Gagen MacDonald Strengthens Capabilities in Leadership Development and Talent Management

CHICAGO - May 3, 2018 - PRLog -- Strategy execution firm Gagen MacDonald announced today that James Sharpe has joined the firm as a senior leader to help counsel clients on aligning their leadership and talent strategies to accelerate business results. With more than 30 years of experience—including leadership development and talent consulting roles at Northwestern Mutual, Korn Ferry, and IBM—Sharpe brings a deep understanding of the art, science, and technology innovation required to transform human performance into tangible individual and organizational action.

"James has an impressive background grounded in technology solutions and contemporary learning experiences that fuel effective leadership development and talent management," said Gagen MacDonald President Sherry Scott. "His unique, cross-functional perspective strengthens our firm's ability to help clients across the C-suite achieve business objectives as they face significant change requiring large-scale behavioral and cultural transformation. We're thrilled to welcome James to our team."

In prior roles, Sharpe successfully led global, multidisciplinary teams across numerous industries to build next-generation integrated leadership and talent solutions and provide forward thinking on leadership strategy alignment, accountability, and gender and multicultural diversity and inclusion.

As Executive Director, Field Leadership Development & Talent Management at Northwestern Mutual, he transformed how the organization grows and develops leaders, increasing the number and diversity of field leaders by 10 percent and 17 percent, respectively. He created a digital talent framework for all financial services leadership and integrated financial advisor roles; rebooted leadership succession; integrated talent assessments; and launched new high-potential programs with interactive simulations, virtual conferences, an online coaching network, micro-learning, and interactive career maps.

Prior to Northwestern Mutual, Sharpe was Senior Vice President (SVP) of Leadership & Talent Solutions at Korn FerryandChief Technology Officer and SVP, Leadership Development & Talent Assessment Solutions at Personnel Decisions International / Ninth House.He also served as Director of Global Learning & Talent Solutions at IBM, where he developed several patents including Operationalizing a Learning Solution, Knowledge Management System Automatically Allocating Expert Resources, and Blended Learning Experience Tools & Method.

Sharpe is a graduate of Purdue University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He attended Harvard Business School's Strategic Leadership Forum and IBM's Global Executive Leadership Program.

"Throughout my career, I've developed a passion for applying science and technology to solve for challenges and for presenting opportunities in leadership development and talent management to achieve critical business goals," said Sharpe. "I'm excited to be joining a firm where I can use this passion to further a shared vision of transforming companies that are transforming the world."

Founded in 1998, Gagen MacDonald is a certified woman-owned consulting firm focused on employee engagement, culture change, and leadership for many of the world's largest brands. Throughout its 20-year history, the company has undergone several quantum leaps to remain on the cutting edge of accelerating organizational transformation and change.

About Gagen MacDonald

Gagen MacDonald is a strategy execution firm specializing in employee engagement, culture change, and leadership. Working collaboratively from the corporate office to the front line, Gagen uses an organization's brand, culture, vision, and history to motivate and align employees to transform companies, accomplish business objectives, and drive reputation from the inside out. As a pioneer in organizational change, Gagen has helped some of the world's biggest brands, including Coca-Cola, DuPont, GE, Johnson & Johnson, Phillips 66, and Walgreens Boots Alliance. To learn more, please visit www.gagenmacdonald.com.