One Team on One Journey with HR Professionals

We’re excited to launch our One Team. One Journey. campaign as we celebrate a defining moment in our company’s history — the coming together of two industry leaders to form one unified H&P. This campaign represents more than just a rebrand or messaging initiative; it’s our commitment to building trust, fostering excitement and showcasing the opportunities that lie ahead as we combine our strengths. 

Two human resource professionals separated by 8,000 miles and 11 time zones connected for the first time to discuss a shared mission: integrating one unified workforce from two legacy companies. 

Danielle Ford, an HR business partner in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Nuzrat Ul Ain, HR country manager for Pakistan, despite never having worked together before, quickly discovered shared values and approaches to supporting their teams. Their first conversation revealed how similar challenges across different continents can create strong foundations for future collaboration. 

Getting to Know Each Other 

Ford’s journey to HR began in 2022 when she joined H&P as a corporate recruiter before transitioning to the HR Business Partner team in December 2023. She now supports H&P’s FlexRig engineering and technology teams, bringing a fresh perspective to strategic HR initiatives. 

“As an HR Business Partner, my day-to-day involves a dynamic mix of strategic planning and hands-on support,” Ford explained.  

Her priorities center on employee engagement and development, change management, culture building and supporting talent management initiatives. Across the world, Ul Ain brings a diverse background to her role as country HR manager for Pakistan, having started with KCA Deutag in March 2021 as an HR admin. Her career path took her through marketing agencies and telecommunications before finding her way to oil and gas.

 

Beyond work, both Ul Ain and Ford, are passionate about art and crafts. Ul Ain enjoys painting and other art forms including building 3D mini house structures while Ford is an avid crocheter.  

Defining Success Through People 

Both employees define success through their impact on people and business outcomes.  

“Success in my role is defined by the positive impact I have on both people and the business,” Ford said. “That means employees feel empowered, supported and aligned with the company’s mission.” 

Ul Ain shares this people-first philosophy.  

“Success in my role means creating a workplace where people feel valued, supported and motivated, while ensuring there is a balance with HR practices,” she said. 

Their “why” reveals a shared passion for human potential.  

“My ‘why’ is rooted in a deep belief that people are the heart of every successful organization,” Ford said. “I’m passionate about creating environments where individuals can thrive — where they feel seen, heard and valued.” 

Ul Ain echoed this sentiment. 

“My passion is to work for people — I believe that when people feel heard, supported and empowered, they thrive and so does the business,” Ul Ain said. “I look for opportunities to make the work culture more relaxed and effective so that every individual is happy coming to work.” 

Safety and Wellbeing as Foundations 

Both professionals prioritize safety and employee wellbeing, though their approaches reflect their different operational contexts. Ford sees HR’s role as “enablement,” explaining:  

“Enabling the entire organization to perform their jobs safely and efficiently,” she said. “We achieve these things through policy development and enforcement, training and education, employee support and reporting, and culture and communication.” 

Ul Ain prioritizes safety by encouraging individuals to report concerns without fear.  

“Employee wellbeing is my priority. I have an open-door policy where any individual can come to my office and share their thoughts, and I make sure that their words are safe with me,” she said. 

The Integration Opportunity 

The KCA Deutag acquisition has both colleagues energized about future possibilities. Ford sees it as fulfilling H&P’s long-term vision.  

“As long as I’ve been here, our goal has been to ‘Grow Global,’ and this acquisition was a major step in achieving that growth,” Ford said. “I believe that the opportunities are vast for H&P to continue its excellence on a global scale.” 

Ul Ain is particularly excited about the exchange potential.  

“I am excited to get to know different people with different cultures,” Ul Ain said. “This acquisition will give opportunity for growth and integration of global best practices. This opportunity opens door for global knowledge sharing.” 

Career Advice for the Next Generation 

They both offered practical wisdom for career starters. Ford sees the potential in small gestures.  

“Be open-minded,” she said. “Conversations are free, and it might just end up being the best decision you’ve ever made.” 

Ul Ain elaborated on Ford’s thoughts.  

“Don’t be afraid to start small. Focus on learning, building relationships and understanding the business,” she said. “Ask questions, seek feedback and take ownership of your development. Most importantly, stay true to your values and don’t underestimate the impact you can make — even early in your career.” 

One Team on One Journey 

Ford’s perspective on the integration captures the essence of what makes this partnership promising.  

“There’s significant common ground between these established organizations regarding culture and values, yet I view our differences as offering just as much potential for growth and strength as our shared characteristics,” she said. 

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