Meeting Netta Washington
I’m about to meet Netta Washington, a transformational leader known for driving growth and leading turnarounds in complex industries. From aerospace to energy and beyond, Netta has spent her career finding solutions to tough business challenges — and achieving remarkable results.
When we meet at a café in Houston, Netta greets me with a warm smile. “I didn’t start out wanting to be an executive,” she says as we sit down. “I began my career as a programmer, but I quickly realized I was better at solving business problems than writing code.”
Curious about her career path, I ask what drew her to leadership roles. “I’ve always loved figuring out how things work and finding ways to improve them,” she says. “That mindset led me to industrial engineering, where I could focus on real-world problem-solving and driving results.”
Netta’s leadership style is deeply rooted in her upbringing. “My parents taught me to treat people with respect, to be honest, and to lead with integrity,” she explains. “When I walk the shop floors, I see my father in the faces of the people working hard every day. That’s why I believe leadership is about earning trust, building accountability, and inspiring people to believe in a vision.”
Achievements…
Netta’s ability to drive growth has been a consistent theme throughout her career. At IDEX Corporation, she took over a struggling business unit facing leadership gaps, cultural issues, and a severe backlog of customer orders. “It was a perfect storm,” she recalls. “But it was also a huge opportunity.”
She restaffed the senior leadership team, introduced the 80/20 methodology to focus on high-margin products, and implemented Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP). These strategies improved operations and delivered meaningful growth. “We improved profitability,” she says, “but what I’m most proud of is how we rebuilt a culture of trust and accountability — and grew revenue by 10% year-over-year.”
Netta also led the Energy Transition strategy at IDEX, driving growth in emerging technologies like hydrogen, carbon capture, and energy storage. By deploying $300M in capital and expanding into Asia-Pacific and South America, her team achieved 15% growth in those regions.
At Honeywell, Netta led a $1.5B global gas business across 26 countries. Balancing financial performance with strategic growth, she drove $190M in new product revenue and achieved 12% New Product Introduction (NPI) vitality. “That role stretched me as a leader,” she says. “I had to manage complexity, inspire teams across cultures, and stay focused on driving results.”
What’s next?
I’m curious about her future vision, so I ask about her next step. “I’m excited about leading a company that’s ready to scale,” she says. “I’m open to opportunities across industries — energy, manufacturing, or technology — where I can help teams grow through strategic vision and strong leadership.”
In addition to her leadership ambitions, Netta is committed to giving back. “I’m launching the ‘CEO Academy’ to support aspiring leaders, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds,” she says. “I want to create a safe space where people can ask questions, learn, and build the confidence they need to take on bigger roles.”
As our conversation wraps up, Netta reflects on what drives her. “For me, success isn’t just about hitting targets,” she says. “It’s about building trust, creating accountability, and empowering people to believe in what they can achieve.”
As we finish our coffee, I realize Netta is more than a transformational business leader. She’s a change maker, driven by purpose and guided by integrity. It’s clear that her story is just beginning. Whatever she does next, it’s going to make an impact.
Interview by Maarten Schafer - Chief Storyteller - CoolBrands People
