The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts Philly recently announced the appointment of Judia Jackson as the organization’s Chief People & Culture Officer, following a national search. This marks the first new hire of the joint performing arts organization, reflecting a dedication to its people.
In her newly created role, Judia will be responsible for ensuring a seamless integration of work cultures, building upon the Human Resources strategies of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. and collaborating with Doris Parent, Vice President of IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Strategies).
A skilled leader in her field, Judia has experience across a wide variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, hospitality, energy, human capital management, retail, technology, and more. She has ties to the Philadelphia region, having worked for the Campbell Soup Company for several years in Camden, NJ. She has also held roles of increasing responsibility and scope at Siemens Energy, Marriott Vacations Worldwide, and ADP, where she supported corporate and operations domestically and internationally.
Judia holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, as well as an MBA from the prominent HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities), Florida A&M University, and brings expertise in the areas of cultural transformation, DEI&B (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging), community programs, and partnerships.
Get to know Judia with her answers to ten questions below and be sure to say hi if you see her at our venues. We are so happy to have you on our team, Judia!
What excites you most about stepping into this new role?
I am most excited about having the opportunity to add to the great legacy of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Cultural Campus (POKC) at this moment in time. Separately both organizations have so much to be proud of, and together it will deliver great things, externally for Philadelphia, the world, and internally for staff
Favorite thing about the Philadelphia region?
My favorite thing about the Philadelphia region is its culture. The city/region is what it is because of the region’s history, arts, food and people
How have you seen the work of Humans Resources professionals transforming in recent years?
In recent years I’ve seen the work of HR professionals transform to being an integral and critical part of an organization’s success and survival. Especially in the last two years, HR has been pivotal in helping organizations traverse unstable territory during the pandemic, civil unrest, the great resignation, etc. by reinventing policies at a moment’s notice – for example: work from home policies, covid testing/protocol and return to office, devising talent strategies, deploying employee wellness programs, etc. -- all while never taking an eye off culture.
What qualities make for a great working team and/or environment?
The most critical quality that makes for a great working team and environment is trust. Additionally, integrity, agility and commitment are non-negotiable qualities.
What performance(s) are you excited to see?
I was really excited to see Angel Blue sings Barber, Florence Price’s works, and Fiddler on the Roof. Now I’m happy to say I’ve seen them all since starting in January! I look forward to Shen Yun and more – I’m excited about it all!
What is one book you think everyone needs to read, and why?
StandOut 2.0 by Marcus Buckingham – this book challenged everything I thought I knew about the best way to develop as a professional. For years, advice had been to minimize your opportunity areas and focus on developing in areas where you are weak, however, I learned while reading this book that you grow the most where you’re already strong. Once I learned this principle, my career took off.
Speed round! These are a few of my favorite things:
- Film: The Greatest Showman
- TV Show: Anne with an E
- Book: Bible
- Color: Green
- Hobby: Visiting Historical Landmarks/Museums
- Food: Soul Food with Sushi/Hibachi being a close second
What advice would you give young people looking at careers in your line of work?
I would say to learn as much about the fundamentals of business as you can, take every opportunity to network, be trustworthy, and go for it!
If you could have lunch with a person from history, who would it be and why?
King Tutankhamen “King Tut”, The Boy King. I am curious to know his thoughts about life and leadership at such a young age and with so much responsibility.
What is one of the most rewarding moments of your career, thus far?
One of the most rewarding moments of my career is when, as a new HR Director, I was able to exceed the hiring goals for the market I supported, growing to a population of 2500 from 140 in 18 months. We achieved every goal and maintained it for three years -- the highest level of engagement of all markets in the organization.
Learn more about the work behind building our new joint organization here.