Annette Sas-Jean Baptiste Simonne
Annette Sas-Jean Baptiste Simonne is an Executive Culture, Talent, and Mindfulness Leader based in Greater Orlando, currently serving as a Talent Development & Organizational Culture Consultant at EY. With more than 20 years of progressive HR experience, Annette’s career began as an administrative assistant in the HR department at Bank of America. What started as an entry-level opportunity evolved into HR analyst and HR consultant roles over a decade of growth within the organization. She later expanded her global and operational perspective at Electrolux before spending three years at Wells Fargo, ultimately joining EY four years ago. Her academic foundation includes a Master of Science in Organizational Management with a focus in Human Resources Management from Ashford University.
Throughout her career, Annette has navigated the full spectrum of HR—from technical project management, HR analytics, conduct risk, and systems implementation to executive consulting and employee experience strategy. Over time, her work evolved from highly technical HR initiatives into development-centered roles focused on culture, leadership, and wellbeing. A pivotal moment in her professional journey came when she recognized her own proximity to burnout. While dedicated to supporting the needs of employees and organizations, she realized she had not prioritized her own wellbeing. That awareness sparked a personal commitment to inner work, self-reflection, and intentional growth values she now models in both her leadership and life.
Today, Annette supports an employee experience centered department where she partners with leadership teams to analyze engagement data, interpret survey insights, deliver strategic presentations, facilitate development sessions, and host listening forums that strengthen organizational culture. She also leads EY’s Mindfulness Community Committee, developing strategy, programming, and onboarding initiatives for the Mindfulness Champion Network while organizing and facilitating workshops that promote practical mindfulness practices. This leadership role represents her most purposeful work what she considers her passion project where she integrates neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and intentional leadership to help individuals and teams thrive from the inside out.
• Certified Scrum Master
• Ashford University - BA, Social Science (Minor: HR Management)
• Ashford University - MS, Organizational Management (HR Management)
• Production Director at Elevation Church
• Bible Study Leader for Production Team at Elevation Church
What do you attribute your success to?
I would definitely say keeping my relationship with God first. Making the intentional time before I go into my day to have a conversation with God has been foundational. I would say any practice that has allowed me to stay connected spiritually, whether it be journaling, or reading, or serving in the community, has been the foundation for every great milestone achievement that I've experienced. At this point in my life, it's almost necessary for the sake of sanity and longevity in a corporate environment. It's not an option, it's just a necessity. I had to carve a path that would allow me to stay well but be in a professional environment.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
If you don't understand what someone is saying, ask questions. If you disagree with what someone is saying, ask more questions. It's easy for people to grow self-righteous and inflexible, and with respect to the fact that each person has an entitlement to their own perspectives and opinions, the best way to avoid getting into battles that are not worth fighting is to become more curious about the mindset of other people, and less judgmental about perspectives that don't match your own.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say the greatest piece of technology is the inner being that exists inside of you. Make sure that you're nurturing and caring for the super capabilities that you possess as a gift and as a talent. Follow your passions. It's been said many times throughout history that if you love what you do, it won't feel like work. In the culture that I came up in, there was a lot of people motivated by financial ambitions, and those ultimately can't satisfy if you don't love what you do as you're earning the money that you're making. So I would definitely say to follow your passions and do what doesn't feel like work, and then you'll always be able to say that you feel a sense of purpose. And make sure to take breaks. Just make sure to take some time and enjoy this life, because everything is not about work. It's about the journey of living.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is breaking through and getting people to break out of that workaholic, celebrating workaholic mentality. It's too much and too often celebrated in the US, whereas I think we need to do more focus on celebrating those who are finding the balance and still managing to perform. I believe that well-being and performance go hand in hand. I don't think that well-being is going to stifle your performance, I think it's going to enhance it. The greatest opportunity is how can we leverage AI to help us. There's so much untapped potential in the AI space, and with recognition that there are risks and need to manage for ethical concerns where it concerns people management, I still think there is so much opportunity to drive greater efficiencies and educate people on the benefits of the power of doing less and leveraging the technology and the capabilities to enable greater innovation from the human intelligence perspective.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Treat people how you want to be treated. I do believe life is a mirror and it all comes back to you. Resist the urge to see life as a competition and recognize that we're all in this together. Lead with love, and let compassion become a core value for caring for yourself, as well as others.
Locations
EY
Davenport, FL 33896