BetterUp Names Jolen Anderson as Chief People and Community Officer

April 4, 2024 - 4 min read

Visionary People Leader Joins Human Transformation Company 

AUSTIN, TX – April 4, 2024 – BetterUp, the human transformation company and pioneer of virtual coaching, today announced the appointment of Jolen Anderson as the company’s first-ever Chief People and Community Officer. As a proven executive for Fortune 500 companies, Anderson brings a deep understanding of the pivotal relationship between organizations and their employees in driving business results through equipping and empowering teams. Over the past two decades, she has identified and addressed key needs across human resources, legal, and diversity and inclusion for leading financial institutions.

In her new role, Anderson will oversee all aspects of the human resources function, including talent strategy, people operations, leadership development, and inclusion efforts. She will also support the BetterUp workforce through innovative initiatives that drive wellbeing, performance and support navigating change and transformation as BetterUp employees aim to do the same for their customers and members worldwide. Anderson's role will also be externally facing, as she will regularly convene and engage the BetterUp community and ecosystem of forward-thinking CHROs, customers, partners, and Science Board Advisors to advance the HR industry through leveraging the latest in behavioral science and technology.

“Since BetterUp is a trusted resource for CEOs, CPOs and CHROs at some of the world’s largest organizations, our Chief People and Community Officer role is unique in that it requires a visionary leader who pioneers new ways to invest in people and make a positive impact both within our organization and also for our broader community,” said Alexi Robichaux, CEO and co-founder of BetterUp. “We found those impressive qualities in Jolen; her innovative approach to leadership brings together purpose and performance to create cultures of belonging, drive performance, and unlock organizational results.”

Across her career, Anderson has successfully led major strategic initiatives, driven growth and innovation, and strengthened culture within global teams and companies. She most recently served as Chief People Officer and Global Head of Impact Citizenship at BNY Mellon, where she supported more than 50,000 employees in over 35 countries, successfully modernizing and transforming people systems while investing in world class learning, well-being and talent programs. Anderson also led the company’s impact and philanthropic initiatives, leveraging its market influence and resources to address pressing global issues, contribute to healthy economies and make a positive impact on people around the world.

Prior to BNY Mellon, she served as Visa’s Chief Human Resources Officer for the client organization, where she led a global team of internal strategic partners and advisors on all HR-related topics, creating and executing talent strategies aligned to business priorities. She also served as Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, and Chief Counsel, employment and social responsibility, providing legal support to the global human resources organization, counseling senior executives and the board of directors on employment, executive compensation, and corporate governance matters. Prior to joining Visa, she practiced law at a Chicago law firm where she represented parties in labor and employment matters. 

“Throughout my career, I have been a student of human capital systems. BetterUp’s mission and employees are unique because they also support the performance, resilience, and well-being of enterprise and Fortune 500 workforces worldwide,” said Jolen Anderson, Chief People and Community Officer of BetterUp. “I'm passionate about igniting purpose and performance for BetterUp internally and in partnership with the organizations we support. Great leadership is contagious and BetterUp inspires and transforms the lives of members everyday; I look forward to further building this community focused on strengthening mindsets, skills, and well-being.”

Anderson is a top contributor and thought leader in her field. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council and the board of trustees for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has been honored with the Aiming High Award by the Women’s Legal Education and Defense Fund, Standout HR Executive by American Banker, ChangeMaker Champion by the YWCA, Working Mother of the Year by Working Mother magazine, 11 Women Who Are Changing the Face of Finance by Forbes, Most Influential Women in Business by the San Francisco Business Times, and Top Diversity Executive by Black Enterprise Magazine, among others. 

Anderson is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Policy from Northwestern University.

For more information on Jolen Anderson and her new role at BetterUp, please visit betterup.com.

 

For media inquiries: press@betterup.com

 

Published April 4, 2024

Read Next

Employee Experience
7 min read | March 25, 2022

Are you a CHRO moving to a new company? Accelerate your impact!

Amid a lot of movement among CHROs, if you've just moved to a new company, you have distinct advantages that will help you supersize your impact quickly. Read More
Diversity & Inclusion
8 min read | March 4, 2021

Embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into Zendesk’s DNA

A conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion with InaMarie Johnson, Chief People and Diversity Officer at Zendesk. Read More
Professional Development
4 min read | September 30, 2022

A new role for CHROs: Insights from the Gartner ReimagineHR Conference

Learn Guillermo Miranda's insights from the Gartner ReimagineHR conference on the changing role of the CHRO and how they can achieve success. Read More
Leadership & Management
8 min read | February 10, 2021

Investing in leaders to fuel growth: Ryan Weber, VP of Talent Activation and Growth, ServiceNow

ServiceNow is a high-growth digital workflow company whose purpose is “to make the world of work, work better for people.” Ryan’s remit was to build the leadership... Read More
Diversity & Inclusion
6 min read | September 21, 2021

Leadership secrets that transformed Chipotle with Marissa Andrada

Leadership secrets that transformed Chipotle with Marissa Andrada and Elaine Welteroth. Read More
Company Announcements
6 min read | February 16, 2021

BetterUp partners with Josh Bersin Academy on Coaching at Scale

The Josh Bersin Academy delivers future-focused learning to prepare HR leaders to meet 21st century workplace challenges. In partnership with BetterUp, the academy launched... Read More
Well-being
6 min read | March 23, 2021

Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex joins BetterUp as Chief Impact Officer

BetterUp co-founder and CEO, Alexi Robichaux, introduces Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex as the company's new Chief Impact Officer. Read More
Company Announcements
13 min read | December 6, 2021

How BetterUp is committing to social impact through Pledge 1%

BetterUp is joining Pledge 1%, a global movement that encourages companies to donate 1% of their equity, staff time, product, or profit to their communities. Read More
Well-being
10 min read | February 25, 2021

Building the platform for human growth

BetterUp co-founder and CEO, Alexi Robichaux, shares the company's latest $125M Series D funding news and its progress on building a platform for human growth. Read More
Professional Development
6 min read | November 10, 2022

Remastering people strategy to future-proof organizational success

Read More
Diversity & Inclusion
18 min read | June 17, 2021

What is an employee resource group and why do they matter?

Read More
Employee Experience
20 min read | September 1, 2021

Master the process (and data) of human resource reporting

Read More
Culture
6 min read | October 13, 2020

Leading with heart and courage for a human-energy company: Rhonda Morris, CHRO Chevron

Read More
Leadership & Management
11 min read | July 20, 2021

Human capital: why it matters and 5 tips to improve it

Read More
Company Announcements
15 min read | October 8, 2021

Building the human transformation company: The principles that shape our future

Read More
Leadership & Management
8 min read | November 9, 2021

Leaders who ignite change with Allyson Felix and Josetta Jones

Read More
Culture
3 min read | September 2, 2019

BetterUp and Workday Partner to Enhance Worker, Workplace Well-Being

Read More
Leadership & Management
5 min read | October 13, 2020

The key to a more resilient organization is more resilient teams

Read More

Stay connected with BetterUp

Get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research.