×
InaMarie Johnson
Former Zendesk, Chief People & Diversity Officer
Ms. Johnson is a seasoned human resource professional with experience serving at multiple companies during periods of strategic transformation. She is an inspirational leader entrusted with enabling the effectiveness and wellbeing of employees across organizations. She has guided companies and leadership teams through massive turnarounds and inflection points, recognizing opportunities to champion initiatives that go beyond awareness and transform the mindsets and behaviors that shape a culture.
As part of her tenured career, Ms. Johnson served as Zendesk’s Chief People and Diversity Officer from 2018 to 2022, leading the company’s vision for delivering a great employee experience. She spearheaded Zendesk’s 2020 pivot to a digital-first culture where all employees can thrive regardless of location and created a leader-led diversity model for its employees, customers, and communities worldwide, gaining top-level support and establishing programs in pursuit of true social equity. Before Zendesk, from July 2015 to June 2018, Ms. Johnson was Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Plantronics, an audio communications company, where she led a cultural transformation and successful CEO transition to jumpstart growth. Previously, from September 2011 to June 2015, she held the role of Chief Human Resources Officer at UTi Worldwide Inc., a supply chain management company. Before that, Ms. Johnson held senior leadership roles at Honeywell International Inc., an international technology and manufacturing company for 10 years, including Vice President, Human Resources Functional Transformation and Vice President, Human Resources, Communication, and Six Sigma.
Ms. Johnson holds a B.A. in Social Sciences, with an emphasis in Human Resource Management, from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.A. in Organizational Development and Management from John F. Kennedy University in California.
BOARD EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNITY IMPACT
Ms. Johnson serves as an elected Board Director, Board or Advisory Board Member for the following:
- Kelly Services, Inc, a global leader in workforce management solutions offering staffing services to top companies across a variety of industries.
- Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll), an organization partnering with communities nationwide to help under-represented individuals successfully start and keep a business.
- The Center for Equity, Gender, and Leadership (EGAL) at Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, educating Equity Fluent Leaders globally to ignite and accelerate change.
- BetterUp Corporation, helping professionals everywhere pursue their lives with greater clarity, purpose, and passion.
- EmpowHer, a non-profit focused on the eradication of the dropout epidemic among Los Angeles high school students.
Ms. Johnson was also invited to join CNBC’s Workforce Executive Council, a community of top HR, talent, diversity, and human capital management professionals across various industries. Most recently, she was elected as a member of Chief, a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Chief is the only organization specifically designed for senior women leaders to strengthen their leadership journey, cross-pollinate ideas across industries, and effect change from the top down.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND SPECIALITIES
Growth & Scaling Companies in Multiple Industries (Cloud-based Technology, Multinational & Conglomerates, Supply Chain & Logistics, Consumer Products)
- Design digital-first and remote employee experience and engagement models
- Drive high volume talent acquisition
- Re-imagine and re-define mission, vision, values and company culture
- Establish innovative and impactful Total Rewards programs for Compensation Committee
Company Transformations and Leadership Transitions
- Provide courageous, authentic and empathetic leadership and CEO advisory support
- Set strategy, design and develop organization constructs for transformation, including:
- from small-medium sized businesses to Enterprise
- from traditional to modern company operations
- from Americas focused to globally scaled
- Plan and orchestrate CEO transitions in support with Board of Directors
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategies
- Manage programs and set policy to address risks related to ESG matters, with special skills in areas of pay equity, community impact and future of work
- Set DEI strategies at incubation, step-up and expert stages
- Operationalize and re-invigorate HR functional excellence
- Provide innovative and best in class HR mentoring and coaching