Leadership one-to-ones: catching up with Nori Szekeres

In the eighth installment in this series, we sit down with Nori Szekeres, Head of People at Savanta, and hear how she is driving a culture of authenticity and empowerment across our global teams.

I love that I get to be the full me and make the role my own. The ability to be authentic and innovative defines Savanta as a company.

About the series

I have always been interested in the stories of individuals. As an avid reader of biographies, a listener of Ted Talks, and a scourer of Wikipedia pages, I love learning about how people get to where they are and what makes them tick.

In this blog series, I speak with Savanta’s leaders to understand how they’ve shaped the unique culture at Savanta and, hopefully, glean some pearls of wisdom that we can all incorporate into our professional lives.

The eighth interview in this series is with Nori Szekeres, Head of People. Nori has overall responsibility for managing and leading global HR services, covering the US, UK and overseeing India.

Follow Nori’s story from starting out as an HR advisor through to leading the people team at Savanta.

Charles: What do you do at Savanta and what has been your journey to get here?

Nori: I lead the global People Team, where I focus on the alignment of our People strategy with Savanta’s wider business goals. Transitioning from a regional role to a global one has been challenging, despite having prior international experience. However, I’ve always wanted to spread my wings since joining the business in 2023, and with the experience I’ve gained, plus support from HR mentors like George Keenan, I’ve been able move into this role with fantastic support.

Charles: What project have you worked on at Savanta that you’re most proud of? And why?

Nori: The recent UK restructuring was very tough and transformative, despite the negative impact. It was an invaluable experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I emerged stronger, tapping into skills I didn’t know I had and connecting deeply with colleagues during a challenging period.

Charles: One of our core values at Savanta is ’empowerment’. What does empowerment mean to you?

Nori: My role is not client facing, so when I think about empowerment, I am considering it from an internal perspective. To me, empowerment is about being respected and trusted by the people around you. It’s foundational to fostering a collaborative and motivated organisational culture and is key to making sure colleagues respect your vision as a leader.

Charles: Another principle is centered around being truthful. What’s one of the hardest things you’ve had to do as a leader?

Nori: Saying ‘I disagree’ has been particularly challenging. Learning to assert my views (backed by evidence) is essential to mitigate risks and protect our people and company. Even now, I still find it difficult at times – no one wants to clash – be it with friends, family or colleagues. However, provided the push back has good reason, I find it much easier to voice my opinions.

Charles: Is there a life / work hack that you swear by?

Nori: Strategic planning, whether for meetings or personal tasks, keeps me grounded and prepared. While not everything goes according to plan, it helps manage stress and enhances productivity. It’s the same for social gatherings or seeing friends – I like to plan them ahead. Another example is planning what I have for lunch the next day; I get very grumpy when it’s midday and I have to start thinking about what to eat!

Charles: How do you help deliver on Savanta’s purpose as a leader?

Nori: I contribute by ensuring we hire and retain talented individuals. Cultivating engagement and motivation, alongside supporting a high-performing culture, is central to achieving Savanta’s goals. I support our leaders around the many challenges they face.

Charles: What’s a skill you’re currently working on?

Nori: I’m focused on delivering feedback more effectively. Despite running feedback training, improving my own delivery remains a work in progress. But as the saying goes, “The cobbler’s child has no shoes,” and I need to work on being better at this. It certainly doesn’t come easy.

Charles: Have you made any mistakes in your career? What have you learned from them?

Nori: I’ve made numerous mistakes but owning them is crucial to growth. It facilitates resolutions and builds respect – principles I encourage my team to embrace. It’s much easier to resolve or fix issues if I put my hand up and ask for help straight away. You’re also much more respected if you own up and admit you’ve made a mistake, and this is what I encourage my team to do.

Charles: If you could give your 25-year-old self a piece of advice, what would that be?

Nori: Actively create opportunities rather than waiting for them. Start that course, change jobs, start a new career, ask for that learning opportunity, and ask for that promotion, because life is way too short to wait around. On a personal note, embracing healthier habits is vital for navigating the challenges of aging, it’s a ride once you hit 30!

Charles: For you, what makes Savanta a special place to work?

Nori: I love that I get to be the full me and make the role my own. The ability to be authentic and innovative defines Savanta. The supportive community mindset, where we can imprint our own ideas, makes it truly special rather than a hierarchical place to work.

To find out more about life at Savanta contact us, or visit our careers page.

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