Why I wear the “J” with Kate Kenny

How long have you been with Jacobs?​ 

I’m coming up for six years under my current employment contract. I had a previous chapter with Jacobs through the SKM acquisition for 12 years; I joined SKM in 2005 and we were acquired by Jacobs in 2013.

How have you seen Jacobs evolve over the years?​

I sometimes wonder what our founder, Joseph J. Jacobs, would think of Jacobs if he were to see it now. I think he would be proud that we continue to hold our client relationships at the center of what we do and to provide fantastic services across a wide range of solutions – as well as how the organization has bent and shaped over time in anticipation of market and societal needs.

What’s changed?​ 

The culture – and it has changed for the better. I credit a lot of this to BeyondZero. I see evidence of our culture of caring every day through our commitment to safety and the environment, caring about our colleagues and about the work we do.

The culture now is also far more inclusive than it used to be. TogetherBeyond has allowed us to create a more diverse organization equipped to make better decisions. For most of my career, I’ve looked up and not been able to see someone like me. We’re  still on a journey, but I hope much fewer people can say this about Jacobs now.

What hasn’t changed?​ 

Our world class services to clients and how they trust in us to deliver. Our capabilities may have evolved over time, but there will always be someone somewhere in Jacobs that has the answer you need – it’s just a matter of finding them.

Why did you come back to Jacobs? 

I could see the culture of the organization was changing for the better. A combination of an awesome culture and fantastic capability gives a competitive edge, and I wanted to be part of that.

What makes you stay?​ 

The people. I’m so proud of my colleagues and what they do for the world, for our clients and for each other. I’m here to serve them.

What’s your proudest moment so far?​

I’ve been in my current role for two years, and I’m proud of what the team has achieved in that time.

Also, I will always be proud that I was part of a small group that met in the U.S. in 2019, triggered by Samantha Daly, to start a new employee network – ACE. Sam had the foresight to see this would be industry leading, and it’s been humbling to see how the network’s grown over the past five years, making such an incredible difference across the globe.

What else do you want to accomplish?

​I’m driven by making things better. I know that will never be fully accomplished – but that won’t stop me trying.