Cultivating an inclusive culture isn’t just a virtue; it’s a strategic imperative to achieve talent, performance, and productivity objectives. Companies are facilitating successful cultural transformation to achieve cohesion among teams and drive better performance, while boosting their presence among competitors.
Helping lead this transformative process at CSX is Diana Sorfleet, a visionary, delivering effective workforce strategies. As the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of CSX, Sorfleet is responsible for aviation, facilities, human resources, people systems and analytics, and total rewards. She has played a central role in leading workforce strategies for the company during the pandemic and beyond.
Her Leadership Odyssey
Sorfleet radiates inspiration with unwavering determination, expertise and compassion, shaping several aspects of the company’s success. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Loyola University Chicago, and a master’s degree in management and human resources development from National Louis University. Subsequently, she earned a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
With an extensive background in human resources, Sorfleet has a distinguished career history. She joined CSX in 2011, after spending 20 years at Exelon, working her way up to Vice President of Diversity and Development.
“My passion is to drive cultural and operational transformation within organizations, because I believe that leads to a more engaged workforce and, ultimately, better business outcomes. Throughout my career, I’ve also been dedicated to creating inclusive environments and improving service delivery. Working in executive management allows me to have a broader impact on the company, and on the lives of the people who work there.”
Leading by Example
Sorfleet’s leadership style is all about valuing employee’s role and respecting individual differences. Respect, empathy, and transparency are the central tenets of her leadership philosophy. She believes in leading by example, listening to employees, acting on their feedback, and fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where everyone can reach their true potential.
Embracing Challenges as Opportunities
Leadership often means confronting numerous challenges. But Sorfleet views challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Reflecting on her career journey, she shares, “By embracing challenges with optimism, we can improve not only ourselves but the experiences of employees and the impact to our company. Looking back on my career, even in times of the toughest challenges my mindset quickly turned to view the situation with optimism and opportunity. As I reflect, the barriers never felt like barriers.”
Story of Inspiration
The journey has not been easy for Sorfleet. Many women, both near and far, have inspired her through tough times. Reflecting on her story of inspiration, she shares, “Every night, Lisa, a humble and hard-working woman, cleans our office floor with kindness and cheer. She reminds me of my grandmother, who cleaned office buildings when she emigrated during World War II. Lisa’s approach to her work and life serves as a constant reminder that every person is important and deserves our dignity and respect.”
CSX: Redefining Freight Rail
CSX is a leading transportation provider in the U.S., operating a 20,000-mile rail network. As the nation’s best run railroad, it is redefining freight rail with a progressive vision and real results – setting new industry performance standards.
CSX offers a diverse range of products and rail-related services, including intermodal terminal operations, bulk commodity transloading, automotive terminals, warehousing, and value-added services. What sets the company apart from competitors like trucking companies are its economic, environmental, and safety advantages, positioning itself as a leader in the transportation sector.
Driving Growth with Relentless Focus on Customer Experience
At the core of its approach lies a focus on delivering a better customer experience, transforming through technology, and building an inclusive and respectful workplace culture. To help the company achieve this, Sorfleet prioritizes employee development, diversity, and inclusion programs, as well as leveraging technology to enhance service consistency and customer interactions. One of the major strategies the team at CSX is working on is the cultural transformation, known as ONE CSX. It is all about building a workplace culture based on mutual respect and collaboration among employees. In addition, Sorfleet is spearheading a women’s leadership development program titled “OnTRACK 24: Here SHE Grows”. This initiative is designed to get more women into leadership roles by providing them training and support so they can inspire and mentor other women and build a community of trust and support.
Cultivating a Philosophy of “Putting People First”
The success of an organization hinges on its employees. “Achieving our growth and success goals and executing on our strategies starts with our people,” says Sorfleet. “The more we can support them, put them in the best position possible, and value diverse perspectives, the more successful we’ll be.”
Sorfleet strives to create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. By actively engaging and empowering team members, listening to their feedback, acting on it, and providing opportunities for development and growth, Sorfleet sets the tone for her organization.
Under her guidance, CSX is continually making progress in offering a broad spectrum of career opportunities for individuals with diverse interests, and its performance management process constantly reviews its leadership pipeline for identifying and nurturing top talent.
A Trailblazer
In a world where people tend to mirror others, Diana Sorfleet strives to create her own mark in a male-dominated field. She is a trailblazer, shattering all glass ceilings and serving as an inspiration for women from different walks of life.
