From UHCL to founder: Danielle Abrant builds a smarter path to fair hiring
Danielle Abrant did not set out to become a founder. She set out to find work that mattered. What started as a desire for more than the routine of an early HR career eventually led her to launch a company dedicated to workplace fairness, and it all began at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
"After earning my bachelor's degree in psychology from Sam Houston State University, I spent about three years working in HR in the private sector. Over time, my roles started to feel a bit monotonous, and I realized I wanted to contribute to something bigger," Abrant said. "That's what drew me to pursue my Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology. UHCL turned out to be the perfect place for that next step. It had an excellent I/O program, was close to home, and affordable."
At UHCL, Abrant built the technical foundation that would later define her professional work, crediting several faculty members with helping her translate complex theory into practical application.
"Dr. Lisa Sublett, Dr. Alex Milam, and Dr. Scott McIntyre were amazing professors. I learned so much from each of them," she said. "In Dr. Milam's class, I was introduced to the wide range of assessment tools used across different industries, which really sparked my interest in applied measurement."
Statistics, she added, proved to be one of the most challenging and ultimately most valuable parts of the program. "Dr. Sublett taught statistics, which was by far the most challenging course for me. What made her such a fantastic teacher was her ability to break down even the most complex material into something digestible and practical," she said.
Abrant is now the founder of TalenTrack Solutions, a platform that helps organizations evaluate whether their hiring and promotion practices are fair, compliant, and data-driven. At the heart of the platform is the concept of "adverse impact," a cornerstone of both employment law and organizational psychology.
"Adverse impact, also called disparate impact, occurs when a hiring or promotion practice appears neutral on the surface but disproportionately screens out individuals from certain protected groups, such as race, gender, or age, even when there is no intent to discriminate," she explained.
She noted that such outcomes can limit diversity and expose organizations to serious legal risk. "Adverse impact is rooted in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and was cemented by the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Griggs v. Duke Power Company."
The aim of TalenTrack is to simplify a process that has traditionally been complex and time-intensive. "HR professionals and organizations can analyze their own data in-house, generate unlimited bias reports, and instantly see if adverse impact exists," Abrant said. "The platform automatically flags potential risks, explains results in plain language, and if bias is detected, connects employers with trusted resources and qualified professionals to help them take corrective action."
Abrant’s idea for the company evolved over time. “About four years ago, I developed an idea I believed could greatly improve the efficiency of job knowledge written exams, a selection tool commonly used in hiring and promotion,” she said. “I shared the concept with a trusted mentor, someone who has taught me an incredible amount about assessment, selection, and how to apply this knowledge in the real world,” she continued. “Our conversation sparked a bigger, more meaningful vision of the concept that eventually evolved into TalenTrack Solutions.”
Launching the business came with challenges, since she was balancing a full-time job and had limited software development experience. "Everything was built in the evenings and on weekends," Abrant said. "I knew VBA code, but creating a secure, web-based platform was completely new to me, so I relied on my web developer, Joe Iliff, to bring the vision to life.” Funding presented another hurdle. "Without outside investors, I had to self-fund the entire venture, which required careful planning and real sacrifice."
As the company developed, Abrant maintained close ties to UHCL by involving current students in the process. Student consultants Kailee Bruecher, Saloni Desai, Cale Fellenstein, Anna Hrachovy, Nataly Mendez, Johnny Nguyen, Trine Rodriguez, Favour Unegbu, and Zéna Williams played a big role in testing and refining the platform.
"The UHCL student consultants ran thorough adverse impact analyses on multiple mock datasets in SPSS and Excel, then compared their results with the software's output to confirm accuracy and identify issues," she said. Beyond technical validation, students also provided feedback on usability, helping improve the platform's overall design and workflow.
Looking ahead, Abrant intends to keep translating I/O psychology concepts into accessible, practical tools while inspiring others in the field to do the same.
"We plan to keep transforming core I/O psychology concepts into tools that legal and HR professionals can easily understand and apply," she said. "My hope is that TalenTrack encourages more I/O professionals to step into that space between research and practice and start building."
Her advice to current students reflects the path she once took.
"You don't need to have everything figured out right away. Be intentional about the relationships you build and take advantage of every opportunity to gain real experience while you're still in school. The skills and connections you develop now will open doors you can't even see yet. Trust the process and keep going."
Abrant's path from graduate student to founder illustrates how technical expertise, mentorship, and persistence can translate into real-world change. As her company grows, she continues to apply the principles she developed at UHCL, creating opportunities for the next generation of professionals, including UHCL students, while working to make workplace practices more equitable.
Curious how I/O psychology can shape the workplace of tomorrow? Visit www.uhcl.edu/academics/degrees/industrial-organizational-psychology-ma to explore UHCL’s Industrial/Organizational Psychology program and start your own journey.