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    BPI Expert Faculty

    Mary Sue Handel

    Director, Global Talent Management

    A. O. Smith Corporation

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.Expert in designing and implementing global talent management strategies and employee leadership programs.
    • 2.Known for leading the 'Management Excellence' program at A. O. Smith Corporation, which empowers managers to drive employee development.
    • 3.Contributes practical case studies on successful talent strategies to the Best Practice Institute.
    • 4.Holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification and has an eighteen-year career in talent management.

    About Mary

    Mary Sue Handel is a recognized expert in global talent management, known for designing and implementing comprehensive employee development and leadership programs, and has contributed case studies to the Best Practice Institute.

    Who is Mary Sue Handel?

    Mary Sue Handel is a distinguished professional with extensive experience in global talent management. Her career is marked by significant contributions to developing and executing programs that foster employee growth and leadership excellence within multinational corporations.

    She is recognized for her strategic approach to talent development, ensuring that organizations can cultivate and retain high-performing teams. Her work has focused on creating structured environments where managers are central to employee success and organizational advancement.

    Quick facts about Mary Sue Handel

    | | |:---|:---| | Role | Director, Global Talent Management | | Company | A. O. Smith Corporation | | Expertise | Global Talent Management, Leadership Training, Employee Development, Performance Management | | Notable for | Designing the Management Excellence program at A. O. Smith Corporation, contributing case studies to BPI | | BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |

    What is Mary Sue Handel known for?

    • Designing and implementing global talent management programs: Handel developed and executed comprehensive strategies for employee development and management across international operations.
    • Leading the Management Excellence program at A. O. Smith Corporation: This initiative, launched in 1993, focused on empowering managers to drive employee development and retention.
    • Authored contributions to Best Practice Institute (BPI) case studies: Her practical insights and program designs have been highlighted in BPI's research.
    • Expertise in leadership training and talent development: Handel's work emphasizes the strategic importance of nurturing leadership capabilities and managing talent effectively.

    What is Mary Sue Handel's background and experience?

    Mary Sue Handel has an eighteen-year career focused on program design and implementation within talent management and learning and development. Prior to her role as Director, Global Talent Management at A. O. Smith Corporation, she held a position as Manager, LD Analysis, Development & Evaluation for ManpowerGroup.

    Her academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and a Master’s degree from Carroll College. She also holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification, underscoring her expertise in the field. Handel has further contributed to the professional community through her service on the local board for the American Society for Training and Development.

    What topics does Mary Sue Handel speak and write about?

    Mary Sue Handel's primary focus is on the critical areas of leadership development, integrated talent management, and overall organizational effectiveness. Her insights often highlight the importance of aligning talent strategies with broader business objectives to achieve sustained growth.

    Her work explores how to create robust frameworks for performance management and employee development that empower individuals and teams. She emphasizes the manager's pivotal role in fostering a high-potential organization, as seen in her contributions to the "Management Excellence" concept.

    How does Mary Sue Handel contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    Mary Sue Handel has contributed valuable case studies to the Best Practice Institute, a leading research organization dedicated to advancing best practices in leadership and organizational development. These contributions provide practical examples of successful talent management strategies implemented within large corporations.

    Her work aligns with BPI's mission to identify and disseminate insights that help organizations become Most Loved Workplaces®. By sharing her expertise in program design and talent development, Handel supports BPI's efforts to equip leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to build thriving work environments.

    Where can you learn more from Mary Sue Handel?

    Further insights into Mary Sue Handel's work, particularly regarding her innovative talent management and leadership programs, can be found in the case studies she contributed to the Best Practice Institute. These resources offer detailed accounts of her practical applications and methodologies in fostering organizational excellence.

    Background & Perspective

    Background

    Mary Sue Handel is the Director of Global Talent Management at A. O. Smith Corporation, with an eighteen-year career in program design and implementation within talent management and learning and development. Before her current role, she was a Manager for LD Analysis, Development & Evaluation at ManpowerGroup. She holds a Master’s degree from Carroll College, a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification. Handel has also served on the local board for the American Society for Training and Development.

    Areas of Expertise

    Handel is an expert in global talent management, leadership development, and organizational development. Her work focuses on creating integrated talent management systems that foster employee growth and leadership excellence. She is particularly noted for designing the "Management Excellence" program at A. O. Smith, an initiative focused on empowering managers to improve employee development and retention.

    Topics Covered

    Mary Sue Handel speaks and writes about leadership development, integrated talent management, and organizational effectiveness. She emphasizes aligning talent strategies with business objectives to achieve sustained growth. Her work explores creating robust frameworks for performance management and highlights the manager's pivotal role in fostering a high-potential organization.

    BPI Contributions

    As an Expert Faculty member, Mary Sue Handel contributes case studies to the Best Practice Institute. These contributions provide practical, real-world examples of successful talent management strategies, aligning with BPI's mission to disseminate best practices in leadership and help organizations become Most Loved Workplaces®.

    Areas of Expertise

    Global Talent ManagementLeadership DevelopmentEmployee DevelopmentPerformance ManagementOrganizational DevelopmentIntegrated Talent Management

    Research Topics

    Talent StrategyLeadershipOrganizational Development

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    Best Practice Institute

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    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.