26/08/2026
HPE: On ”Get to know Stacy Dillow, HPE’s Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer”
From chemical engineering to HR, Stacy Dillow reflects on the experiences that shaped her approach to leadership, growth and people
Stacy Dillow, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at HPE, brings three decades of leadership experience spanning business transformation, major capital projects, and operations across multiple industries. We sat down with Stacy to talk about the lessons she’s picked up along the way, why getting uncomfortable is good for your career, and what leaders can do to help people thrive.
Get to know Stacy Dillow, HPE’s Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer
August 25, 2026
Blog Post
1. You started your career in chemical engineering. What from that experience still influences how you lead today?
More than you might expect. Engineering taught me to approach challenges analytically, ask questions, and work through complex problems. I still rely on that mindset today.
What has changed is the type of problems I'm solving. Over time, I discovered that what really energized me is connecting with people and understanding what motivates them, bringing different perspectives together and helping organizations and people perform at their best.
2. You've worked around the world and lived on three continents. What did those experiences teach you about leading people?
Working across different countries and cultures forces you to listen. You learn to enter a new environment knowing you don’t have all the answers. You observe, ask questions, build relationships, and adapt. That's an important leadership skill regardless of where you're working. The best leaders don't expect everyone to think or operate exactly as they do.
3. You've described resilience as one of the qualities that defines you. What does resilience look like in practice?
For me, resilience isn't about being unaffected by change. It's taking fear and changing it to courage to navigate new things.
I've spent three decades taking on different roles, working in different environments, and moving to different parts of the world. I've learned that I can land somewhere unfamiliar, figure out what I need to learn, bring teams together, and collectively find a way forward.
4. What role does belonging play in building a high-performing organization?
A significant one. One of the things that drew me to HPE was the culture and the sense that I belonged here. Representation is part of that. When people see leaders with different experiences and backgrounds, it helps expand their sense of what's possible for them. But belonging goes beyond representation. It's about creating an environment where people feel valued, can contribute, and can envision themselves continuing to grow.
5. As the workplace continues to change, what do you think people need most from leaders?
Clarity, connection, and a commitment to learning. The pace of change means leaders won't always have every answer, but they can provide clarity on where we're headed, why it matters, and how each person contributes. Just as important is creating a culture where continuous learning is part of the job. And as leaders, we must stay curious. We can't ask others to embrace change if we're not willing to keep evolving, too.
6. You also talk about wellness as an important part of the employee experience. What responsibility do leaders have in that conversation?
Leaders have to model what they encourage. It's easy to tell people to prioritize their well-being. It's different to create a culture where they genuinely feel they can do it. That's one reason I'm so proud of HPE's Wellness Fridays. I try to use that time myself, whether it’s going to the gym, practicing yoga or making matchas for my kids. Culture isn't just what we tell people is important. It's what they see us practice.
7. What would you tell someone considering a career move that doesn't seem like an obvious next step?
Don't dismiss an opportunity simply because it doesn't look like the path you imagined.
When I first had the opportunity to lead HR, it wasn’t something I had planned on. But taking that chance opened an entirely different chapter of my career. Often times, career moves that take you somewhere completely unexpected can often be the ones to give you the experience you need for what's ahead.