"Your expertise was critical to our bottom line outcome: we have a clear blueprint for the next few years and are implementing action planning that has overall alignment."
Rob Johnson Chief Operating Officer Atlanta Community Food Bank
"Time and again when I use techniques I've learned from Jackie, I've seen the 'aha' lightbulb go on for my internal clients."
Morinee Terry Human Resources Director Mohawk Industries, Inc.
"Jackie is particularly skilled in large-system change intervention. She gives her clients room to wrestle with the issues, and she supports them in drawing their own conclusions. That requires a fine balance between confrontation and empathy."
Neil Sklarew Senior Consultant Georgia Center for Nonprofits
"There's something different about the way you're able to relate. It feels more genuine than simply that you're doing a job; while always being exceedingly professional."
Donna Willis Former Board Chair Actor's Express
"Your excellent meeting design and facilitation made a successful event! Your dedication and support to the team were essential for this success. You kept us on track without constraining the group's creativity. I was positively surprised that such a large group could raise all the critical issues and achieve consensus around a very good list of action items. A lot of this was due to your engagement and experience!"
Patrick Prevost Strategy & Development BP Chemicals
"Jackie's strengths include deep-seated understanding of people's needs and reactions in work relationships; an ability to see patterns in people's comments and to offer suggestions that move the thought process forward, and clear articulation that leaves me thinking, 'that's what I meant.'"
Ann Hendricks, PhD Director VA Boston Health Care Financing & Economics
"Her caring, competent and comprehensive stance has moved me to a higher level of excellence than I knew possible."
Ginny Storjohann Independent Consultant and Coach Denver, CO
"We became an action-oriented, not a name-only, Board."
"We made dramatic progress in 300 days. I don't usually praise consultants in public, but we couldn't have done this without Jackie Sherman."
Brad Mortimer Retired President Propex Fabrics Company
"Through my work with Jackie I have a clearer sense of how to do my consulting work; I work in a more impactful way and have more options to choose from."
Sharon Behar Organization Development Consultant Burlington, VT
"It was amazing to work with a consultant and come away with something so helpful. Jackie's work resulted in an organizational template that we never had: a valuable working document, a living, breathing document."
"The strategic planning process was the most comprehensive and thorough the Food Bank had conducted in its 23 year history."
"At times, clients resist being led, pushed or even facilitated. Jackie's strength as a consultant is that she has the ability to nudge, influence and lead from within the process. When clients say 'no' to a direction, she respects their wishes, yet she allows them to change their minds later, with honor."
Betsy Pickren, MS.Ed., CPCC President Facilitated Learning, Inc.
"Jackie helped me 'see' the right questions to ask."
Ralph Clements VP of Manufacturing and Technology Imperial Sugar Formerly BP Fabrics and Fibers
"Jackie Sherman provided outstanding consulting during a time of significant transition for our business. My engineering group spanned six different locations and included people with a wide variety of technical backgrounds and educational levels. A key aspect of her contribution was her use of the Appreciative Inquiry approach which resulted in increased innovation and creativity, helping us improve customer satisfaction. Jackie's consulting helped me maintain momentum throughout each year as we adjusted and executed our strategic plan."
Marian A. McClellan Manager, Pipelines and Logistics BU Formerly Fabrics and Fibers BU BP Corporation
"A real benefit to our nonprofit is that Jackie has worked with for-profits and could bring us more basic business principles."
"Jackie's expertise in effective organization design, change and leadership is unique because of her truly global, diverse experience base and her deep theoretical knowledge paired with ongoing practical application. She maintains an important balance of both pragmatism and a commitment to critical and necessary work."
K’Lynne Johnson CEO Elevance Renewable Sciences Formerly SVP, Innovene, Global Derivatives
"She brings to the table an extensive experience base coupled with a level of insight not found in many consultants. I recommend her highly."
Bruce Carmichael Human Resources Manager (retired) BP Corporation
"I'm thrilled to confirm that our Strategic Plan Summary played an important role in leveraging two $2 million grants."
"Our organization is a different place now. The three years that we worked together were very rewarding for me and rich with learning. I believe the library has a better result from our re-organization because of your involvement with us. Thank you so much for all that you've done for us.”
Frances Maloy Division Leader and Redesign Project Manager Emory University General Libraries
"It's the combination of brains and ability, with the compassion and passion … Jackie sincerely cares."
"I have only highest praise for Jackie's consulting abilities. She met and exceeded our expectations. We would jump at the chance to re-engage Jackie in the future on any organizational change or organizational development project."
Dianne Smith Director of Human Resources Emory University
"Working with Jackie was truly a developmental experience and a real pleasure. She brings a holistic approach to coaching, helping the client discover the connections between different aspects of work and life, and interdependencies between their mental, physical and emotional states. Her unique approach made a lasting difference for me."
VP Global Diversity Fortune 50 Company
We are pleased to share selected resources which have shaped our thinking and provided value to our clients.
Articles to Download
Seeing Patterns in Systems
Creating the Energy for Change
Senior Leadership Teams: What it Takes to Make Them Great Ruth Wageman, Debra A. Nunes, James A. Burruss, and J. Richard Hackman
Whether you are a corporate, nonprofit or government CEO, the key principles in this book are valuable for making sure your leadership team is designed for high-performance. As a consultant or coach working with a senior team we think you’ll find this book both thought-provoking and useful.
Most people would argue that an organization’s success lies with the CEO. But increasingly CEOs understand that they must count on their senior leaders for support. The challenge is to create an effective leadership team. Senior leaders are generally involved in their individual roles and not the corporation as a whole. The CEO needs to choose and guide the leadership team to pull together toward a common goal. This book is a practical guide to help you create and sustain a leadership team whose members learn from one another while collaborating toward the company’s objective. The authors present a practical model based on quantitative and qualitative research about the six elements that make a difference:
The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels Michael Watkins
We include this on our "must read" list for leaders transitioning into a new position.
For those who have set their sights on a new leadership position, this book gives practical advice and strategies for the transition. Watkins provides useful guidelines to conquer the challenges and opportunities that accompany a new role, such as promoting yourself, accelerating your learning, and achieving alliance. The first three months are critical in a new job and these useful strategies are presented in a practical way to help you attain success, build positive relationships and put together an effective team.
The Leadership Dojo: Build Your Foundation as an Exemplary Leader Richard Strozzi-Heckler
Talking about “the body” has been taboo in a professional setting, but research shows that new somatic practices may be one of the more effective (and even required) ways to create lasting change. We recommend this book to leaders aspiring to be more effective at influencing those with whom they work. What are the essential values of a leader? And how does a leader teach and embody these values? Richard Strozzi-Heckler looks at leadership from a different angle. He shows us how body awareness and somatic practices support developing the qualities necessary to lead with authority and effectiveness. Leadership involves the whole self – mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. This multi-faceted approach helps one accelerate to become an exceptional leader through skills and techniques accessible to anyone.
Leading Quietly Joseph L. Badaracco Jr.
This book will help you identify the quiet leader within you, and give you encouragement for the everyday leadership opportunities you face. Great names come to mind when one thinks of a leader. But unknown to most people, behind the scenes these heroes spent years contributing to society before they were ever widely acknowledged. Numerous middle-level leaders, not in the world’s spotlight, make ordinary decisions everyday that determine an organization’s success, and may also impact society. Badaracco introduces eight strategies, each supported by a case study and summary, to illustrate the lessons which can be put into practice immediately:
He concludes by identifying three quiet leadership virtues: restraint, modesty, and tenacity.
Joining Forces: Making One Plus One Equal Three in Mergers, Acquisitions, and Alliances Mitchell Marks and Philip Merves
We recommend this book to all clients who are going through or even considering “combining” with another organization. This book is a “must read” for anyone leading a merger, creating an alliance, or executing an acquisition. With more than 50 major corporation mergers between them, Marks and Mirvis have combined their knowledge and experience to identify specifics that can help ensure such combinations will ultimately succeed. They include details on preparation, managing transition, minimizing stress, and developing an entirely new culture. The subtitle of this book, “One plus one equal three,” indicates the theory that combining two entities can result in an even stronger, more effective corporation. Marks and Mirvis point out the pitfalls and how to avoid them when joining forces. One of their key insights is the importance of due diligence at the outset – especially regarding the cultural aspects of the two organizations – and vigilance on the psychological work to communicate early. The principles in this book apply across profit, nonprofit and government sectors.
Three Cups of Tea, One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin
Lessons for leaders in the guise of an international adventure story. Greg Mortenson's conviction, perseverance, and ultimate success to deliver on his promise to build schools in a remote region of Pakistan are an inspiration to anyone attempting to accomplish something in spite of continual obstacles. A lesson in working in different cultures and thinking differently, it is an enjoyable cultural adventure, offering perspective and inspiration for the challenges as a leader and entrepreneur.
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