Forty Under 40: Ulanda Terry, 30

Hard work and good grades were a big part of Ulanda Terry’s life growing up. Between part-time work and school activities, the Pine Bluff youth definitely stayed busy.
“Mom instilled in us the advantage of getting an education so we could have options,” she said.
For a couple years Terry was particularly busy — she married and served as Ms. University of Arkansas Pine Bluff in 2001-02; in 2003, she graduated from UA-Fayetteville with a master’s degree in agricultural economics.
For a while Terry sold real estate, but eventually began work as an MBA recruiting coordinator at Wal-Mart Stores. She left in 2004 when Tyson Foods asked Terry to bring her skills to Springdale, which led to becoming a senior recruiter with the poultry giant two years later.
In May 2010 Terry became responsible for Tyson’s diversity and inclusion strategy, which keeps her busy educating and engaging employees, not to mention “recruiting, developing and retaining the best team members.”
“In the next couple years I want to have made an impact and been successful helping rebrand Tyson’s diversity and inclusion strategy,” she said. “What I’m doing right now can impact our 117,000 global employees if it’s done right.”
Aside from work, Terry stays involved — from church to motherhood to an event planning business she runs.