Dessalen Wood

Dessalen Wood, CHRP, is a visionary HR leader and people strategist with over 25 years of experience driving transformative change in organizational culture, employee experience, and talent development across a wide range of industries.

Currently serving as the Global Chief People Officer at Syntax, a leading Managed Cloud Provider for Mission-Critical Enterprise Applications, Dessalen leads global HR strategy with a focus on scaling inclusive leadership, advancing DEI initiatives, and building agile, high-performing teams. Her role reflects her commitment to aligning people strategy with business growth in the evolving tech landscape.

Prior to joining Syntax in 2022, Dessalen held the position of Chief People Officer at ThoughtExchange, an enterprise SaaS company based in British Columbia. There, she helped shape a forward-thinking organizational culture rooted in transparency, innovation, and engagement. She also served as Vice President of Talent Development at Cineplex Entertainment, where she designed and implemented leadership development programs that elevated internal talent and strengthened company-wide performance.

Her career includes senior leadership roles at iconic brands such as Reitmans Canada, Hudson’s Bay Company, The Children’s Place, and The Disney Stores, where she specialized in learning and development, performance coaching, and organizational design. Across each of these roles, Dessalen has been recognized for her ability to build scalable people systems and mentor executives to lead with purpose and impact.

A passionate speaker, executive coach, and culture builder, Dessalen brings real-world experience and actionable insights that resonate deeply with HR professionals, people leaders, and business executives navigating today’s complex workforce challenges.