Meet Cassandra D. Caldwell, Director, Talent Acquisition, College and External Relations

Dr. Cassandra D. Caldwell is the Director for Talent Acquisition, College and External Relations. In this role, she works with a national team of over 200 recruiters, relationship managers, managers, and directors to strengthen relationships with faculty, alumni, and students on 168 campuses. She is also responsible for developing and executing college and external relations programs in order to attract, promote and retain diverse candidates.

Q. How did you get started in your career with the company?
A. I began my career with Sodexo in October 2006 as the Senior Manager for Diversity Recruiting. Highlights of accomplishments during my time as Senior Manager include: redesigning the Sodexo Future Leaders Internship Program; launching the Careers at Sodexo college relations e-newsletter; creating the Managers Engaging, Nurturing, and Training Our Recruits (MENTOR) Program; and developing the Sodexo Ambassador Program. It was a very exciting position, because I could be innovative with policy and program development. My greatest strengths are my abilities to quickly assess situations and design results-driven solutions. I was promoted to my current role in February 2007.

Q. What career advice do you have for college students?
A. Explore the world! Information technology has created a world without walls. There are numerous scholarships and inexpensive opportunities for students to study abroad through their universities, established travel programs, and government programs. If traveling is not a viable option financially, explore other countries online or in books. Global experiences increase knowledge of world views, enhance abilities to think critically, and allow for appreciation of diversity. All of these skills are invaluable in the workforce.

Q. Tell us about your background.
A. Ironically, I do not have a background in the hospitality industry. My 15-year Human Resources career includes experiences in training, recruitment, talent management, organizational development, and employment law. Prior to joining Sodexo , I worked with several Fortune 500 corporations to design internship, mentoring, and succession planning programs. In addition to corporate sector experience, I have worked with various public sector organizations, including universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

My academic credentials include a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in human and community resource development, a M.P.A. in public administration from North Carolina Central University, and a B.A. in speech communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I have been a visiting scholar at the University of Swaziland and this summer I will be a visiting scholar at the University of Oxford for the Oxford Roundtable Women’s Leadership Forum.

Q. Why do you like working for Sodexo ?
A. It is extremely rare to find a company where employees consistently exhibit team spirit, spirit of progress, spirit of diversity, and spirit of service. Sodexo has done an outstanding job of creating a corporate culture that rewards innovation, teamwork, service, and strategic thinking. I have met employees from across the nation, and I continue to be amazed by the positive attitudes and genuine excitement for the work that they do. I am honored to be a part of such a great organization!