Recognized Succession Planning Leaders 2025

I'm an innovative, curious, and passionate People Ops leader trying to connect employers and their people. Super powers include focused, engaging and effective communications, grace under pressure, and maintaining attention to detail while scoping big picture results. I focus on clarity, inclusion, accountability, respect, and trust - which means I operate with those values at the core of what I do and how I treat others. I lean into tough conversations with leaders at all levels, and help advocate for employees while prioritizing the interests of the organization.

We train & consult on Strategy, Finance, Succession & Leadership. A successful consulting engagement for us is where the client’s measurable improvement is a multiple of our fee so that we become an investment in their future rather than a cost of doing business. * Assisted major service provider in identifying operational problems while devising strategies & tactics to improve profits through quality & performance which were achieved within 6 months * Assisted 80+ year old garment company with corporate restructure which regained profitability within 120 days * Developed a strategic business plan for a start-up consumer products firm that facilitated their securing equity financing and then profitability within first year.

How can organizations adapt to create new growth paths and manage risk in rapidly changing markets? This is the focus of my strategy and risk advisory work. I leverage my extensive track record in high-performance team building and operations leadership to help clients solve challenging problems at the nexus of risk, strategy, and innovation. I have over a decade of strategy consulting and executive leadership experience across multiple industries. I was the Director of Strategy for a Top 50 Foodservice Distributor, helping lead the company through its acquisition by a Top 5 Distributor. After that, I became CEO and led the turnaround of a produce merchandising and distribution company. My educational background includes a Master of Divinity from Denver Seminary, an MBA from Texas A&M University, and a PhD in religion from the University of Birmingham (UK).

SEO and Web Design Specialist at KKT Management Enhance digital strategies and website functionalities. Improve search engine rankings and design user-centric interfaces. Conduct successful SEO campaigns, staying abreast of the latest trends and algorithms. Operations Manager at Anna Nasi Lemak Spicy Asia City Manage day-to-day operations and spearhead online presence. Oversee digital engagement and brand management. Integrate traditional marketing with digital solutions to boost brand visibility and customer interaction.

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With 35+years of hands on experience and R12Million in invesment into research and expertise, Tony is an expert in optimising People, Teams, Leadership and Culture to thrive in tough Times. Developer of the REVOLUTIONARY WORKPLACE High Performance Teams system, The Success Ensurance Self Mastery System, and author of SWIFT SUCCESS Mindset, AdaptAgility and REVOLUTIONARY WORKPLACE CLEARx framework. Tony guides people and teams to unleash more of thier amazing potential.

I am Sri Chellappa, the CEO, President, and Co-Founder of Engagedly, an AI-enabled people strategy platform designed to revolutionize traditional performance appraisals. At Engagedly, I focus on simplifying performance reviews by integrating employee engagement and development, helping organizations build high-performing, people-centric cultures. With over 20 years of experience in software development, consulting, and organizational leadership, I have had the privilege of working with leading firms like EY and Capgemini. My career has taught me the immense value of investing in people—not just for their individual success but for the success of the organization as a whole. I am passionate about empowering employees to grow, stay engaged, and develop the skills they need to thrive and advance in their careers. My journey has been shaped by a diverse range of experiences that span technology, health IT, people management, and creative arts. As a filmmaker, I’ve written, directed, and produced six feature films that have been distributed globally on platforms like Netflix, NBCUniversal, Fox International, Showtime, and Amazon Prime. These experiences have fueled my ability to think strategically, lead creatively, and deliver impactful results. Career Highlights: Author: The Black Book of Agile Project Delivery with Distributed Teams, where I share my insights on managing distributed teams effectively. Film Industry Achievements: Writer, Director, and Producer of six feature films with international distribution across major platforms. I am passionate about creating engaged, agile organizations and leveraging my leadership skills to help employees and companies succeed together.

As EVP of M&A, Joe leads PRITCHETT's M&A integration practice which has consulted on acquisitions valued in total over $350 billion. He is the architect of PRITCHETT’s M&A integration methodology, an approach that has been used successfully by thousands of acquirers. Joe also conceived of and brought to market the Merger Integration Certification Workshop, the most successful M&A integration training program in the world. Plus, he created MergerIntegration.com which is now the most visited web site on M&A integration. MergerIntegration.com provides step-by step instruction on how to run integration projects and is populated with over 500 deliverables from PRITCHETT consulting engagements. Joe is the author of the books, Street Smart Moves for Selling your Business and What’s Next? He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

Natalie Michael is a trusted advisor to CEOs navigating what's next—whether preparing for their own transition, developing key talent, or designing a purposeful next chapter. As Managing Partner of CEO Next Chapter, she combines over 20 years of experience in executive development with a unique focus on succession strategy, peer learning & leadership reinvention. A Master Certified CEO Peer Group Leader with Mackay CEO Forums and Chair of Tiger 21 Vancouver 3, Natalie works closely with business leaders stewarding enterprises ranging from $10M to $6B. She holds a Master’s in Organizational Leadership, numerous coaching certifications, and has authored two books on CEO development. Natalie also serves on the boards of Foundations for Social Change and Wavefront Centre for Accessibility. Her favorite book is Dr Hawkins Map of Consciousness.

I started my journey as an entrepreneur and operator, that entrepreneurial spirit remains at the heart of who I am today. Along the way, I discovered my true passion: helping businesses grow, transform, and achieve their big-picture goals. With expertise in M&A Advisory/Corporate Finance and Private Equity, I’ve had the privilege of working on both buy-side and sell-side deals.My foundation is built on a genuine interest and love for business and a solid understanding and passion for Corporate Finance which is complemented by hands-on experience in strategic advisory, negotiation, financial modelling, investment management and deal-making. Whether it’s closing a deal or brainstorming the next big move, I thrive on challenges and love connecting with like-minded professionals. Let’s connect!

Creative, collaborative practitioner with 15+ years experience in organizational change, talent management, culture change, employee engagement, and leadership development. I apply my unique experience as a business leader and expertise in organization development to diagnose organizational issues and opportunities, to develop strategies and plans, and to measure the success factors that lead to organizational effectiveness. Specialties: Organization design Talent management and development Leadership development Employee engagement and retention Executive coaching Group facilitation Teambuilding Change management MBTI certified Adult learning

Influencer | Featured on Times of India | 4x World Record Holder | 10x Microsoft & Azure Certified Expert | ITIL® 4 Specialist Certified | 44x IBM & Design Thinking Certified | SNOW | NOC/IMS/CIS Specialist | Digital & Social Media Marketer | Brand Promoter & Lead Generator

With the new digital transformation, I have learnt to provide complex reporting, analysis and assessments as a data analyst, using my broad knowledge of statistics, analytics, python, and data visualization. With my excellent understanding of business operations and analytics tools for effective analyses of data, I will help you align your projects and programs with your organization strategy, driving value into your organization. I am also a Leadership Strategist and Certified John Maxwell Coach & Trainer, with more than 5 years of experience offering personal and professional development. As a Senior Project manager, I work with teams to deliver projects within scope and budget. My knowledge and experience in project management processes and well-versed at providing specialized business management guidance and support will serve any organization with great value. Most essentially is my personal goal and passion of adding value to individuals and organizations. Get in touch with me and let's have a chat. Phone: 306-715-8575 Email: yemisi.iyilade@gmail.com

Taylor has the skills and experience to work with individuals from all backgrounds to achieve their family, financial, and business goals. His passion in life is to make the world a better place by teaching others how they can live a fulfilled life, regardless of their current position or past experiences.

Senior Human Resource Professional with over 12 years of experience specializing in establishing productive business relationships and resolving critical human capital business issues. Proven experience in multinational environments in the areas of people management, talent management, recruitment and staffing, performance management, compensation benefits, training development, organizational design, outplacement, and coaching in both NGOs and private sectors. Work cross-functionally with internal stakeholders and outside partners to execute successful communications from concept to completion that are on time. Area of Expertise: * Change Management * Talent Acquisition and Development * Learning Programme Content Creation and Development * Leadership and Life Coach * Psychology of Workplace * HR Management System * Process Design, Policies and Procedure Management * Business Development * Project Management * Organisational Development * Certified International Trainer

Desiree Russo is a Partner and Senior Vice President of Portfolio Operations at MasonMade Ventures, where she drives operational excellence across the firm's portfolio of critical infrastructure companies. With nearly two decades of experience in construction and facilities management, Desiree brings extensive expertise in scaling processes, managing operations, and delivering best-in-class service to clients nationwide. Before co-founding MasonMade, Desiree served as Partner and Vice President of Operations at CS Hudson, where she was instrumental in streamlining workflows, exceeding client expectations, and developing internal talent. Earlier in her career, she advanced steadily through leadership roles at a facility management company—starting as a Client Team Manager and ultimately becoming Director of Client Services. She began her professional journey at Empire Facilities Management Group, rising from Coordinator to Supervisor to National Account Manager. Desiree attributes her career growth to a strong work ethic, a focus on operational efficiency, and a people-first leadership philosophy. As a female leader in a historically male-dominated industry, Desiree is known for breaking norms and modeling an inclusive, collaborative. Her leadership is characterized by humility, active listening, and a commitment to continuous improvement—for individuals, teams, and the businesses she helps to scale. She is a two-time recipient of the Circle of Excellence Award, recognizing her consistent impact in building high-performing teams and lasting client relationships.

Diverse work experiences enriched me with a holistic and sustainability oriented People & Culture perspective which helps businesses shape and reach strategic goals. I feel the flow when fostering positive workplace cultures. Values (when truly lived by) hold an important role in company's success and I've been happy to lead few value implementation projecs that shook some ground;) I'm striving to create environments where team members feel empowered, valued and driven to succeed. I would also call myself burnout prevention advocate, that is why I'm committed to promoting employee well-being, helping individuals thrive both personally and professionally.

I'm Jeremy Ames, a seasoned leader with a track record of driving success in the Human Resources and workplace technology space. With decades of global experience, I've founded and led HR Technology companies, served as a strategic consultant, and delivered transformative projects for organizations worldwide. My Highlights: Founded, led, and successfully exited an HR Technology services company. Established a vast network within the HR Technology ecosystem. Passionately led organizations, programs, and teams to excellence. Closed tens of millions of dollars in sales through strategic initiatives. Led and executed system selection, implementation, and optimization projects. Built strong relationships and influence across all levels of organizations. Lastly, I incorporate strong morality into the workplace through diversity, equity and inclusion. In my spare time, I enjoy sports like golf, baseball and basketball, coaching my kids and following and writing about music. I once wrote a novel about Spain and love to travel to some of my favorite US and global destinations.

ABOUT SARA: Sara Gallagher is President of The Persimmon Group and a recognized expert in PMO leadership, project portfolio management, and strategy execution. Sara helps organizations transform their Project Management Offices into high-impact engines for business value, drawing on more than 15 years of experience advising executives and leading enterprise projects. A frequent speaker, author, and instructor, Sara has contributed to PMI’s global standards, taught thousands of professionals through her Udemy courses, and delivered keynotes on PMO transformation and the future of project leadership. She is known for making complex project management concepts clear, actionable, and engaging. Based in Tulsa and a graduate of Emory University, Sara is also the creator of the “Big Dumb Questions” newsletter on LinkedIn. THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND EXPERTISE Sara’s work blends the disciplines of project management and organizational effectiveness, with a focus on: - Strategy Execution - PMO Design and Evolution - Leading Organizational Change - Executive Coaching - Building Cultures of Accountability and Trust Sara’s consulting portfolio spans a wide range of industries—including energy, finance, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and technology—where she partners with both Fortune 500 powerhouses and fast-moving startups. Her experience cuts across project types, from industrial mega-projects and enterprise software rollouts to HR and people transformation initiatives. Whether the challenge is scale, speed, or stakeholder complexity, Sara brings a strategic, systems-minded approach that helps organizations turn complexity into clarity—and ambitious ideas into measurable progress.