech space), doing community management. I dove straight in, and within six weeks, I was working 30 hours a week. I built the job board at WWCode, generating over a million dollars in revenue annually. I oversaw the relationships we built —both with our company partners and with our community of over 360,000. When Women Who Code closed in 2024, I knew I wanted (and needed) to continue working to support the cause of helping underrepresented people excel in their careers.
AdaMarie and I met, and it was truly serendipitous. Once again, I’m working in a space where I can help support historically overlooked talent while helping companies hire better, more effectively, and more meaningfully.
We’re also curious to know your personal story and upbringing. What has made you “you”?
I’ve always been a people person. Growing up in a big family, I learned early how to thrive in dynamic, high-energy environments. I genuinely enjoy connecting with others and hearing their stories. My friends often joke that I’m an unofficial therapist.
That’s why I love what I do. I get to chat with employers about how they can grow their teams in smart, intentional ways, and I also get to cheer on job seekers as they navigate their next big move. It’s a good mix of problem-solving, listening, and people-first thinking, which is right up my alley.
Outside of work, I keep busy teaching Jazzercise, baking, playing tennis, and keeping up with my kids’ full schedules. I’m energized by staying active - some might call it FOMO, but I like being involved and making the most of my time.
We know that real life isn’t a smooth and linear journey. What was your initiating moment that led you to your calling - can you tell us about that moment, what helped you move forward, what you learned/discovered?
At Women Who Code, I wore a lot of hats. It took some time to find my niche, but once I started working in the talent space, something clicked. I realized I had landed right where I belonged. Problem-solving, relationship building, and organization are all things I genuinely enjoy, and I jumped in headfirst.
Funny enough, I initially started helping out with the job board kind of organically when the person managing it left. No one officially asked me to take it over; I just did. I kept it running solo for months before anyone noticed. When I finally brought it up to leadership, they had no choice but to let me continue. I’m proud of that time. I didn’t wait for permission or recognition. I focused on doing the work, knowing the outcome would speak for itself. And it did.
I love the quote, “Today’s newspapers are in tomorrow’s trashcans,” meaning don’t sweat what people say or silly things you’ve done - tomorrow, nobody’s going to be talking about this anymore.
You’re a working woman in a performance-driven industry. Where do you find balance?
I happen to be very good at compartmentalizing. I don’t strive for perfect balance every day, but over time, I make sure all of the parts of me (Mom, wife, friend, etc.) get the attention they need. I need to stay connected to the parts of my life that make me feel most like myself. It helps that I enjoy what I do for work, so when Monday rolls around, I’m ready to dive in and get things done.
If you were a scientific process or phenomenon, what would you be?
Oooh, I’d probably be convection. I keep things even, on schedule, and circulating. I’m happiest when I can be a big part of getting the project done, much like a convection oven.
We would love to feature your work. How can we spread the word about what you’re doing?
I frequently utilize my extensive knowledge of the hiring and job-seeking world to write blogs, contribute to resources, and answer questions from the community. The best way to connect with me is to follow AdaMarie on LinkedIn and sign up to receive our newsletters.
