From Dishwasher to Senior HR Director: How Brett Simms Built a 25-Year Career Through Mentorship and Purpose
For Brett Simms, building a meaningful career has always been about learning, growing, and embracing opportunities that open new doors. Today, he serves as Senior Director of Human Resources for Sodexo’s Campus segment, supporting leaders across the Western United States and helping shape a strong, people-focused culture.
But his journey didn’t begin in leadership, it began in the campus kitchen at Southern Nazarene University, where a part-time student job with Sodexo became the start of a career filled with growth, purpose, and possibility.
A Humble Start That Sparked a Lifelong Career
In January 2000, Brett was a college student looking for a part-time job when a friend encouraged him to apply for a Sodexo position at the campus dining hall. He started out washing dishes, making pizzas, and supporting dining operations.
“I never would have imagined that a part time dishwasher job would turn into a 25-year career,” Brett reflects. “But the people I met and the opportunities in front of me changed everything.”
Those early experiences taught him lessons that would guide his leadership for years to come through understanding teamwork, clear communication, and a deep respect for frontline employees.
A Career Shaped by Opportunity and Intentional Choices
After graduating, Brett continued supporting Sodexo operations across multiple sites in Oklahoma. He stepped into interim leadership roles, helped with catering at corporate locations, and took on responsibilities that stretched him, even when the moves didn’t follow a traditional upward trajectory.
Over the next several years, he held roles at various universities, but a major shift came when he accepted his first management role. And from there, he kept climbing.
One of the defining themes of Brett’s story is his willingness to move backward or sideways in order to move forward.
“Your career won’t always be a perfect staircase,” Brett says. “Sometimes you have to take a step back so you can gain the exposure, the relationships, or the skills that ultimately launch you forward.”
That mindset became a defining factor in his later success. Twice in his career, Brett intentionally accepted a demotion to set himself up for long-term growth. Just months after most recently stepping back into a director role, he earned a promotion to his current Senior Director position.
“It was scary,” he admits. “But it was absolutely the right move.”
The Power of Mentorship and Owning Your Development
While Brett’s path may have included unconventional steps, two factors guided him at every stage: mentorship and self-driven development. He has rarely gone without a mentor during his career and one conversation in particular changed everything. While meeting with his mentor, Jodi Davidson, she told him, “You’d be great in HR.”
It wasn’t a direction he had seriously considered, despite holding a master’s degree in human resources. But Jodi saw something he didn’t yet see in himself.
“Having an advocate makes all the difference,” Brett says. “You need someone who believes in you and will challenge you.”
Alongside mentorship, Brett has always taken ownership of his own growth. He keeps a development plan, pursues certifications, seeks feedback, and constantly works on his communication and leadership skills.
“Your development is your responsibility,” he says. “Others can support you, but you have to drive.”
Finding Purpose in the Work
In his current role as Senior Director of HR, Brett supports Campus with a wide range of operational and organizational initiatives. No two days are the same, one day may involve coaching a leader through a challenge, the next may focus on an organizational strategy, performance development, or contributing to new sales opportunities.
One of the projects Brett is most passionate about is the PATH Program, which helps frontline employees explore internal career pathways and identify the resources they need to move into management roles.
“Helping people achieve their goals is one of the best parts of my job,” Brett says. “It’s meaningful work.”
He also continues to facilitate DiSC training sessions, using this personality assessment tool to improve communication in the workplace. It remains one of his favorite ways to build stronger collaboration and teamwork across the segment.
A Journey of Resilience and Gratitude
Now approaching his 26th anniversary with Sodexo, Brett looks back with gratitude at the twists and turns that brought him here.
“It’s been an incredible career. I feel so fortunate,” he says. “If you had told me when I was washing dishes in 2000 that I’d become a Senior HR Director, I never would have believed it.”
His story is a testament to what is possible when you embrace change, seek mentorship, stay humble, and invest in your own growth. Not every career follows a straight line and Brett’s proves that sometimes the most meaningful paths are the ones you never expected.
Keep up with Life at Sodexo by following our Careers Blog, Instagram, Facebook, and X.