Andrew Davis is the Executive Vice President & Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Sony Music Entertainment (SME) based in New York. In his role, Davis is charged with leading SME’s global human resources function and will take on the key role of championing a culture of excellence and innovation across the Company’s global operations in 60+ countries.

Favorite Quote: You are never as good as your own press clippings and you are never as bad as your toughest critic.

Fun Fact: I lived in Cambodia for a year as part of an expat assignment.

How do you unwind after a long day of work? A great movie or sports center.

What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them? Like everyone, I’ve had my setbacks but I look at them as a way to be stronger. I take things as they come and learn from them, trying not to repeat mistakes.

What has been the most monumental moment of your career thus far? For me it’s always been about how I’ve impacted people and organizations. If I’m living in that impact zone, that’s monumental for me.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? Never forget where you come from, it will keep you humble.

What qualities make for an outstanding HR professional? HR pros have to be resilient, adaptable and have the ability to consistently get things done.

How have you adapted your HR skills to COVID? I’ve leaned heavily into empathy. During these difficult times, we have to show more of our human selves.

What are some misconceptions about HR and how do you combat them? That HR is a function that you only need when putting out fires. We haven’t done ourselves any favors but we can change the perception but showing how we drive value and help the business win.

What do you like most about working in HR? That everyday I have the opportunity to impact the business in a positive way. I also like the many hats we have to were to be effective in our roles.