Ayanna Matlock

About Ayanna Matlock

I help build systems where people are empowered and performance follows—and I love doing it with heart, strategy, and collaboration.At SEPTA, I’ve helped lead one of the agency’s most ambitious transformation efforts: the Efficiency & Accountability (E&A) program. Over three years, we activated 140 initiatives and recognized $91.4M in recurring annual benefits, turning big ideas into lasting impact.As Deputy Chief Transformation Officer for Organizational Health, I’ve worked to make E&A more than a program—it’s become a mindset woven into how we lead, listen, and grow. From launching trauma-informed peer conflict supports like Team Valor, to expanding mental health offerings, creating concierge Childcare, and building leadership pipelines, I focus on what matters most: voice, trust, and empowerment.I also lead our HR Transformation efforts—shaping how we attract, support, and grow talent. From the Talent Win Room to designing better performance KPIs to reimagining the onboarding experience for new hires, our goal is to make every step of the employee journey more human, connected, and clear.I’m always up for real (and sometimes delightfully messy) conversations about culture, people, and what it truly takes to make work… well, work. If you’re dreaming up new ways to support teams, lead with heart, or simply swap stories from the field—I’d love to connect. Let’s keep building what’s next, together.

Experience

1. Deputy Chief Transformation Officer

   Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

   Jan 2022 — Present · Philadelphia, PA, US

   I am responsible for ensuring the crucial implementation of our Efficiency & Accountability (E&A) Program Enterprise Health Initiatives (EHI). In addition to helping stand up a permanent Transformation Office, my specific areas of focus will include: Sharing the SEPTA Spirit, Communications 360, Living Health, Engaging our Community and Building our Capabilities

Education

• Hampton University

  Biology Pre-Med

  1988 — 1992

• Philadelphia University

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Strategic Design

  2014 — 2016

• Philadelphia University

  Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Organizational Leadership

  2009 — 2011