About Linda
Who is Linda Sharkey?
Dr. Linda Sharkey is a distinguished expert in leadership, organizational development, and workplace culture. She is widely recognized for her contributions to fostering high-potential leaders, optimizing talent, and shaping company cultures that drive sustainable business success. Dr. Sharkey serves as Executive Director at Executive Networks, Inc., where she connects HR leaders from major corporations with cutting-edge trends and innovations. She is also a Distinguished Fellow at the Center for Global Leadership Development, Marshall Goldsmith School of Business, Alliant University, further solidifying her academic and practical expertise in the field.
What is Linda Sharkey known for?
Linda Sharkey is renowned for her profound expertise in leadership development, culture change, and executive coaching. Her work focuses on creating high-performance environments through strategic talent management and organizational transformation. She is particularly known for her ability to develop robust talent processes that enhance leadership capabilities and produce significant business results. Her thought leadership extends to global leadership, a theme she explores in her co-authored book, Winning With Transglobal Leadership, which was recognized among the top 30 business books of 2013. Additionally, her co-authored work, The Future-Proof Workplace, provides a framework for building resilient organizations. She is a frequent keynote speaker at prominent conferences, sharing insights on leadership in the 21st century and the critical role of talent in business strategy.
What is Linda Sharkey's background and experience?
Dr. Sharkey brings a wealth of experience from senior human resources roles in Fortune 10 companies. At Hewlett-Packard, she served as Vice President of People Development, where she was instrumental in establishing and driving talent management initiatives, performance management processes, career development programs, executive staffing, and diversity and inclusion efforts. Her tenure at HP included launching an executive development process that cultivated a high-performance culture and integrating diversity into core talent management initiatives. Prior to HP, Dr. Sharkey held numerous senior HR and talent management roles at GE. Notably, she established a leadership development effort for GE Capital that was lauded as a "best practice" by CEO Jack Welch. She also played a pivotal role in several key cultural integrations and developed an executive coaching program. Academically, Dr. Sharkey holds a Ph.D. in Organization Development from Benedictine University, an MPA from Russell Sage College, and a BA in History from Nazareth College. She is also a founding member of the Marshall Goldsmith Group and has served two terms on the Academy of Management Board for Organization Development as a scholar-practitioner.
What topics does Linda Sharkey speak and write about?
Linda Sharkey's extensive body of work encompasses leadership development, culture change, and executive coaching. She is a widely published author and frequently speaks on topics such as optimizing talent, developing high-potential leaders, and building talent-rich organizations. Her research and practical application provide actionable strategies for fostering a future-proof workplace and navigating global growth through transglobal leadership. Her expertise extends to evaluating talent as a critical lever for accelerating productivity and focusing efforts in challenging economic times, as well as the essential qualities of leaders who can drive global expansion. She frequently shares her insights at industry events and conferences, contributing to the broader discourse on effective human capital strategies and organizational excellence.
How does Linda Sharkey contribute to the Best Practice Institute?
As an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute (BPI), Linda Sharkey significantly contributes to BPI's mission of advancing leadership and organizational excellence. She shares her deep knowledge and practical insights through webinars and various BPI initiatives. Her BPI webinars, such as "Assessing Talent – A Critical Lever to Accelerate Productivity and Drive Focus in Challenging Times" and "Transglobal Leadership: How to Drive Global Growth," underscore her commitment to equipping leaders with actionable strategies for contemporary challenges. Her role as a faculty member allows her to guide organizations in developing human capital strategies that directly impact productivity and foster a skilled workforce. Through her involvement with BPI, Dr. Sharkey helps shape the dialogue around best practices in talent and culture development, enabling organizations to achieve sustained growth and drive innovation.