Ariane Nava: Pioneering HR Leader Driving Innovation, Employee Development, and Organizational Transformation

Top 10 Outstanding HR Leaders to Watch in 2025

Ariane Nava, Chief People Officer at ACMobility, is driving transformative change in the HR landscape. With a passion for innovation, leadership development, and fostering an inclusive culture, she is shaping the future of the workforce at ACMobility.

The Journey to Transforming Workplace Culture

Ariane Nava’s HR journey blends personal insight and professional growth, emphasizing HR’s key role in organizational success. “I’ve always been an HR practitioner,” she reflects. Starting her career in the manufacturing industry with Red Ribbon and RFM, Ariane built a strong HR foundation before expanding her expertise at Accenture in IT Consulting.

Her role as HR Consulting Manager at People Support honed her ability to manage large-scale operations. “Effective leadership is rooted in understanding and valuing people,” she says, reinforcing HR’s strategic value. A 15-year tenure at Globe Telecom, including leading Online and Telesales, deepened her focus on employee engagement and business transformation.

Today, Ariane remains committed to fostering innovation and prioritizing inclusion and well-being in response to technological shifts and evolving employee needs. “By investing in our people, we can drive not just the success of our company but also make a meaningful impact in the community.”

Transforming Culture, Empowering People, and Driving Innovation

Ariane’s career reflects her commitment to shaping organizations and people for success through HR leadership, cultural transformation, and digital innovation.

  • Leading Cultural Transformation: Redefined ACMobility’s Purpose, Vision, and Values through stakeholder feedback.
  • Championing Employee Experience: Created the ACMobility Recognition Program and developed DEI strategies. Shaped a coaching culture at Globe Telecom.
  • Going Digital: Launched the Coach2Grow app and developed the Quest Super App for learning and performance.
  • Advancing Diversity and Inclusion: Initiated ACMobility’s Pride Month celebration and signed the Working with Cancer Pledge.
  • Strengthening Leadership Development: Developed a Competency Assessment and Learning Program at Globe Telecom.

Ariane’s career highlights her dedication to transforming HR and organizational culture, focusing on innovation, inclusivity, and leadership development.

“Diversity is not a set-aside program; it’s a business imperative.” – John R. McCarty

Shaping a Thriving, High-Performance Workforce

Ariane aligns People and Culture Strategy with business goals to drive performance, innovation, and adaptability.

  • Talent Acquisition and Management: Leads recruitment strategies to build a diverse workforce supporting growth.
  • Enhancing Employee Experience: Design initiatives to boost connection, retention, and motivation.
  • Learning and Development: Champions continuous improvement, aligning growth with company goals.
  • Culture and Inclusion: Drives diversity and inclusion efforts to foster collaboration and innovation.
  • Performance Management: Aligns individual goals with company objectives for enhanced effectiveness.
  • HR Digitalization: Streamlines operations and enables data-driven decision-making.
  • Leadership Development: Focuses on mentoring and digital platforms for effective leadership.
  • Employee Well-being: Integrates digital wellness tools for improved engagement and retention.

Ariane ensures HR practices support ACMobility’s success while creating a digitally-enabled, engaging employee experience.

“Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” – Jack Canfield

Achieving Harmony Between Personal Passions and Professional Success

Balancing work and personal life is a priority for Ariane, who believes in the power of intentional time management to bring her best self to both realms. “It’s about creating moments that recharge and inspire me,” she says.

Her approach includes spending quality time with her family and playing with her mini schnauzer, Yuri, a source of joy and grounding. Ariane also embraces her creative side through painting, writing, and music, enjoying the relaxation these hobbies bring.

Ariane’s tip for maintaining healthy work-life integration is to focus on activities that genuinely energize. “It’s not about equally dividing time, but finding harmony and prioritizing what matters most,” she says. This intentional balance fosters well-being while excelling professionally.

Empowering Teams Through Trust, Authenticity, and Growth

Ariane’s leadership philosophy centers on three core principles: empowerment, authenticity and empathy, and continuous improvement.

  • Empowerment: Fosters trust and accountability, encouraging autonomy and collaboration for innovation and productivity.
  • Authenticity and Empathy: Build strong relationships through transparent communication, ensuring every team member feels heard and supported.
  • Continuous Improvement: Embraces a growth mindset, refining processes through ongoing learning and feedback.

By aligning her leadership with ACMobility’s strategic goals, Ariane promotes well-being programs and inclusive leadership, creating a culture where employees feel motivated and engaged.

Leading Transformation and Driving Change Across HR Functions

Ariane navigated several key challenges in transforming ACMobility’s HR approach, focusing on empathy, inclusivity, and efficiency.

  • Cultural Transformation: Shifting from a traditional HR structure to one centered on empathy and inclusivity, Ariane launched ACMobility’s Purpose and Values, embedding them through leader interviews and ongoing communication. “I designed programs that reflected what truly mattered to our people,” she says.
  • Employee Engagement: To sustain engagement during transitions, she implemented pulse surveys, tailoring benefits and initiatives to ensure employees felt valued and supported.
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Ariane developed a DEI framework addressing industry gaps, offering awareness training, and supporting women in technical roles. “Our office reflects this commitment with inclusive features like gender-neutral restrooms,” she adds.
  • HR Digitalization: Ariane championed the digital transformation of HR, introducing initiatives like digital business cards and partnering with Darwinbox to streamline workflows.
  • HR Organization Transformation: Upon joining, Ariane repositioned HR as a strategic partner, designing an organization that aligned with business goals and focused on employee profiles and needs.

Her leadership focuses on adaptability and listening to employee needs, ensuring that HR practices are aligned with ACMobility’s broader vision.

Shaping the Future of HR

Ariane views her role as Chief People Officer at ACMobility as pivotal in shaping the future of HR professionals and the broader workforce.

  • Inclusive Leadership: Ariane is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, setting a standard for future HR leaders to create environments where diverse perspectives fuel innovation. “I aim to create a culture where all voices are valued,” she says.
  • Employee Experience: Her focus on enhancing the entire employee lifecycle encourages future HR professionals to prioritize holistic employee experiences, ensuring individuals feel supported and engaged.
  • Leveraging Technology: Ariane advocates for embracing HR digitalization and data-driven decisions, aiming to inspire future leaders to harness technology to improve organizational performance.
  • Continuous Learning: A strong proponent of lifelong learning, she encourages emerging HR professionals to commit to their own development while fostering growth within their teams.

Through her work, Ariane is building a foundation that will empower employees to feel valued, supported, and motivated to reach their full potential.

Key Principles for Aspiring HR Leaders

Ariane offers valuable advice for aspiring HR leaders aiming to make an impact:

  • Embrace Lifelong Learning: She emphasizes the importance of staying curious and stepping outside of your comfort zone. “Magical things happen when you move out of your comfort zone,” Ariane notes, stressing that continuous learning helps you adapt to the ever-evolving HR landscape.
  • Cultivate Emotional Intelligence: Developing strong interpersonal skills is key to building meaningful relationships, supporting employees, and fostering a positive workplace culture.
  • Be a Change Agent: Ariane encourages aspiring leaders to actively seek opportunities for improvement and to demonstrate resilience in navigating challenges.
  • Lead with Integrity: Upholding ethical standards, transparency, and accountability fosters trust and respect among colleagues.
  • Prioritize Self-Care: Ariane reminds future leaders to take care of their well-being, acknowledging that “it’s okay to hit the pause button” to recharge and refocus.

By living these principles, aspiring HR leaders can drive meaningful change and inspire others to thrive.

“You cannot change your future, but you can change your habits, and surely your habits will change your future.” – Jim Rohn

Transforming Leadership, Communication, and Employee Growth

At ACMobility, Ariane has spearheaded transformative initiatives aimed at fostering a culture of inclusivity, learning, and employee well-being.

Key Achievements:

  • Purpose and Values Redefinition: Ariane led the redefinition of ACMobility’s Purpose, Vision, and Values, establishing a strong foundation for the company’s future. “Everything we do today and in the future is anchored on a shared Purpose,” she says, uniting and inspiring the workforce.
  • Leadership Transformation: The LeaderShift Forum was launched, inspired by insights from sister companies in telecommunication, banking, and energy. This forum guided the company’s transformation journey, while new rewards and recognition programs ensured employees felt valued and motivated.
  • Enhanced Communication: The introduction of ACMoments and ACMonologue elevated internal communication. These platforms foster alignment with company values, featuring leaders discussing practical ways to embody these principles in everyday work.
  • Learning Culture: Through initiatives like the Plug & Play Learning Expo, Ariane nurtured a learning culture. The Expo gathered 700 ACMobilizers nationwide for a full day of development, covering business transformation, the EV landscape, and personal growth. Additional programs, such as the ACMo-owned Leadership Program and various academies, aim to develop the next generation of leaders.
  • Employee Experience: Ariane prioritized a holistic employee experience, celebrating significant moments, and enhancing recognition programs like Pat on the Wall and the Annual Excellence Awards. Initiatives, such as the Cancer Pledge, reflect her commitment to well-being, alongside wellness programs for employees and leaders.

By embedding these initiatives into ACMobility’s culture, Ariane has successfully created a personalized approach that resonates with today’s workforce, primarily composed of Millennials and Gen Zs.

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” – Simon Sinek

Building a Culture of Innovation in HR

At ACMobility, fostering innovation within the HR department is a key priority for Ariane. She emphasizes creating a culture that encourages creativity, collaboration, and ongoing improvement. “I strive to ensure that our team feels empowered to share ideas and challenge the norm,” she says.

To stay ahead of industry trends, Ariane focuses on:

  • Encouraging idea-sharing and openness within the team
  • Utilizing cutting-edge HR technologies and data analytics
  • Providing ongoing training and development to keep the team informed about emerging trends
  • Promoting cross-department collaboration to co-create solutions
  • Embracing a mindset of experimentation to pilot and refine new initiatives

Ariane believes these strategies will not only keep ACMobility at the forefront of HR innovation but also support the company’s broader growth and position it as a leader in the industry.

Strategic HR Planning for Organizational Growth

Ariane’s strategic approach to HR planning centers on aligning people initiatives with ACMobility’s business goals while nurturing a culture of engagement and development. “My strategy focuses on ensuring that HR initiatives directly support our mission and business priorities,” she explains.

Key strategies implemented include:

  • Aligning HR strategies with ACMobility’s mission and strategic goals through collaboration with leadership.
  • Co-creating the Employee Value Proposition (EVP) with the HR Leadership team.
  • Prioritizing continuous learning with initiatives like the Plug & Play Learning Expo and Customer-First Learning Program.
  • Implementing targeted DEI strategies to foster a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace.
  • Leveraging technology to streamline HR operations and enhance efficiency.
  • Enhancing employee communication through platforms like ACMoments and

These efforts help drive growth while fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment.

Empowering Growth through Continuous Learning

For Ariane, learning and development are at the core of her HR strategy, fueling employee engagement, skill enhancement, and organizational success. “Learning is key to staying competitive and ensuring our people grow alongside the business,” she states.

Key strategies for continuous growth include:

  • Integrating technology with tools like a learning-on-the-go platform and a digitally powered performance management system for personalized development.
  • Cultivating a learning culture through initiatives like the Plug & Play Learning Expo and upcoming Sales, Technical, and Leadership Academies.
  • Focusing on leadership training to build a strong pipeline of future leaders.
  • Prioritizing employee development with targeted programs for emerging leaders to drive innovation.

Ariane’s approach ensures that employees are equipped to excel, adapt, and contribute to ACMobility’s continued success.

“The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.” – Henry Ford

Setting the Path for Growth and Impact

Ariane’s goals center around growth, innovation, and creating lasting impact both professionally and personally. Her vision for the future is driven by the desire to leave a positive mark on the HR field and empower the next generation of leaders. “Continuous growth and the ability to inspire others are my guiding principles,” she shares.

Professional Goals:

  • Driving HR Innovation: Ariane aims to implement emerging technologies to improve employee experience and operational efficiency. She plans to achieve this by staying connected with industry leaders and attending relevant conferences.
  • Leadership Development: Strengthening leadership programs and creating more mentorship opportunities will ensure a robust talent pipeline for ACMobility.
  • Personalized Employee Experience: By integrating tailored programs with digital solutions, she seeks to enhance employee satisfaction and streamline processes.

Personal Goals:

  • Mentorship and Giving Back: Ariane is committed to mentoring emerging HR professionals and engaging in community initiatives to inspire the next generation.
  • Continuous Learning: Her purpose revolves around learning, sharing knowledge, and inspiring others through her experiences.

With a focus on both professional impact and personal growth, Ariane is dedicated to leading with purpose and creating meaningful change at ACMobility and in the broader HR landscape.

Conclusion

Ariane’s unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth inspires and empowers those around her. Her forward-thinking approach, dedication to fostering inclusive cultures, and focus on employee well-being solidify her reputation as a visionary leader. She continues to drive innovation, shaping the future of HR with empathy, purpose, and strategic insight.