Having experienced as an Information Technology Lead with a demonstrated history of working in the Department of Defense and IT industry, Danny Sava, Division Vice President at Jacobs, is Skilled in Data Analysis, IT Management, Leadership, Data Modeling, and IT Service Management. He is a strong information technology professional with a Doctor of Philosophy – Ph.D. focused in Information Technology Project Management from Capella University.
Jacobs; Place of Innovation and Culture
Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. It translates intangible ideas into creative solutions that benefit a wide range of industries, tackles the world’s most difficult issues, and provides excellence via our fundamental services.
The beautiful thing about Jacobs, as Danny points out, is that the company is continuously on the lookout for new possibilities that line up with its cultural goals and strategic imperatives. The company’s values are as follows:
- We do things right,
- We aim higher,
- We challenge the accepted, and
- We live inclusion is something that our employees can be proud of.
Danny believes these are the reasons why Jacobs is so successful. Danny started with Jacobs in 2007, coming out of the United States Marine Corps. He didn’t know much about contracting at the time, but he knew that Jacobs had a great reputation and was an ethically sound company. “When I look back at those days compared to now, we have grown so much as a company,” says Danny. “Successful mergers and acquisitions, our rebranding, and the fact that over 90% of our business is comprised of repeat customers means that the future looks bright.” Jacobs is already a leader in the industry and sees that continually getting stronger, and Danny is looking forward to what is yet to come.
Leading by Putting People First
Danny ensures that all of his staff is aware of their roles and responsibilities in supporting the purpose. Everyone understands what they need to do to fulfill his goals and successfully complete the contract under his supervision. Because Danny believes that inclusiveness fosters employee engagement and creativity, Jacobs management solicits suggestions from all of its workers.
Danny always puts his people first. As he says, “If you take care of the people, the mission takes care of itself.” He finds it important to build trust with his own team and show them that you have their back no matter what. Danny’s job is to provide them with the tools and resources that are necessary for them to succeed at their jobs.
Danny opines, “A good leader creates an environment where the team doesn’t want to fail because they don’t want to disappoint their leader. I also make sure that I balance my communication with them. You must understand their personalities and their needs at the time of the situation. I don’t always have to provide a resolution to the problem; sometimes it’s just about listening. I work with highly technical personnel, so collaboration is key to our success. Everyone has a voice on my team, regardless of their background, experience, or education.”
At Jacobs, the management has an amazing program called e3 (Engage, Excel, and Elevate), which is a tool that the company uses to develop a high-performance culture and drive innovation and retention. E3 is an employee-centric, creative, simple, resilient, continuous, and employee-centric program in which all people take responsibility for their careers. They are free to define their own personal and professional objectives and management guarantees that meet with their supervisor on a regular basis to review their progress and get mentorship. This is also one of the company’s methods to hold both the employee and supervisor accountable. “We also strive for inclusion and diversity within the workplace,” says Danny. “We want all our employees to feel included in the big picture and have the same opportunities.”
As per Danny, one of the top items on the agenda since Steve Demetriou (CEO) came to Jacobs was a culture change, including championing things like inclusion and diversity, advancing justice and equality, and expanding foundational focus on health and safety to also encompass positive mental health. Danny asserts, “We are building an environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work; regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, and we will openly discuss inequalities so that we can fully understand and address them.”
The CEO
Steve Demetriou joined Jacobs as Chief Executive Officer in August 2015 and was named Chair of the Board of Directors the following year. Steve has overseen a significant transformation of Jacobs’ business portfolio, operations, and culture, including the transformational purchase of CH2M to expand Jacobs’ US and worldwide infrastructure reach, as well as the planned divestment of its Energy, Chemicals and Resources segment. These initiatives signal a turning point in Jacobs’ transition into a leading next-generation solutions supplier while also boosting the company’s profitable development. Steve has more than 35 years of experience in leadership and senior management roles, as well as international business perspectives.
During the course of his career, Steve has worked with firms in a variety of industries, including metals, specialty chemicals, oil and gas, manufacturing, and fertilizers. He spent 16 years with ExxonMobil, which was a highlight of his career. Steve is also a board member of FirstEnergy Corp, a member of the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council and its US Co-Chair, a board member of the US Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Business Roundtable.
The Core Strength and Challenge of an Organization
“We must lead those people towards an objective while also meeting their expectations.”
For any organization, the biggest challenge is people, in all aspects. An organization needs to find the right people for the job in a market that is seeing unprecedented resignations while fighting through a global pandemic. Danny always says that being a leader takes about 80 percent of his time while the other 20 percent goes towards doing actual work. He says, “Some might baulk at that, but it’s the reason why I come to work, why I enjoy what I do, and the reason why I have a job.” Danny feels motivated by his people and their drive towards providing support for national security. He opines, “We have an incredible mission supporting North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Cheyenne Mountain Complex (NCMC). The contract, known as the Integrated Tactical Warning/Attack Assessment (ITW/AA) and Space Support Contract II (NISSC II) gives us a great reason to come to work and to strive to do our best every time we walk into the office.”
Advice for Visionaries
While starting your own entrepreneurial journey, the hardest part is getting started. Danny says taking risks is hard, but one can’t succeed at something if he/she hasn’t started the process. As per Danny, the best advice that he never received after getting out of the Marine Corps was to find a good mentor. He asserts, “I didn’t get my first mentor until I was 35 and appreciate how much Terry Lanzar helped me understand business, public speaking, networking, and how to effectively and authentically lead people.” He further adds, “Even though she has retired, I still lean on her for guidance on a variety of topics.” Danny also wishes he understood the value of networking when he joined the commercial workforce. He empathizes, “Sometimes it’s not how great you are and what you bring to the table, but more about relationship building and the opportunities that it brings.”
Milestones to Cherish
The firm’s most recent milestone occurred in November 2019, when it unveiled its new brand internationally, completing its transformation from engineering and construction to a global technology-forward solutions organization. At Jacobs, the teams are tasked with reinventing tomorrow through addressing the world’s most pressing issues. The company’s teams of visionaries are transforming abstract ideas into realities that benefit clients, communities, and the globe as a whole.
