[2] From 1977 to 1981, Hackett held sales and management positions at Procter & Gamble in Detroit, Michigan.

Hackett spent thirty years with the Grand Rapids-based office furniture company Steelcase.

During his tenure, Steelcase eliminated nearly 12,000 employees as part of a downsizing and restructuring of the business;[3] he also led the company to acquire a majority stake in IDEO in 1996.

[4] During this time Hackett became a proponent of design thinking, which focuses on how humans experience a product.

The move came as Ford announced cuts to its global workforce amid efforts to address the company's declining share price and improve profits.

[8][9][10] Hackett serves on the board of directors for Northwestern Mutual Life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Steelcase Foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

[13][14][15] Hackett holds a position on the Board of Directors for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.