In this week’s episode, Gillian chats with Jane Datta about a day in her life as a people leader at NASA, the impact of the pandemic on the role, the key components of employee experience, the importance of acknowledging ‘that’s it’ moments, and much more.

Jane joined NASA in 2007 as the director of the agency’s Workforce Policy, Planning, and Analysis Division in the Office of Human Capital Management. Here she played an essential role in coordinating activities to increase efficiency across the agency, such as the agency-level integration of workforce planning with budgeting and strategic planning. Datta oversaw agency-level human capital policy, accountability, recruiting, hiring, and student programs.

“We welcome the whole employee. We really believe fervently in the balance of your work and your personal life, which is not a new concept. But we're having to re-examine what that flexibility looks like. Have we got it all figured out? No. But I think the intent is there and I think employees feel that intent and that's, I think, the more important part. Did we get it exactly right? No. Do they know what we intend and that we are trying? That's what matters.”

“The kinds of leaders we need have got to be creative, they've got to care, and they've got to be willing to continue to learn. That takes time. Being a supervisor is not just an ‘other duties as assigned'. It is a serious endeavor.”

Listen back to hear more…

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