As the senior vice president and chief human resources officer of Williams Companies in Tulsa, Oklahoma, since 2018, Debbie Pickle oversees all aspects of human capital management, including talent development, succession planning, organizational development, compensation and benefits, and diversity and inclusion. Her daily work involves preparing for quarterly board meetings, addressing action items, and engaging with employee resource groups.
Ms. Pickle’s impact, however, is more far-reaching. She also works to develop and foster a positive company culture through community initiatives and events. Notably, she implemented blind resume screening to ensure unbiased hiring practices. When she joined Williams, she was tasked with initiating and developing a sustainability report, tackling this challenge with confidence. Attributing her achievements, in part, to her perseverance and willingness to take risks, she has always maintained her faith in her own abilities. Alongside her profession, Ms. Pickle is an active and proud member of her community. She serves on the board of directors for Performance Contracting Inc. and the Tulsa Regional Chamber. In addition, she sits on the advisory council for Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa and volunteers with several local nonprofit organizations.
With more than two decades of experience in human resources, Ms. Pickle has thrived in multiple leadership roles. Prior to working at Williams, she was vice president of human resources for Koch Chemical Technology Group LLC for five years, during which she oversaw global human resources operations and led initiatives in talent acquisition, employee relations, and succession planning. Further, she was the global human resources director and manager at John Zink Hamworthy Combustion developing strategies for talent development and performance management. As the human resources manager for Aircraft Fueling Systems Inc., she managed staffing and employee relations. Ms. Pickle began her career at Robert Half International as a staffing manager.
To prepare for her professional pursuits, Ms. Pickle was a student at the University of Arkansas, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and human resources plus a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She continued her higher education by securing a master’s degree in organizational dynamics and human resources from The University of Oklahoma. Believing her success is chiefly the result of the strong moral compass her parents instilled in her, she is proud to have been the first in her family to attend college. These days, as a celebrated corporate leader, Ms. Pickle has been honored for her efforts with multiple awards. In 2021, she was named one of the Top 100 Diversity Leaders in Energy by the Energy Diversity Council, and in 2020, she was included on the National Diversity Council’s list of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Oil and Gas. Ms. Pickle also was honored in 2022 with the Oklahoma Ethics Executive Pilot Award from the Oklahoma Business Ethics Consortium.
Throughout her career, Ms. Pickle has maintained a passion for creating an empathetic and inclusive work environment. While she acknowledges the importance of meeting business needs, she focuses on fostering a culture that promotes diversity, believing in the power of this approach to unlock greater productivity and build more effective teams. She stays involved in her industry as a member of the Society for Human Resources Management, the Tulsa Area Human Resources Association and the Business Roundtable.
Committed to having a meaningful cultural impact for years to come, Ms. Pickle aims to help other corporate leaders recognize the significance and transformational power of maintaining inclusive environments. Her lifelong love for people and passion for helping others is her perpetual driving force. In this light, Ms. Pickle advises aspiring professionals in her industry to be persistent, stay resilient and refuse to give up.
