Powering Service Excellence Through Leadership
When Tyrone Briscoe began his professional journey, he never imagined he’d follow a path that would take him all over the world and eventually lead him to become a human resources professional specializing in offshore operations.
After graduating from college, he became a third-grade teacher. Because Briscoe had always loved to cook, a friend who worked for Sodexo recommended he apply to work as a cook at an offshore operation in Sodexo’s Energy & Resources segment during the summer months while he was off from teaching. He initially accepted a job as a utility worker to get a feel for the environment before quickly shifting to a role as a night cook. That was 31 years ago, and he’s been with the company ever since.
Briscoe quickly acclimated to his new field and discovered he could thrive with Sodexo. Taking on a variety of positions gave him the opportunity to hone his skills and travel around the globe. When he returned to the U.S., he continued climbing the career ladder, eventually finding his way into human resources as a recruiter.
He now serves as an internal staffing associate, playing an invaluable role in the success of offshore operations. A major part of his job is conveying a sense of purpose in each position, ensuring every employee has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Recruiting the right people is integral to minimizing turnover and ensuring smooth operations at offshore sites, and Briscoe prides himself on his ability to recruit, train and retain employees to create a high-performance culture.
He also recognizes the value of developing employees and helping them become leaders, thanks to his own career progression with Sodexo. Briscoe shares a few of his experiences here and discusses how those experiences and his passion for his work help him build frontline teams that excel at offshore sites.
Interviewer: How has your career progressed with Sodexo?
Tyrone Briscoe: When I first learned about Sodexo, I was teaching third grade. A friend encouraged me to apply to work at an offshore site during the summertime. Once I tried it out, I realized I really enjoyed it and decided to stay on with the company. I had this mindset of starting at the bottom and moving myself up. I started as a utility worker before going into cooking and baking. I kept trying to learn new things and take on new roles. I became an executive steward/camp boss, which led to an opportunity to work on barges in Nigeria and Ghana. After that, I came back home and decided to pursue roles in HR. I love working with people and I had learned the ins and outs of our operations, so it seemed like a perfect fit. And it was. I even decided to go back to school in 2014 to get a master’s degree in business and human resources.
Interviewer: Can you explain a little bit about your experience in the offshore environment
Tyrone Briscoe: When I recruit employees, I tell them about offshore life. I don’t paint a pretty picture because it’s important to be very honest about the realities of it. Offshore teams are a melting pot of people from all walks of life. You have to have a positive attitude and love working with people. You’re going to be out there for a long time, maybe even 28 days. You’ll wake up and go to bed there, and you’ll see the same people every day. Communication and a positive attitude are essential.
You also must have an open mind and willingness to accept feedback. Some of the people working at offshore sites have been doing this for years, and they will support and guide you if you’re open to it.
Interviewer: How have the trainings and other resources Sodexo provides helped you in your professional development?
Tyrone Briscoe: Sodexo provides a lot of seminars and training opportunities. Attending these different classes and events helped me become well-rounded and gave me the confidence to handle any type of situation. Working in internal staffing, I get all kinds of questions from lots of people. My training helps me answer those questions and guide them in the right direction.
Interviewer: What skills are you excited about developing for the future?
Tyrone Briscoe: One of the things that really interests me a lot is management skills. I have some experience there but would definitely like to grow in that area. I love recruiting and helping put the right people into the right positions, but I think enhancing my management skills could be a huge asset.
Interviewer: What kind of projects/initiatives do you think are valuable for employees?
Tyrone Briscoe: One of the most important things is training — specifically, safety training. Because of the type of work and the location, safety has to be a top priority. Anything can happen. There are so many different challenges when you're working offshore, so employees need to be well-versed in safety practices. We work in confined spaces, which can be tricky — even simple things like using a knife. If you’re not properly trained, accidents can happen so quickly. Proper training is a major part of the onboarding process for employees at offshore sites.
We use SafeGulf and ServSafe online training courses, which provide a good overview. But hands-on training is the most useful, and that’s where our site managers and head cooks are vital. They guide new employees closely and train them on how to do their jobs safely.
Interviewer: What do you like about working at Sodexo?
Tyrone Briscoe: I love people, so that’s a big part of it for me, meeting so many different people. I've been here so long that I've worked with a lot of people who are now vice presidents and executive stewards. Staying with an organization for 30 years gives you the opportunity to look back and see how far you’ve come and the relationships you’ve built. It's almost like an extended family.
I’ve also found a lot of professional success with Sodexo. They provide real opportunities to pursue your interests. When you have a problem, there’s always someone who can help. It's just been outstanding. I thought I would still be teaching by this point in my life, but when I saw how I could grow with Sodexo, things changed for me. I'm grateful for working with Sodexo because they have been my guide.
Interviewer: Do you think Sodexo values employees?
Tyrone Briscoe: Absolutely. One of the things I love about working for Sodexo is that employees have a voice here. When you have an idea, senior leaders are willing to listen and give it a try. They work with you. If you have an idea that you think is valuable to the company, they will try to make it happen.
Interviewer: Are there any leaders who have inspired you in your career?
Tyrone Briscoe: When I first wanted to become a cook on an offshore team, there was a cook there who inspired me. He noticed that I was a little nervous about working offshore and cooking for such a large group of people, but he said, “I know you can do it. I see the potential in you. And I'm here to support you. Nothing beats a failure but a try.” I’ve never forgotten those words. Knowing I had someone on my side like that really gave me the confidence to explore this field. And I've been running ever since.
Another person who inspired me was my former supervisor, Jean Thibodeaux. One day, I was wondering how far I might be able to go in the company. Jean said that he knew I would be successful because I never give up. And I always think about that each time when things start to feel a little off track. I remind myself that things get better when you don’t give up.
Jean was also a great resource when I needed help solving a problem. We would always talk things through and figure out solutions. Having support like that makes enjoy your job more and pushes you to work harder and perform your best.
More recently, David Russak has been a mentor to me, offering guidance and listening to my ideas. He’s a great mentor and leader because he makes you feel good about yourself. He makes you want to do more.
Interviewer: What do you think makes a good leader?
Tyrone Briscoe: A good leader knows how to listen — and not just listen, but provide guidance. Another important thing is that a good leader can teach and train. My main goal is never to leave anyone behind, and I think that’s also part of being a leader. If someone is struggling, you work with them and guide them. You help them improve.
Graphic: Tyrone Briscoe is celebrating 25 years of service with us. Tyrone's career started offshore in various roles. He subsequently worked as a Dispatcher and Warehouse Auditor before joining the HR team as a Recruiter. He transferred back to the Operations Department in 2010 as an Internal Staffing Associate where he works with our frontline employees daily to ensure our staffing needs are met on our sites. Congratulations, Tyrone!