Janice Deskus, CHRO at Staples

This episode of the Built by People podcast features Janice Deskus, an experienced HR leader with over 30 years of experience. Host Dave D'Angelo dives deep into Janice's extensive career, from her early days in HR at United Technologies to leading major transformations at companies like Danaher, Cigna, Aetna, Covidian, and Staples. Janice discusses her approach to change management, including her experiences navigating Staples' significant transitions under private equity ownership and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares her innovative strategies for fostering leadership and effective change management, including a unique program developed in collaboration with Babson College. The episode also explores the restructuring of Staples into three entities and the strategic initiatives that helped rebuild momentum post-pandemic. 00:45 Welcoming Janice and Her Career Journey 03:48 Experiences in Change Management at Staples 05:46 Challenges and Opportunities During Staples' Restructuring 08:26 Navigating the Pandemic at Staples 11:16 Innovative Leadership and Change Management Approaches 14:25 Parting Advice on Change and Transformation 15:49 Conclusion and Farewell