LaQuenta Jacobs said the greatest professional lesson she has learned is that everyone rises and falls together. “Leaders leverage the great talent that is around them, they nurture this talent to bring forth the best and provide opportunities for exposure, without fear of losing traction,” she said. “My greatest lesson was to surround myself with people who are far greater than me and to lean on this tribe as I continue to develop.”
With a 25-year history of championing inclusivity in senior human resources roles, Jacobs has enacted tangible change in a male-dominated industry. She now continues her work as the Chief Diversity Officer at XPO Logistics, Inc.
XPO Logistics Inc. is a leading provider of freight transportation services, primarily truck brokerage and less-than-truckload (LTO). XPO uses its proprietary technology, including the cutting-edge XPO Connect automated freight marketplace, to move goods efficiently through supply chains. The company’s global network serves 50,000 shippers with 756 locations and approximately 42,000 employees.
Jacobs’ career began in talent acquisition more than 25 years ago. Since then, she has advanced to high profile roles of progressive responsibility and has been viewed as a trusted advisor valued for her ability to align HR programs that support company strategy, increase revenue and leverage human capital.
Jacobs entered the transportation industry in 2018 when she joined XPO Logistics with responsibility for HR and recruiting operations in the U.S. and Canada. In 2020, Jacobs was appointed to the new position of Chief Diversity Officer where she provides cultural leadership and strategic direction as an advocate of diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Over the last 18 months, LaQuenta completed a comprehensive workplace assessment of XPO’s current workforce status and practices to develop measurable DEI goals,” said her colleagues. “Her area of focus has been building a robust pipeline of diverse talent, increasing internal development of employees and expanding external partnerships.”
For Jacobs, the path forward is in sharing knowledge to help shape future commerce as well as the bench of future leaders. “Specific to the space of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as Human Capital, it is my desire to influence through written communications, actively participating on panels and speaking engagements and leveraging my social media platform to drive thoughtful content that highlights best practices and proven strategies,” Jacobs said. “It is my goal to constantly evaluate how I can improve my craft and add value to everyone invested in the company.”
