Recognized Succession Planning Leaders 2025

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.

Nancy J. Capistran, PCC, is a nationally recognized Executive Coach, Vistage Chair, and Board Director with a reputation for elevating leaders and organizations in complex, high-stakes environments. As Founder and CEO of Capistran Leadership, Nancy partners with senior executives and boards to accelerate growth, sharpen decision-making, and drive results with clarity, agility, and impact. Nancy’s background spans executive leadership coaching, culture transformation, strategic planning, risk and crisis advising, and organizational performance. With a keen understanding of the pressures facing today’s leaders, Nancy brings practical, actionable insights that help organizations strengthen culture, boost engagement, and achieve sustainable growth. Boardroom experience adds trusted guidance in governance, risk management, and strategic alignment, ensuring organizations are positioned to navigate change, mitigate risk, and seize new opportunities. As a Vistage Chair, Nancy facilitates high-performing peer advisory groups for CEOs and business owners, challenging leaders to broaden their perspectives, confront critical issues, and achieve breakthrough outcomes. The facilitation style is direct, results-oriented, and grounded in real-world business acumen, making Nancy a sought-after resource for leaders who want to think bigger and move faster. Nancy’s work has earned multiple “Best Executive Coach” awards and has featured insights in major media outlets. Known for the ability to reframe complex challenges, spark innovation, and unlock untapped leadership potential, Nancy is frequently called upon to advise on leadership strategy, board effectiveness, and organizational resilience. Proprietary frameworks and a candid, straightforward approach help executives and teams cut through noise, focus on what matters most, and deliver measurable results. Clients describe Nancy as a trusted sounding board and catalyst for positive change—someone who challenges assumptions, fosters accountability, and inspires leaders to reach new heights. Whether guiding a Board through strategic pivots or coaching a CEO through high-pressure decisions, Nancy brings clarity, composure, and a relentless focus on excellence. For actionable insights on leadership, Board governance, or organizational transformation, Nancy Capistran delivers clear, candid advice that empowers executives and teams to thrive. Connect directly at nancy@capistranleadership.com.

Interdisciplinary Global Marketing and Human Resource Development (HRD) executive with over 20 years of experience scaling brand ecosystems across enterprise, high-growth, and startup environments – from Fortune 1 (Walmart) to VC- and PE-backed ventures. Adept at developing emotionally resonant, data-driven brand strategies that drive top-line growth, market share and long-term equity. Proven expertise leading cross-functional and regional teams, launching go-to-market strategies across EMEA, APAC, and the Americas, and overseeing portfolios with budgets up to $100MM. Known for transforming complex market insights into differentiated brand positioning, unifying internal culture with external messaging and operationalizing high-performing marketing infrastructures. Fluent in growth strategy, creative storytelling, product innovation alignment and maximizing ROI through global-local execution.

Most organizations don’t fail because of bad strategy. They fail because they can’t follow through. That’s where I come in. I work with executive teams to close the gap between vision and execution, building the structure, accountability, and focus needed to deliver measurable results. My expertise spans SEO, direct primary care strategy, and business consulting, with a proven record of scaling healthcare membership by 170 percent and generating $82 million in federal economic impact. Whether leading complex initiatives or rebuilding underperforming systems, I drive clarity, align operations, and create momentum that lasts.