We are excited to have Chely Wright join ISS as Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility & New Markets for North America. Given Chely’s vast and varied professional background, we sat down with her to discuss her career journey, the power of great storytelling and how organizations can navigate the shifting cultural and corporate landscape while staying true to their values.
You’ve had a fascinating career trajectory. How do you view your work today, and what excites you most about it?
I often say I don’t know anyone luckier than me. I’ve been able to travel the world, write songs, meet people and share stories in various ways — through music, books, and now, through my work at ISS. What excites me most about my role today is the ability to take those experiences and amplify what I know to be true about the human experience.
We’re living in a time when it’s hard to be human — there’s a lot of division and suffering. But through my work, I have an opportunity to make a real difference in the way people experience their workplaces. Whether it’s supporting our employees, vendors or suppliers, I get to help create environments where people feel seen, supported and valued. That’s something I wake up excited about every day.
Your background is in music and storytelling. How does that translate to the corporate world?
At first glance, you might not think that writing songs and working in corporate leadership have much in common, but I see them as siblings rather than distant cousins. Great storytelling — whether through a song, a book or a corporate strategy — centers around people.
In business, our clients, employees and partners all have stories to tell. When we center those stories, we can create stronger connections, better align with our values and foster meaningful relationships. A strong brand or a successful workplace culture is built on authentic human experiences. So, in many ways, the storytelling skills I developed in music and writing are the same ones I use in my work today.
In today’s climate, how do organizations uphold values like inclusion and belonging?
It’s no secret that we’re in a challenging moment, where diversity, equity and inclusion are being questioned in some spaces. But at ISS, we’ve been committed to these values for over 124 years. That commitment isn’t changing. It’s easy for people to malign three letters — D, E and I — but when you say them out loud, when you define what they truly mean, you realize they’re not just buzzwords. They’re essential to a thriving workplace and society.
We’re actively having conversations at all levels of leadership about how to stay true to our values. It’s not about performative action; it’s about a real and sustained effort to make sure everyone in our organization feels like they belong.
How do you balance the demands of work with the broader uncertainties and challenges people face today?
That’s the million-dollar question. The reality is, we’re still reckoning with the aftermath of a global pandemic. At the start of COVID, productivity surged because people were operating on crisis adrenaline. But that kind of energy isn’t sustainable long-term. Now, we’re in a phase of recalibration, figuring out what the future of work looks like while also ensuring employees feel supported.
One thing I know for sure is that we haven’t given enough room for caregivers, parents and underserved communities to tap out when they need to. We’ve asked people to go above and beyond for years, and now we need to take a step back and ask, “How do we truly take care of our teams?” That’s why I love working with our People & Culture team — our North Star is making sure people feel valued and rewarded in ways that go beyond traditional measures.
How do you see the workplace evolving in the next few years?
We’re in a transformational moment, one that will be studied in history books. Whether it’s the rise of AI, the shift in post-pandemic workplace culture or the ongoing evolution of diversity and inclusion, we’re making decisions today that will shape the future of work.
If I zoom out, I think we’re on step 100 of a 1,000-step journey. Change takes time, and we’re still figuring out what the sustainable balance between work, life and purpose looks like. But I do know this — organizations that prioritize their people, really listen to them and take meaningful action will be the ones that thrive. I feel incredibly lucky to be doing this work. It’s an honor to have these conversations, to challenge ourselves as an organization and to continually evolve in a way that uplifts our people, clients and communities.
