Erin Watkins
About Erin Watkins
Erin Watkins serves as the VP of Global Talent and Culture at Travelport, where she oversees talent and employee experience programs across multiple regions. With extensive experience in human resources, she has previously held positions at TransUnion, LexisNexis, and Varian Medical Systems.
Current Role at Travelport
Erin Watkins serves as the Vice President of Global Talent and Culture at Travelport since 2020. In this role, she oversees talent and employee experience programs across more than 40 countries, including regions such as North and Latin America, Europe, MEA, and APAC. Watkins is responsible for implementing initiatives that enhance employee engagement and pride in the company, achieving a notable increase of 23% from 2019 to 2023. She also leads programs related to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives and Global Charitable Partnerships.
Previous Experience at Travelport
Prior to her current position, Erin Watkins held several roles at Travelport. She served as Senior Director of Human Resources from 2017 to 2018 and as Senior Director of Transformation and Organization Change from 2019 to 2020. In these roles, she contributed to the company's human resources strategies and organizational development efforts, particularly during challenging periods, including the pandemic.
Career History at TransUnion
Erin Watkins has extensive experience at TransUnion, where she worked in various human resources roles over a span of ten years. She began as a Human Resource Analyst and progressed to Senior Human Resources Business Partner. Her tenure at TransUnion included a focus on business intelligence consulting and maintaining lower than industry voluntary turnover rates during the pandemic and subsequent industry crisis.
Educational Background
Erin Watkins has a diverse educational background. She studied at Auburn University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Foreign Language International Trade with a specialization in Spanish. She also pursued graduate studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she achieved a Master's degree in Criminal Justice. Additionally, she attended the University at Albany, SUNY, where she worked towards a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, although it remains incomplete.
Achievements in Human Resources
Throughout her career, Erin Watkins has led efforts to build an award-winning workplace culture, particularly during challenging times such as the pandemic and financial recovery. She has successfully implemented initiatives that improved employee pride and engagement, and she has overseen programs that focus on talent development and employee experience on a global scale.