Joanna Barsh

Director Emerita at McKinsey & Company, Joanna served consumer-facing clients for over 30 years, leading growth strategy, performance transformation, organization effectiveness, and leadership development projects. And in 2007, Joanna led the creation of Centered Leadership at McKinsey with the mission to develop all leaders seeking to transform their organizations and communities.

In addition, Joanna has long been a strong advocate for women. Joanna served on NYC’s Commission on Women’s Issues from 2002-2013, invited by Mayor Bloomberg. She led ground-breaking research for The Wall Street Journal’s Women in Econ Task Force and for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She has spoken at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit, DB’s Women on Wall Street and Women in Asia summits, the annual EVE Programmes in France and China, MAKERS, and more. Joanna co-chairs the Leadership Working Group on the International Council of Women Business Leaders and facilitates its Centered Leadership program in Sweden.

She is the best-selling author of How Remarkable Women Lead and Centered Leadership. Her newest book, Grow Wherever You Work, helps rising leaders accelerate their growth by embracing challenges.

Joanna holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago in English Literature, in addition to Harvard Business School, where she was a Baker Scholar. Having completed 20 years on the board of Sesame Workshop, Joanna currently serves on the board of Genesco and is a member of the Compensation and Nominating & Governance Committees.