Deanna Jones: Fostering Talent and Spearheading Change in the Inner Sector

Human resource professionals play a crucial role in shaping the future of businesses. Keeping that in mind, the Inc. Magazine recently honored Deanna Jones, the Executive Vice President of People, Communications & Transformation at Baker Hughes, a renowned energy technology company, for her outstanding contribution to the industry. Known for her expertise, dynamism, and determination, Deanna is one of the most visionary HR leaders. With a strong background in the oil and energy industry, Deanna excels in areas such as organizational transformation, management and energy. Deanna holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Calgary and has completed executive business courses in human resources at the University of Michigan and finance at IMD Business School in Switzerland.

The Inspiration Behind Deanna’s Passionate Journey

Deanna’s interest in the energy sector was deeply rooted in her upbringing. Growing up in Canada, she witnessed firsthand how many remote communities relied on energy production for their livelihoods and job stability. This experience taught her the significant role that the energy industry plays in shaping people’s lives and communities.

Deanna pursued a business degree when the human resources industry was only emerging as a practice. She started her career in finance, but she already knew that she wanted to be a part of the larger picture in human resources, inspiring people in the way they worked and contributed to organizations. Ultimately, she managed to combine her passion for people with the energy industry to form her career path.

A Fine Balancing Act 

The inspiring woman faced several career challenges along the way, with one of the most significant being balancing motherhood with her professional and leadership aspirations. As many parents know, raising children inspires you as a leader to develop the next generation of talent to face change and drive innovation.

Navigating this often meant making tough decisions about her career to support her family’s goals. However, witnessing her family’s inspiration and support throughout the journey has been incredibly rewarding for her.

Deanna’s Key Lessons: Driving Organizational Change

The first lesson Deanna learned in driving organizational change was the need for patience and partnership. Over the years, she developed an appreciation for the partnership between the business and the communications and human resources teams. Moreover, she also recognized the significance of change management as a critical aspect in human resources and communications, as it allows individuals within the organization to actively contribute to and facilitate change alongside the business leaders who are implementing it.

Deanna’s Take on Managing a Diverse Workforce

A quote that Deanna Jones stands by is, “Leaders are calm in times of change.”

Deanna emphasizes the importance of maintaining composure and stability to foster the same within the organization. In periods of change and when driving intense business performance, it’s crucial to guide individuals to envision the future while also meeting immediate demands. Prioritizing actions that align with both short-term and long-term success is key. Additionally, Deanna recognizes the significance of having a well-rounded team capable of operational delivery. Deanna started her current role at Baker Hughes during the pandemic and soon found that it allowed her a greater level of comfort connecting virtually and engaging with employees across multiple locations both personally and professionally.

Integrating Human Resource Strategies with Organizational Goals

At Baker Hughes, the culture is driven by its purpose of “people first, energy forward.” Making a mental an emotional connection with individuals is essential to coordinating human capital initiatives with overarching company goals. People are the key drivers of this industry, and they bring creativity and imagination to the great work that is done. As a leader, it’s paramount that Deanna connects to both.

“As we continue to grow as a business and society, my appreciation for the partnership between human resources and communication has grown, because it’s all about the stories we tell,” she adds. “Sharing stories throughout the organization allows our colleagues to align their hearts and minds to what needs to be done differently within businesses and offers a human perspective to our work. The magic truly happens when we create an environment for people to do great work in service of what the business needs to achieve while also aligning with our passions.”

Deanna’s Successful Endeavors at Baker Hughes

In 2022, Deanna led the organizational transformation and simplification for Baker Hughes. This involved restructuring of four product companies to two business segments and simplifying the organizational structure. It simplified operations, enhanced profitability, and drove growth by meeting customer needs and producing integrated solutions in the rapidly evolving energy and industrial markets.

Deanna’s Approach to Giving Back to the Community

Deanna serves as a board member for both Communities in Schools of Houston and the Greater Houston Partnership, organizations dedicated to nurturing the growth of young individuals—a cause close to Deanna’s heart. With a strong belief in the energy sector’s enduring global opportunities for recent graduates embarking on their careers, Deanna actively contributes to the energy industry’s transition and ensures that a vast pool of talent is available for the energy workforce of the future.

The Remarkable Role of HR Leaders: Promoting a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace

The team at Baker Hughes is committed to an inclusive work culture and has established a framework directly aligned with its strategy and values. Baker Hughes has driven several initiatives in support of their ongoing efforts for greater inclusivity in the company. Deanna works to break down barriers to a more diverse workplace as a major HR leader in developing DEI.

Under Deanna’s leadership, Baker Hughes has started pilot programs on blind resumes, debiasing job descriptions, interview templates, and assessments, and they have taught unconscious bias training. Additionally, they have collaborated with colleges, elementary schools, and high schools to foster interest in STEM-focused jobs using employee volunteerism and grants from the Baker Hughes Foundation.

Lastly, the Baker Hughes employee resource groups have been a powerful influence in driving change by elevating conversation and awareness around key issues, engaging with communities where they operate, and proposing actions to create an inclusive culture.