Influential Woman · Manufacturing

Danielle Sevy

Senior Director of Human Resources, Jones Soda Co.

Woodinville, WA

Her Story

About Danielle

I started my career in the military, which is how I got into supply chain. When I left the military, I transitioned to doing supply chain and logistics for a manufacturer, where I learned the importance of execution, communication, and understanding the customer experience from the ground up. Over time, my role expanded into leadership across logistics, customer service, DTC, and eventually into human resources. This gave me a broad view of how the business works, not just from a process standpoint, but also from a people standpoint. I've had the opportunity to support teams through growth and change, operational challenges, and leadership transitions. Today, my role is broad and cross-functional. I support human resources, employee experience, and culture. A big part of my responsibility is helping connect the people side of the business with the operational side. I support all areas of human resources including employee relations, recruiting, onboarding, benefits, policy development, compliance, culture, performance, and leadership. I'm passionate about building a people-first workplace where people feel like they can show up and be the best versions of themselves, and that you have the work environment that supports that. My focus is creating a culture where people feel valued and empowered, whilst also helping an organization move forward in a practical and business-minded way.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Danielle

01What do you attribute your success to?

I would attribute my success to my upbringing, my family, and the experience of moving from South Africa. That kind of transition teaches you resilience and being adaptable and finding your voice in unfamiliar spaces. My mom has been a major influence on who I am. She taught me the value of hard work, and kindness, and strength, and showing up for people. All of these things have carried into the way that I lead today. Watching her navigate life with independence and courage, and most of all, with heart, definitely shaped me. She's strong, independent, and resilient. Taking the courageous step of immigrating to another country and starting over, she taught me the value of hard work, and self-respect, and standing on your own two feet. Showing up every day, taking care of the people you love, and doing that all with grace has shaped the way that I approach life and leadership.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

My advice would be to trust that your voice is value, even before you feel confident using it. Growth happens when you're willing to be a little uncomfortable. Specific to my field, you're building credibility with people through consistency, follow-through, curiosity, and how you treat people.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I think a challenge in my industry is building trust and creating a space where people feel that HR is a safe place to ask questions and raise concerns and feel heard. That's a very big part of what I do, and so it's very meaningful for me to create a conduit where people can do that, where I am the last word, where anyone, doesn't matter in leadership or wherever in the company, can always come to me, not just as HR, but just as a sounding board, as a place to vent, as a space to be heard. Confidentiality is just a very important part of that. It's also about creating a space in the organization where HR is not just this administrative part of a company that you just go to with concerns, or onboard people. It's a lot more than that. I'm passionate about building a people-first workplace where people feel like they can show up and be the best versions of themselves, and that you have the work environment that supports that. My focus is creating a culture where people feel valued and empowered, whilst also helping an organization move forward in a practical and business-minded way.

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