Welcome back to Spotlight Hustle, where we celebrate Black women whose leadership rewrites the rules — not just of business, but of becoming.
This week, we feature Twanya Hood Hill — a trailblazer who left a thriving engineering career to follow her intuition and build a legacy grounded in people, purpose, and possibility.
Her story is one of courage and clarity — proof that trusting your inner voice can change the course of your career and your life. What began as a bold pivot from Chemical Engineering to Human Resources became a 30-year journey redefining what true success looks like: leading with empathy, building cultures of belonging, and aligning purpose with performance.
Twanya’s story reminds us that power isn’t found in prestige — it’s found in alignment.
From Equations to Empowerment
Early in her career, Twanya Hood Hill had what many would call the dream job.
A Chemical Engineer in product development — a young Black woman excelling in a field where few like her were seen. On paper, she was thriving. Yet deep inside, something didn’t fit. The work was intellectually challenging, but it didn’t ignite her soul.
That quiet restlessness became a turning point. Twanya made a decision few understood at the time: she walked away from a prestigious career in engineering to pursue an MBA in Human Resource Management. Colleagues questioned her move, wondering why she’d trade formulas for feelings, numbers for people. But Twanya wasn’t chasing approval. She was choosing alignment.
It was the first time she fully trusted herself — and that decision changed everything.
Leap That Redefined Success
What began as a bold pivot became the foundation for a 30-year career that reshaped how leaders think about culture, growth, and human potential.
Twanya went on to lead global HR teams, guide executives through transformation, and build people-first strategies that fuel real business impact. She’s held senior roles across industries — technology, retail, healthcare, and finance — and recently served as Chief Human Resources Officer and VP of People & Culture at Tech Soft 3D, where she built a global HR department from the ground up.
Her path wasn’t linear, but it was intentional. Every role became a space to connect purpose with performance, and strategy with empathy.
For Twanya, success was never about the title — it was about the freedom to live in full alignment with her values.
“Owning your story,” she says, “is the highest form of success.”
From Purpose to Legacy
Today, Twanya is entering her next chapter — one defined by legacy and leadership on her own terms.
She’s channeling decades of experience into fractional HR leadership, board involvement, executive speaking, and investing.
Her mission is clear: to build organizations that honor both excellence and empathy — where culture isn’t an afterthought but a competitive advantage.
Her story reminds us that real courage isn’t loud or impulsive — it’s the quiet conviction to pivot, even when the world doesn’t understand your “why.”
Why We Love Twanya’s Story
Because she proves that success doesn’t always come from following the formula — sometimes it comes from breaking it.
Twanya’s story is a testament to intuition, reinvention, and the freedom that comes when you trust your own voice.
She’s not just building HR systems — she’s building spaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow.
And that’s exactly what leadership should look like.
About Twanya Hood Hill
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30+ years in Human Resources and Organizational Development
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MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (HR Management & Behavioral Science)
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BS in Chemical Engineering
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Former Chief Human Resources Officer, Tech Soft 3D
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Expert in People & Culture, Leadership Coaching, and DEIB Strategy
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