Career Highlights

JD led organizational design efforts that were key to driving a major business transformation. He implemented strategic change management initiatives that helped reshape the company while ensuring smooth adoption and minimal disruption to daily workflows.

As the Regional Head of HR, JD played a key role in scaling Huge’s Southeast team from 40 to 200 people and more than tripling annual revenue. He lead and managed everything HR-related, from People Operations and Talent Acquisition to Performance Management and Learning & Development.

JD dove deep into workforce data—team structures, employee mobility, revenue, and contracts—to align organizational design, hiring strategies, and workforce planning with revenue targets. Throughout his time in this role, JD coached executive leaders and managers through key people and business challenges, guiding them to navigate and succeed.

JD redefined talent and performance management practices at Huge, transforming the company into an industry leader in talent development. By shifting away from the traditional annual review model, JD introduced an open architecture focused on continuous growth and development. This approach combined ongoing feedback and coaching, empowering employees to take charge of their development in real-time. The results were striking—a 30% improvement in related employee engagement scores and a 10% reduction in regrettable turnover annually, solidifying Huge's reputation as a top player in nurturing and retaining talent.

JD made a significant impact in the learning and development space by revolutionizing how the company approached skill-building and leadership growth. By creating a new learning and development framework that introduced an on-demand learning management system, JD ensured that skill development was accessible to everyone across the organization. JD also launched a cutting-edge leadership development program, elevating leadership impact, team performance, and employee engagement. Through an in-depth needs analysis, JD developed a new skills-based curriculum that empowered employees to grow and thrive, driving the company’s success forward.

JD reimagined the internal career architecture by redefining leveling and career pathing for the organization and introducing updated competency models for various sub-functions, each with 8 levels of mastery. This new structure provided a clear and actionable path for career growth at every stage. JD also built an extensive internal skills database, encompassing over 1,000 skills, creating a dynamic web of interconnected capabilities. This comprehensive system not only facilitated career growth and internal mobility but also enhanced talent management, ensuring that employees had the tools and opportunities they needed to advance within the organization.

JD modernized a $90M compensation strategy by integrating market benchmarking for over 125 roles, ensuring equitable and competitive pay across six markets. JD also standardized salary bands, enhancing fairness and transparency within the organization. Additionally, JD designed a new leadership bonus and long-term incentive strategy, aligning compensation with company goals and strengthening leadership retention and motivation.

JD redeveloped Huge's employee engagement strategy to align with the needs of an evolving, remote workforce. Recognizing the shift from an in-person, office-based model to a fully remote environment, JD introduced initiatives that fostered connection, collaboration, and a strong sense of community, even from a distance. By leveraging digital tools, virtual events, and flexible communication channels, JD ensured that employees remained engaged, motivated, and connected to the company’s mission. This revamped strategy not only maintained but enhanced employee engagement levels, proving that a remote workforce can thrive with the right support and innovative practices.