The pace of change in HR is unprecedented—largely thanks to the influence of technology. At World Wide Fulfillment by Amazon, which outsources order fulfillment to the online retail giant, Drew Howell is navigating change with eyes wide open—and a lot of data.
As global HR leader at WWF BA and North America Selling Business Programs, Howell, an HR’s Rising Star for 2025, is credited with helping roll out a large-scale gen AI integration project. Known as Transforming Through Gen AI, the effort involved 14 pilot projects designed to empower employees to leverage gen AI for efficiency gains. Among the impacts, one software team sped up development by up to 40%, while a Java migration that previously would have taken 50 days was completed in just hours.
Read more about this Rising Star: Creating people-centric, tech-powered HR at Amazon
Such work involves retaining a long-term vision of the HR and organizational roadmaps, while pressing for operational excellence daily, Howell says.
Building strategic HR on vision and ‘practical execution’
It’s an imperative Howell models for his team and the organization, wrote Sunny Jain, Worldwide Head of Fulfillment by Amazon, in a letter supporting his Rising Star nomination.
“What sets Drew apart is his unique combination of strategic vision and practical execution,” Jain wrote. “He builds sustainable solutions that drive measurable results.”
That includes Howell’s work to bring employees, leaders and sellers together in a strategic way to confront operational lags. For instance, the Operations Obsession program had 86% of senior leaders participate in tours of fulfillment centers; meanwhile, the Seller Obsession initiative connected nearly half of employees directly with sellers.
Relationship-building will be key in the coming years, as organizations continue to welcome new generations into leadership ranks. Reverse mentoring, Howell says, will be an imperative as HR leads the effort to work through the ongoing “disruptive,” “messy” forces prompting organizational transformation.
See also: ‘Shaping the future of work’: Introducing HR’s Rising Stars for 2025
Hear more of Howell’s insights in this video interview.
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