Reflecting on 1 Year with Jacobs: A Q&A with Shelley Kalms

Leading our global IT efforts at Jacobs is Chief Information Officer (CIO) Shelley Kalms, who has more than 28 years of experience working across industries like chemicals, midstream oil and gas, retail, energy and food and beverages. Shelley joined us in January 2024 and within a year of coming on board, she’s showcased her knowledge and talent in multiple areas – significantly contributing to our IT organization’s growth and our company’s transformational journey. 

In this Q&A, Shelley talks to us about her first year at Jacobs, the challenges and learnings that have shaped her journey here so far and her vision for the future. 

You’ve been part of #OurJacobs team for a year now – what have you learned in the past year that you’ll take with you into 2025?

This last year was eventful in terms of the wealth of learnings it brought. There are many elements from the past year which have helped shape my strategy for 2025 – my top two being the resilience of the team and the fact that where there is a will, there is a way.

What’s your vision for the future of Jacobs and what excites you most? 

At Jacobs, our vision for IT is to create a robust and reliable IT ecosystem where every asset is operated, maintained and upheld with integrity. We strive to be a data-driven organization where data and information are readily accessible at our fingertips, with clear and known lineage ensuring transparency and trust. Our commitment is to empower our people through cutting-edge technology, fostering collaboration across all teams, and ensuring the highest standards of cybersecurity to protect our valuable assets and information. Together, we aim to achieve excellence and drive innovation.

What are you currently focused on accomplishing? 

My current focus is getting the foundations right, including the right investment profile that enables IT to be an asset to the business – be it productivity gains or simply enabling people to do their job. 

Our overarching goal is to help position IT as a strategic partner for enabling and accelerating business growth and agility – consistently supporting our people and innovating to deliver secure, digital solutions to help drive our company strategy forward.

How do you tackle challenges? 

Challenges keep me motivated! I look at it as an opportunity and ensure we fully understand the problems we’re trying to solve for. I like to identify the relevant stakeholders and together collaborate to deliver the solution.  This sometimes takes multiple iterations which demonstrates adaptability, taking on feedback and willingness to learn.

How are you leading continuous improvement efforts? 

We’re committed to improving. My focus lies in setting up the foundations from which you build upon; this includes investments in strategic platforms, key integrations, data and AI to provide value-added benefits for the organization.

You’ve worked across industries – what led you to choose a career in information technology? 

While working across industries, I’ve loved tackling challenges and learning from every situation that came my way. The driving factor that made me choose a career in information technology is the difference you can make when you combine people, processes and technology – creating changes that are impactful and step-changing.

What career advice would you like to give young professionals seeking opportunities in this field? 

Be brave, not perfect – with every risk you take, know that you’re growing. Even if you’re not successful, you have gained experience and grown, which will pave a path for success in the future. I also think it’s important to stay curious, continuously learn and embrace new challenges.

How do you define success?

Success is a holistic measure of well-being and satisfaction, achieved through a balance of accomplishments, happiness and integrity. It involves reaching one's goals and objectives in both personal and professional aspects of life, which includes living in alignment with your personal core values and principles, ensuring that actions and decisions reflect what’s truly important to an individual. From a work perspective, success to me is achieving our business goals while fostering a positive and inclusive work environment and making a meaningful impact on our employees, clients and the broader community.

What’s your favorite part about being a part of #OurJacobs?

The people, the diversity, the amazing things Jacobs does – and it’s through our people that these amazing projects come to life.

I love being able to work with talented individuals and drive meaningful change, which makes it a truly rewarding experience.