Spotlight On: Jennifer Charbonneau
Jennifer Charbonneau, VP of Business Transformation at Chord Energy, brings deep expertise in leading large-scale transformation initiatives across organizations. In this member spotlight, she shares what drew her to Innovate@UCLA, her perspective on leading change, and the trends shaping the future of business transformation.
On what drew her to Innovate@UCLA, Jennifer shared:
“I was really drawn to be part of a group of people who are curious, forward-thinking, and genuinely interested in what’s coming next. We’re in a time of rapid change, which is exciting, so being connected to a community that is smart, collaborative, and focused on driving real impact across multiple industries is super valuable. It’s also a great environment to build meaningful friendships along the way. Overall, it’s the kind of network that pushes you to grow while creating meaningful outcomes together.”
Reflecting on her experience leading large-scale transformation efforts, Jennifer shared what makes the difference between initiatives that succeed and those that stall:
“It really comes down to people. For any type of change or transformation, whether it’s AI, innovation, operations, or safety culture, the common thread is always relationships and building trust. Over time, and with some formal training along the way, I’ve learned that change works best when it’s built with others. The initiatives that succeed are the ones where the vision is created with folks across the organization, because that creates real ownership. From there, it’s about building buy-in, providing the tools and support needed, and making the new way of working easier and more effective than the old one. When people understand the value and feel set up to succeed, momentum tends to follow, and the change really sticks.”
Looking ahead, Jennifer shared the trends and technologies she believes will have the biggest impact on organizations in her space:
“The biggest shift will come from how people use AI in their work, supported by accurate and accessible data. It’s less about the technology on its own and more about how it’s combined with subject matter expertise. When you pair people’s knowledge and ideas with tools like large language models and machine learning, you start to see real gains in productivity, more informed decisions, and new ways to create value.”
Jennifer also reflected on how her involvement with The HAY Center has influenced her perspective as a leader:
“My experience with The HAY Center has really reinforced that everyone has their own story and the ability to grow and succeed. Sometimes people just need support, the right tools, and someone who believes in them. It’s a reminder that while strategy and execution matter, showing up for people and offering support along the way should always come first.”
We are proud to spotlight members of the Innovate@UCLA community who continue to lead with innovation, purpose, and impact.