Dessalen Wood, CHRP, as Global Chief People Officer at Syntax, leads company-wide human resource strategies, fostering a vibrant culture for over 2,800 employees in 15 countries. With over 25 years of experience, she guides People and Culture teams, drawing from roles at renowned Canadian and US enterprises like Reitmans Canada, Hudson’s Bay Company, and The Disney Stores. Before Syntax, Wood served as Chief People Officer at ThoughtExchange and Vice President of Talent Development at Cineplex Entertainment. She holds a CHRP designation and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from McGill University.
Recognized with multiple awards, including the Waterstone Top 10 Most Admired Corporate Culture, Wood is esteemed as a “Rockstar Leader” by the ISG Women in Digital Awards. Most recently, under her leadership, Syntax earned Best Place to Work designations across all its operating countries.
1. Are you excited to speak at the Women in Tech Global Conference and what motivated you to join our community of 200,000 women in tech and allies?
I was invited to speak on a panel at the Women in Tech NA Elevate Symposium event this past September, and was blown away by the quality of the speakers, their depth of knowledge, and their honesty about what it’s like to be women in this industry. It felt like a community I could both contribute to and learn from, so joining the global conference was a natural next step.
2. Share with us about your background, your journey in tech, and what inspired you to develop your career in this direction.
I actually spent most of my career in retail and services - over twenty years - before joining one of my HR tech vendors, ThoughtExchange, as their Chief People Officer. In that role, I worked with the sales and accounts teams to help customers leverage the product, suggest new features, and create marketing content. That experience opened my eyes to how innovative and fast‑paced the tech sector is. When the opportunity came to join Syntax, a global tech & professional services company that helps businesses manage complex systems and move smoothly to the cloud, I jumped at the chance. In this role, I support close to 3000 leaders and experts, along with a talented People & Culture team from around the world. Working with so many experts and innovators keeps me on my toes; I have to keep learning just to keep up!
3. Why is the topic “Balancing Humanity and Automation: The Dual Dilemma for Leaders” important to you?
People often see automation and human focus as either‑or decisions: do we invest in technology or do we invest in people? My talk explores how they actually intersect. While automation dominates business strategies right now, human well‑being can be central to that journey and improve long‑term outcomes. When people feel supported and developed, they help the organization become more efficient because they understand how the change benefits them too.
4. Who would you advise to attend the Women in Tech Global Conference and why?
At the Symposium in Toronto, I met everyone from CEOs to a fifteen‑year‑old innovator; it was incredible. This conference is perfect for inspiring and informing women at every career stage. Hearing from peers who are launching new products, leading transformations, and mentoring others matters to all of us.
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