Shekina Wiley-Sattiewhite, Director of the People Leader HR Support (PLHRS) organization, is redefining what's next at HPE by providing valuable support to people leaders around the world, allowing them to lead their teams and foster a high-performance culture.
Since the beginning, HPE has been advancing the way people live and work by creating the innovative technology at the heart of successful organizations and communities all over the world. Through our ‘Redefine what’s next’ blog series, we invite you to take a look inside our careers and culture through the stories of the people that power HPE—our team members. Today, we’re hearing from Shekina Wiley-Sattiewhite about how her unique career journey and passion for people and leadership are helping reshape cultures and teams.
Shekina’s journey to HPE
Shekina joined HPE a little over three years ago and has been making her mark ever since. Based in Houston, Texas, where she was born and raised, she currently leads the People Leader HR Support Organization (PLHRS). Her team advises and coaches People Leaders at all levels, from first-line leaders to executives worldwide.
Her path to HPE was paved by a desire to join an innovative and forward-thinking team that valued community impact and care just as much as she did. Her prior experience in client-facing HR during her years in the oil and gas sector, coupled with her experience as HR Business Partner for our Aruba Networking group, enabled her to sharpen her leadership and talent strategy capabilities.
When she was presented with the opportunity to help shape and change HPE's HR operating model, she took it, resulting in the development of the PLHRS worldwide organization, where she is now at the helm of helping people leaders excel at a global scale.
Shekina’s role at HPE
As Global Director of the PLHRS organization, Shekina makes a difference for both People Leaders and their teams. Each day, her team provides these leaders with the tools, insights, and coaching they need to navigate any obstacles, drive engagement, and build a culture of high performance.
I enjoy being a leader at HPE because it allows me to be part of a dynamic and forward-thinking environment where I can make a meaningful impact on my team and the organization. At HPE, leadership is not just about guiding others—it's about inspiring, empowering, and fostering growth. I thrive on the opportunity to help my team members unlock their potential, navigate challenges, and achieve their career goals.
Shekina's work goes beyond strategy, too. She aims to create cultures where new ways of thinking can flourish, and alternative perspectives are valued. Through her work, she motivates teams to make changes, learn from mistakes, and enjoy their achievements.
How Shekina found her passion for leadership
Shekina's passion for leadership comes out of a mixed career, beginning with early HR roles that included working with clients and driving transformation in HPE's HR operations. Through these experiences, she discovered the value of being adaptable, working collaboratively, and prioritizing people first.
Her leadership extends outside her day-to-day work as founder and executive Director of the nonprofit Cradle2Career, which works with young parents. She is also a singer and musician and has sung backup for renowned artists. Her hobbies stimulate her creativity and motivate her to continue making a positive impact, both in and out of HPE.
The culture at HPE
Shekina uses one word to describe the culture at HPE: committed. That is what she experienced when HPE developed new solutions for customers, gave back to the community, and made an investment in its people.
Her favorite core value is "We Believe in Bold Moves" because it shows how HPE encourages curiosity, taking risks, and learning.
[This value] resonates with me because it embodies a spirit of curiosity, encourages taking risks, fosters a culture of learning, and views failures as opportunities to improve.
Shekina’s advice for new team members
For new team members at HPE, she advises having a growth mindset.
A growth mindset fosters continuous learning and development, boosts collaboration and teamwork, drives greater innovation and creativity, enhances problem-solving skills, and improves adaptability to change, ultimately leading to better performance and productivity."
Ready to redefine what’s next for you? With industry-leading training, development, and cross-functional learning opportunities, you could potentially explore multiple careers without ever leaving the impactful, mission-driven work and people at HPE. Explore our careers site and apply at careers.HPE.com.
