Jennifer Smith
Jennifer Smith is a seasoned workforce strategy and organizational development leader with nearly two decades of experience spanning government, global consulting, and higher education. She began her career serving six years in the U.S. Army, where, as an E3 at just 24 years old, she developed instructional materials and training guides for a classified ID card system that were implemented across the Department of Defense. Her early experience in high-stakes, mission-driven environments shaped her ability to align people, processes, and leadership decisions under pressure, a skill that continues to define her professional approach today.
Following her military service, Jennifer transitioned into human resources and talent advisory consulting, advancing into strategic leadership roles where she advises senior leaders on workforce transformation, organizational redesign, and change management. At Accenture, she serves as Workforce Strategy & Delivery Enablement Lead within the Avanaut group, integrating AI into workforce strategies, leading organizational restructuring, and designing engagement and attrition strategies informed by data analytics. She also leverages her instructional design expertise to teach agentic AI in workforce contexts, helping organizations align technology adoption with people strategies.
Jennifer holds an MBA/MGM from Thunderbird School of Global Management, graduating at the top of her class, and has served as a faculty associate teaching cross-cultural communication and negotiation, earning the Best Online Class award. Beyond her professional work, she is a dedicated mentor through Temple ISD’s Wildcat program, a mother of two daughters, and a passionate supporter of veteran-owned and local businesses. Jennifer also pursues creative ventures, including writing a fantasy novel series, reflecting her lifelong commitment to growth, learning, and resilience.
• Thunderbird School of Global Management - MGM
• Best Online Class Award 2020
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my journey that started in the Army, where I served for 6 years. When I was just 24 years old and an E3, I helped create and implement instructional design materials for a classified ID card system, working with the HR command in Alexandria. We ended up creating instructional guidebooks that are still being used today across the Department of Defense. That early experience of being so young and having the courage to call up to command, even getting cursed out at first by a guy named Bobby who wore Hawaiian shirts, and then proving myself by creating something that had real, lasting impact - that taught me I could make a difference. I also attribute my success to being a mom of 2 daughters who I love dearly. One sings in the National Children's Choir and the other competes in dance competitions all over. I work hard every day to ensure that I can provide them with a great childhood, and they motivate me to keep pushing forward in my career.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that you have the power to make an impact in this world and truly make a difference in the lives of others. This guidance has inspired me to approach every opportunity with purpose and to focus on creating meaningful, positive change.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is that it’s possible to build a career you love while also having a family. With focus, determination, and support, you can pursue your professional goals without sacrificing the personal life that matters most to you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity in my field right now is AI. AI is coming through and it's not going anywhere. I've been telling people that AI is really not something we're going to be able to get rid of - it's like in the 80s when people said technology was going to affect jobs, but this is just another technological advancement that we're moving towards. I've actually been pulled aside because of my teaching background and instructional design knowledge to start teaching agentic AI and how AI can work in the workforce, along with aligning it with HR strategies. That's been pretty interesting to be able to do with my role. I'm now part of Accenture's Avanaut group, and I'm looking at HR from a data analytical perspective, implementing skills and tools to handle a large number of people all at once. The challenge is helping organizations understand that AI isn't something to fear, but rather a tool that can enhance workforce strategies when properly integrated with HR.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me is being able to impact others. I'm a Wildcat Mentor at Temple ISD, where I mentor and help little ones. I really value being able to make a difference in young people's lives, though I don't have as much time to volunteer as I used to because I have two daughters who keep me incredibly busy. One goes to the National Children's Choir and sings, and the other one competes at dance competitions all over. They do student council and all these activities, so it's never a dull moment. But even with my busy schedule, I make sure to stay involved in mentoring because giving back and helping shape the next generation is so important to me. I also really value supporting local businesses, especially veteran-owned ones, which is close to my heart given my own military background.