TD Magazine Article
One to Watch: Frank Jaquez
As the manager of learning and development at Heinz, Frank Jaquez is responsible for enabling Heinz Operations to achieve its goal of developing, engaging, and retaining its employees. In this role, Jaquez also has the unique opportunity to influence the strategic direction of learning and development for Heinz Global Operations.
Fri Aug 08 2014
Title: Manager, Learning and Development
Company: H.J. Heinz Company
Education: Master's degree in international business; bachelor's degree in instructional design and technology, Walden University
Twitter: @FrankJaquez
As the manager of learning and development at Heinz, Jaquez is responsible for enabling Heinz Operations to achieve its goal of developing, engaging, and retaining its employees. In this role, Jaquez also has the unique opportunity to influence the strategic direction of learning and development for Heinz Global Operations by partnering with all levels of the organization, including senior executives.
How do you stay current in the field?
It is said that the people you surround yourself with will determine your success. The best career advice I ever received was to establish a strong support network.
Also, to keep up with the latest industry trends, I have the following sites saved to my favorites list:
ATD Communities of Practice—Global HRD, Learning & Development, and Learning Technologies
Biggest Achievement
I had just started my career as an instructional designer and was given a very high-profile project. The financial institution I worked for was transitioning all personal bankers worldwide from a DOS-based system to a Windows-based platform, and automating several sales and service-related processes. As the lead instructional designer, I was responsible for the design and development of a blended learning program, which included e-learning, paper-based support material, and instructor-led training.
This project presented many challenges, but I was very fortunate and worked for some wonderful leaders who provided the coaching I needed to succeed. The training received praise from our consumer market managers and I was recognized by several senior executives. To this day, I can still hear my manager saying, "If you can make it through this, you can make it through anything."
3 Qualities for Success
Find your passion. If you don't love what you're doing and aren't giving it your best, then find something new.
Develop a sense of self-awareness. Take the time to reflect on how you are perceived by others. With better self-awareness, you'll improve your relationships and reach your goals more easily.
Be a risk-taker. Don't be afraid of setting bold goals. You'll learn from your mistakes and the challenging road to success will be just as rewarding.
On the Evolution of L&D
The profession is changing dramatically, and the scope of my role will eventually encompass the full life cycle of talent development. Our focus should be on attracting, retaining, and developing the best talent. I've been fortunate to work with organizations that value the L&D function as a strategic business partner, and I'm excited to broaden my skills in talent development and add more value to these organizations.
Advice for New Trainers
Be patient and take the time to understand the business. Many new L&D professionals are eager to make an impact on day one. Reputation and influence will come over time, but to be truly recognized as a strategic business partner, you need business acumen.