McLean Signature

Linda Nazareth

Economist & Futurist

Linda Nazareth is an economist, a futurist and a respected authority on the future of work.

As a newspaper columnist and an author, she knows how to frame things in ways that both educate and entertain, and as the Senior Fellow for Economics and Population Change think-tank at the Macdonald Laurier Institute, she knows what she is talking about.

In 2023 she released her new book ” Working it Out: How to Be Ready for the Redefined Future of Work.” She is also the host of Work and the Future, a new podcast that explores trends around the labor force and the workplace.

Linda’s career has taken some non-traditional turns for someone in her field. Her first jobs was as a government economist where she specialized in labor market planning, which was followed by a stint at a major financial institution where she spent years as a Senior Economist. Wanting to change things up while she could, she lobbied to have a job created for her on Business News Network BNN, and during her time at BNN, Linda started writing books and giving keynote presentations, and eventually left daily broadcasting to give those passions her full-time attention.

Denise Huskins

Speaker & Author

Denise Huskins is a captivating speaker, critically acclaimed author, and an embodiment of strength in the face of adversity. Her remarkable journey, as depicted in the #1 Netflix show "American Nightmare" and chronicled in her acclaimed book "Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors", serves as a powerful testament to resilience, courage, and the unwavering human spirit.

In 2015, Denise found herself at the center of a high-profile kidnapping case that not only shook her world but also captivated the nation. Despite facing unimaginable challenges, Denise emerged from this traumatic experience with grace, courage, and an unyielding determination to turn her pain into purpose.

As the author of "Victim F," Denise Huskins courageously shares the intimate details of her harrowing ordeal and the subsequent journey towards healing and empowerment. Her book has resonated with readers worldwide, offering a beacon of hope to those grappling with their own trials.

Denise's story has been brought to life on the small screen through the critically acclaimed Netflix series "American Nightmare." The show not only sheds light on the complexities of her experience but also highlights her resilience, providing viewers with a compelling narrative of survival, strength, and the power of the human spirit.

A sought-after speaker, Denise brings her story to audiences with authenticity, vulnerability, and a message that transcends the boundaries of trauma. Her talks focus on themes such as overcoming adversity, maintaining grace under fire, and transforming personal challenges into opportunities for advocacy and empowerment.

Denise's journey is not just about survival; it's a story of triumph, resilience, and the capacity of the human heart to find strength even in the darkest moments. By sharing her experiences, Denise Huskins inspires others to confront their own challenges with courage, offering a roadmap for navigating life's toughest moments.

DeRetta Rhodes, Ph.D

EVP & Chief Culture Officer, Atlanta Braves

DeRetta Rhodes, Ph.D. is the Executive Vice President & Chief Culture Officer of the Atlanta Braves, overseeing people capital initiatives, communications and community affairs for the Braves, The Battery Atlanta and team’s Spring Training facility operations.

Prior to joining the Braves, Rhodes was the Executive Vice President/Chief Human Resources Officer of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Vice President of Human Resources at First Data, Vice President of Human Resources for Turner Broadcasting and held leadership positions at Ernst & Young, ADP, HomeGrocer.com and YUM Brand.

Rhodes received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, her master’s in business administration from Clark Atlanta University, and her Ph.D. in adult education from the University of Georgia. She is a certified facilitator for the Benchmark 360 assessment by the Center for Creative Leadership, DISC coach and facilitator, qualified facilitator for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and qualified coach for the HOGAN Assessment and HOGAN 360.

Rhodes completed her Ted Talk (TEDxUGA) in 2018 and has been recognized as a Women of Excellence (2018), 100 Women of Influence (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) by Atlanta Business Chronicle, a Distinguished Alumni (2020) in the Family and Consumer Science College of the University of Georgia, Oncon Icon Award Top 100 Human Resources Professionals (2021, 2022), Sports Inclusion Conference Top 100 Women in Sports (2021, 2023), Reinhardt University commencement speaker (2022) and National Diversity & Leadership Top 100 HR Professionals (2022, 2023).

She serves on several boards such as Executive Board Member of the Atlanta Braves Foundation, Board Chair of 21st Century Leaders and Trustee Member, Governing Board Member and HR & Compensation Chair of the Woodruff Arts Center, to name a few.

Dr. Rhodes lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Leon and has three sons: Cole, Austin and Jordan.

Peter Lynch

Chief People Officer, Cardinal Group Companies

Peter Lynch is the Chief People Officer at Cardinal Group Companies. A noted Fortune 500 global executive in talent management, operations, change management, diversity & inclusion, communications and training. He brings broad expertise across the entire employee lifecycle. As an entrepreneur, he developed the app Digital Fridge that has been downloaded in more than 70 countries and launched a podcast that reached the top 25 ahead of The New York Times and Harvard Business Review. He sits on the corporate leadership council board for Colorado Children’s Hospital. A TEDx speaker whose connection with audiences is legendary, he lives in Denver. Peter is known for his impactful storytelling and has taken his message of success through authenticity to leaders and teams on 5 continents.

Naphtali Bryant

Executive Coach & Leadership Development Consultant, RAC Leadership

Naphtali Bryant is a visionary in cultivating transformative leadership and high-performing teams across diverse organizational landscapes on a global scale. He firmly believes that effective leadership is the cornerstone of success, and that well-developed teams can exhibit repeatable, recognizable, respected, and real behaviors that drive sustainable performance. Naphtali is dedicated to helping organizations craft these behaviors into their leadership and learning culture through his innovative and strategic development programs, executive coaching, and team effectiveness ensuring measurable and sustainable impact and success. Naphtali has a proven track record of helping leaders and organizations accelerate learning and performance specializing in:

• Team and organizational effectiveness
• Leadership Coaching and Development
• Motivational and Inspirational Speaking
• Building cultures of learning and high performance

Naphtali is passionate in the philosophy that leadership is influence and healthy cultures are the manifestation of effective leadership. He is committed to empowering leaders to fully harness their leadership potential to strategically influence performance and business outcomes. He excels in architecting innovative leadership development solutions that deliver engaging, inspiring, and influential experiences. His approach involves developing strategic HR and talent management tools, frameworks, and impactful transformational programs that significantly enhance individual, team, and organizational effectiveness.

Naphtali’s expansive career spans over two decades, working with a diverse array of sectors including technology, non-profit, entertainment, military, and transportation. His roles have ranged from leadership and executive positions at Warner Bros. Service Titan, Netflix, ZoomInfo, and Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, where he led large-scale initiatives that markedly increased learning, culture, leadership effectiveness, and organizational development.

Known for his unique strategic and innovative approaches, dynamic toolkit, technological savvy, and creative ways to drive and inspire full engagement Naphtali ensures that every leader and team has the essential tools they need to thrive helping to not only bridge critical organizational gaps but also foster a culture of high performance, positioning him as a trusted advisor to executive management on a global scale.

His expertise in executive coaching, team effectiveness and leadership development is highlighted by his adeptness in mentoring and coaching leaders and teams across all levels, from executives to frontline leaders, drawing on his comprehensive global experience and military background and training.

Outside of his professional life, Naphtali cherishes time spent traveling with his wife and two sons, playing pick-up basketball, and pursuing his passion for reading and continuous learning.

Ray Kleeman

Chief Human Resources Officer, Reinsurance Group of America, Inc

Ray Kleeman is Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer for Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated. He is responsible for all of RGA's global human resources strategies, including organizational design, workforce and succession planning, talent acquisition and development, compensation and benefits, diversity and inclusion, and change management. He is also a member of RGA's Executive Committee.

Ray has more than 25 years of experience in human resource management. Before joining RGA, Ray was Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Centene Corporation in St. Louis, where he was responsible for leading its HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, HR Operations and Compliance, Employee Relations, and International HR groups. Previously, Ray held several global positions with Monsanto Company (now Bayer), including divisional HR responsibility for its Crop Protection and International Seed & Traits businesses as well as leading HR for its R&D and corporate HR functions.

Ray’s Master of Science (M.S.) and Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology are both from Saint Louis University. He serves on the boards of the St. Louis Community College Foundation and the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis.

Lisa Highfield

Lisa Highfield - Principal Director, Human Resources Technology and Artificial Intelligence, McLean & Company

Lisa Highfield is the Principal Director, Human Resources Technology and Artificial Intelligence for McLean & Company. Lisa creates and delivers practical HR research and advisory services to help leaders drive strategic results. She is a progressive leader with over twenty-five years of strategic, technical, and operational experience in human resources, IT, and finance. As a former Research and Advisory Director of Enterprise Applications for Info-Tech Research Group, Lisa is uniquely positioned to assist organizations around HR technology and operations.

Lisa has knowledge across several HR disciplines, including HR strategy, HR technology, HR operations, culture, and learning & development. She has expertise in helping organizations connect their business, HR, and IT objectives into priorities, action plans, and results. She is passionate about positioning HR leaders and their teams to optimize investments by developing digital HR strategies.

Leveraging her experience in client advisory and research, Lisa is well-versed in guiding members through their application lifecycle, including application portfolio management, strategy, selection, optimization, and operations. Lisa has expertise in many software categories, including human capital management, payroll, learning and development, workforce management, recruiting, and enterprise resource planning (ERP).

A lifelong learner, Lisa has an Executive MBA from the University of Fredericton in Global Business, a degree in HR from Ryerson University, a post-graduate certificate in Information Technology from Lambton Colleges, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph. Lisa has also embraced the field of Artificial Intelligence, which she is studying through courses at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Paul Okoye

Director, HR Advisory Services, McLean & Company

Paul is a director of HR Advisory Services with a focus on HR strategy, culture, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) services at McLean & Company. As a trusted business advisor with over 20 years of management consulting experience, Paul empowers public sector, private sector, and not-for-profit organizational leaders to translate their organizational mission, vision, and value statements, as well as their business & HR strategies, into desired outcomes.

In the realm of culture transformation, Paul is recognized for his ability to support leaders and organizations with insights and thought leadership as they assess and reshape their organizational cultures to align with core values and business goals. With insights on best practices for fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, Paul works with leaders to ensure their organizations are not only adaptive but also resilient in the face of change.

Paul is a passionate advocate for an equitable world that is lived out in communities and workplaces. In his previous work as a leadership consultant and diversity practitioner, Paul focused on helping organizations and systems overcome barriers related to DEI. Paul leverages his experience as a trainer and speaker on topics such as anti-racism, power/privilege/prejudice, DEI, and conflict management to provide targeted advisory support to his clients.

With a keen ability to analyze complex situations, identify opportunities, and formulate actionable strategies, Paul has been instrumental in guiding organizations through periods of growth and transformation. Paul brings a unique blend of analytical acumen, interpersonal skills, and a commitment to ethical and socially responsible decision-making.

Paul holds a bachelor’s in Commerce (Management Information Systems), a Master of Business Administration (Organizational Enablement) and has received the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation.

As an advocate for community engagement, Paul is an active member of the City of Kitchener’s Equity and Anti-Racism Team, working passionately toward fostering an inclusive community. Additionally, Paul contributes his expertise as a member of the City of Waterloo’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, where he collaborates with the City’s Mayor, Council, and other committee members on initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable economic growth.

Magali Four

SVP & Chief People and Culture Officer, Revvity

Magali Four is SVP and Chief People and Culture Officer of Revvity. She is responsible for setting the company’s strategic HR agenda and works in close partnership with company leaders to foster an inclusive culture that empowers 11,000 employees to thrive.

Magali is an action-oriented and empathetic leader who champions the company’s values – particularly a passion for people. Believing that engaged employees who are cared for as human beings are an organization’s greatest strength, she is committed to developing and nurturing talent within Revvity as well as continuously enriching company culture. Magali leads an ambitious and purpose-driven team of HR professionals that spans 15+ countries to support Revvity employees worldwide. She plays a leading role in their efforts to build high-performing teams, attract top talent and create positive experiences for employees across the organization.

Before being appointed to her current role in February 2021, Magali served in various HR leadership roles at companies including Intel, GE Healthcare in the Women’s Health segment and at GE Real Estate.

Magali is a graduate of the NEOMA Business School in France. She also holds a European HR Management Certificate from the Institut de Gestion Sociale in Paris.

William Howard

Director, HR Research & Advisory Services, McLean & Company

Will is a Director, HR Research & Advisory Services with McLean & Company. Will is passionate about driving organizational success using HR technology, data and analytics, and uncovering and communicating the people trends affecting organizations and employees. He leads research publications, including McLean’s annual HR Trends Report, and supports McLean members in achieving their goals by applying the research through advisory calls and group facilitation.

Prior to joining McLean & Company in 2017, Will supported qualitative research at the post-secondary level, managing a Canada Research Chair Program-funded research lab to train and support researchers across fields at the University of Prince Edward Island on qualitative data analysis using a variety of technologies. Will also has a background in the education sector, and exposure to the non-profit sector through his volunteer work serving on the Board of Directors for a local charity.

Will holds an MBA with a specialization in Human Resources from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Prince Edward Island as well as certifications in advanced analytics and big data from York University.

Sarah Wendt

Chief People Officer, NISA Investment Advisors, LLC

As a Human Resources executive with over 25 years of experience, Sarah has built a career around solving complex challenges that unlock organizational achievement. After completing a BA in Psychology from St. Louis University, and an MBA from University of Missouri – St. Louis, Sarah established her career working with smaller entities where she had the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. She was invited into the ranks of the Fortune 500 by Edward Jones, where she led transformational, firmwide people-related efforts impacting tens of thousands of workers. Following Edward Jones, Sarah joined Express Scripts to lead talent acquisition, and supported the organization through the integration with Cigna. She was recruited into Centene, where she led similar human resources functions, and was responsible for the organization’s Contingent Labor program. Sarah now works as the Chief People Officer at NISA Investment Advisors, leading the human capital strategies for an institutional asset manager serving world-leading companies.

Over her career, Sarah also served on the Diversity and Inclusion Council at Edward Jones, was named to the Executive Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council at Centene, and is the Executive Sponsor for the IDEA Team at NISA. Sarah is on the Board of Trustees at Ranken Technical College, was the Co-Chair of the Development Committee for the Society of Multicultural Professionals in Human Resources, and is a long-time supporter of the Center of Creative Arts.

Most importantly, Sarah is an overwhelmingly proud mother, a long-time committed partner, a caretaker to two fur babies and the current steward of century-old historic home. Her remaining free time is invested in health, fitness, and mentoring others through many of the curve balls life has thrown to her and many of you.

Michelle Leedy

Executive Advisor, McLean & Company

Michelle brings over 20 years of combined consulting and leadership experience to her role as Executive Advisor at McLean & Company, where she supports and guides HR leaders in mapping their HR strategy and prioritizing HR initiatives for measurable business impact.

Michelle offers a multi-faceted background to McLean & Company. Her experience in Human Resources spans multiple industries including Healthcare, Technology, Government, Energy and Utilities, Banking, Consulting, Retail, Higher Education, and Nonprofit.

She is passionate about creating value and positive impact via authentic leadership, client and customer-centric strategies and operations, and building organization culture and capabilities for sustainable change.

Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Duquesne University and a master’s degree in Educational Policy and Leadership from Ohio State University. Michelle is a continuous learner and holds multiple certifications including Certified Change Management Professional™ and Gestalt Professional Certified Coach. She actively seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge and challenge her perspective.

Allison Dell

Senior Vice President People & Culture, SOCAN

Allison Dell is a Human Resources executive, specializing in talent and organizational development. With over 25 years’ experience, she has led high performing teams, spearheaded award-winning global programs, and implemented organizational and cultural support systems across a wide variety of business verticals. Allison is a team builder, facilitator, program designer and coach who believes that people-driven business strategies and a strong company culture are the underpinnings of a dynamic, successful organization.

Currently the Senior Vice Preside of People and Culture at SOCAN, Allison oversees the Human Resource function and end-to-end employee experience, including Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, HR Operations, Learning and Development, HR Business Partnership, and Change Leadership. In addition, Allison is an instructor of Human Resource Management at the University of Toronto in the School of Continuing Education. A self-professed HR nerd, Allison is passionate about creating an inclusive, purpose-driven environment that inspires people to bring their best selves to work.

She lives in Peterborough, Ontario with her husband, two children, and their two cats and a dog. When she’s not reading a book, listening to music, or watching movies with her family, she is finding new ways to live by the motto: leave it better than you found it.

Adam Hickman, Ph.D

Vice President of Organizational and Cast Development, Partners Federal Credit Union – A sponsor of the Walt Disney Company

Dr. Hickman is the Vice President of Learning, Organizational Development, and Cast Members at Partners Federal Credit Union. In this role, Adam is responsible for executing the people strategy related to human development, engagement, culture development, and progressive career mobility. Adam has over 18 years of experience leading leadership development efforts and recently has published research related to maximizing performance amid a remote or hybrid workforce.

In previous roles, Dr. Hickman has consulted with leaders related to workplace practice. He was responsible for leading the workplace, learning, and translating research, best practices, and behavioral and management sciences into practical and compelling articles that drive organizational change and performance outcomes for clients. Most recently, Dr. Hickman was nominated in the Global Top 100 Learning and Development Professionals for his efforts related to professional development. As well as serving on various Board of Director roles related to executive development.

Dr. Hickman holds a doctorate in organizational development, two master’s degrees in organizational leadership and management, and a bachelor’s in communication. Dr. Hickman also has complete executive education certification via Ross Business School at the University of Michigan and the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.

Karen Mann

Senior Vice President, Human Resources Research, Learning & Advisory Services, McLean & Company

Karen Mann is the Senior Vice President of HR Research, Learning Solutions & Advisory Services at McLean & Company. She leads teams dedicated to supporting our clients in achieving their HR and organizational objectives through evidence-based HR and Learning & Development publications, advisory calls, leadership coaching, training program facilitation, focus groups, and group process facilitation (workshops). A results-driven HR professional, Karen has a passion for making a difference. As a collaborative leader and big-picture thinker, she has a proven ability to operationalize programs and initiatives and stay focused on making work matter.

Karen brings a wealth of expertise to McLean & Company and its members, with almost three decades of HR experience in national and multi-national corporations in the technology, telecommunication, business-to-business services, and retail industries. She also gained exposure to the nonprofit sector as a member of the Board of Directors for a regional agency.

Karen earned her MSc in International Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations from Manchester Business School in the UK. She is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (Chartered MCIPD), holds the Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE) designation, and is a Certified Coach Practitioner.

Maureen Cahill

Senior Managing Partner, McLean & Company

Maureen is the Senior Managing Partner of McLean & Company's Executive Services team. Maureen is a progressive executive with nearly three decades of experience as a human resources practitioner, consultant, advisor, and a business leader. As a former Chief HR Officer and strategic partner to dozens of HR executives, Maureen is uniquely positioned to lead McLean & Company’s team of Executive Counselors and Advisors as they deliver the highest level of support and service to our members.

Prior to joining McLean & Company, Maureen served as Chief HR Officer for two notable health care organizations. She has worked as an HR executive in for-profit, non-profit, privately held, publicly traded, and P.E. backed organizations. She is highly skilled in building the HR infrastructure and teams needed to enable growth and ensure a positive employee experience. Maureen has extensive experience working with Boards of Directors on all talent related matters and has counseled through numerous executive level changes, including multiple CEO transitions.

Maureen has deep expertise in translating a company’s strategic business objectives into people priorities, action plans and results. She is passionate about positioning HR leaders and their teams to optimize talent investments through development of business aligned HR strategies, effective business case development, and sound project execution. Maureen has also served in leadership roles outside of HR, having had P&L and revenue generation accountabilities in large advisory, consulting, and outsourcing organizations.

Maureen has served on the Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management from North Central College and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management. She is also a professional and executive coach, receiving certifications from Duquesne University and The University of Georgia.