Valerie MacLeod, M.B.A.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Organization Development

• Facilitated interventions including: strategic planning, strategic HR management, leadership, transition/change management, problem solving, skill gap analysis, action planning, innovation & creativity, brainstorming, process improvement, performance management, career management, focus groups, improving customer focus, measurement of quality program behaviors, upward & 360° appraisal, project management, systems thinking, team effectiveness measurement, meeting effectiveness, benchmarking skills, competencies definition & application, organization redesign and process measurement & tracking. Recent clients include Town of Cochrane, Town of Black Diamond, EnCana, BP, Calgary Health Region, SaskTel, and Alberta Human Resource and Employment.
• Coached managers and individuals in areas including leadership, change management, communication, strategic planning, employee motivation, customer focus, process improvement, employee development, career management, succession planning, life planning, organization design, employee retention and innovation & creativity

Change Management

• Tailored & delivered Transition Management workshops (internally certified by Bridges and Associates, externally certified by Centre for Strategic Management)
• Designed & delivered Change Workshops in Calgary, Chicago, Houston & New Orleans
• Consulted to management on transition management & communication during change
• Authored articles & communication on surviving & thriving during change
• Designed transition management tools

Team Development

• Developed & facilitated teambuilding sessions
• Developed & delivered Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for Improved Teamwork sessions (certified by Psychometrics)
• Created resource guide for team effectiveness assessment & improvement
• Coached leaders in areas including conflict management, teamwork, communication, employee development, customer focus, continuous learning, systems thinking, leadership, career management, performance appraisals, succession planning, reward & recognition and wellness

Training & Development

• Developed & delivered workshops in teambuilding, transition/change management, career management, communication, business education, behavioral interviewing skills, human resources, business simulations, process improvement, managing people, presentation skills, creativity, effective meeting skills, problem solving & computer skills
• Delivered programs in Strategic Planning, Strategic Change, Strategic Thinking, Systems Thinking, Leadership, Human Resources Management, Creating Customer Value, Systems Thinking, Transition Management, Career & Life Planning, Innovation, Train-the-Trainer, Consulting Skills, Career Management, Managing Personal Growth (certified by Blessing and White), Maximizing Career Choices (certified by Conceptual Systems), Behavioral Interviewing, Performance Management & Positively Reinforcing Employees
• Coordinated executive development including participation in cross-industry development for managers & executives

Recruiting

• Developed & delivered courses in Behavioral Interviewing
• Coordinated Canada wide recruiting program including communication with schools, students & recruiters; interviewing skills training; advertising; career fairs, liaison with Amoco Corporation and introduction of lead recruiter concept
• Used Behavioral Interviewing techniques for on-campus and experienced hiring, reference checking and exit interviews for private and non-profit organizations
• Selected & implemented PC based resume tracking system
• Consulted to Native Affairs regarding Aboriginal recruiting, scholarships, career fairs & work programs
• Lead team to align scholarship, bursary & grant program with business & community needs

Communications

• Chaired task forces & taught groups to design & implement effective communication plans
• Published career/life planning book: "Get Me Off the Treadmill!: Using Everyday Magic to Live an Extraordinary Life" in 2004
• Co-authored business planning book: "Destination Thinking" in 2006 with Steve Haines and Terry Schmidt in 2006
• Contributed chapter to leadership book "50 One Minute Tips for Leaders" in 2002 with other members of The Centre for Strategic Management
• Published articles:
  • "Team Building without Sports Analogies" in The 2003 Team and Organization Development Sourcebook
  • "How Highly is a Team Functioning?" in The Consultant's Big Book of Reproducible Surveys and Questionnaires, 2003
  • "Is Your Team a Highly Functioning Team?" in 2002 Team & Organization Development Sourcebook
  • "How to Improve Team Meetings" in 2001 Team & Organization Development Sourcebook
  • "Tips for Successful Job Search" in Winter 1993 Family Health magazine
  • Regular contributor to newsletters; published articles include Stress Management, Overcoming Resistance to Change & Mental Fitness
  • Featured as one of three MBAs in "MBA Success Stories" in February 2005 "Business in Calgary" magazine

Computers

• Experienced user in MicroSoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel; QuickBooks; Photoshop and internet
• Easily adapts to new technology and can teach others to use same

CAREER SUMMARY:

Haines Centre for Strategic Management & MaxImpact Business Consultants, Global Partner, August 1996 - present

• • Strategic planning, change management, systems thinking, leadership, strategic human resource management, teambuilding, executive coaching, process improvement, innovation & creativity, customer focus, career/life planning, leadership and organization effectiveness consulting & coaching

Amoco Canada Petroleum Company Limited, Calgary - January 1983 to August 1996

• Human Resources Advisor (September 1995 - August 1996): Organizational Development consulting & Generalist support including facilitation & training, employee & management coaching, communication, employee development, recruiting, process improvement, quality, job analysis using competencies, organizational design, compensation, layoffs, early retirements & benefits consulting
• Communications & External Affairs Advisor (November 1994-August 1995): contributions policy development & implementation; Aboriginal Policy support, coaching & best practices coordination; Aboriginal recruiting; communications plan design & implementation; educational partnerships; training & facilitation
• Human Resources Advisor (June 1988 to October 1994): Training & Organization Development Consulting, Organization Planning, Job Evaluation, Recruiting, HRIS & generalist support
• Information Centre Consultant (June 1987 - May 1988): PC & Mainframe training design, program delivery & support
• Programmer/Analyst (January 1983 - May 1987): user consultation & programming support

University of Calgary, Faculty of Continuing Education - September 1989 - April 1990

• Instructor Personnel Management (Introductory Human Resources Management)

EDUCATION:

• MBA (Masters of Business Administration) from University of Calgary (Emphasis in Human Resources)
• Co-Op Bachelor of Mathematics (4 year) from University of Waterloo (Major: Computer Science)

PUBLICATIONS:

• Destination Thinking (2006) – business planning book with Steve Haines and Terry Schmidt
• Get Me Off the Treadmill!: Using Ordinary Magic to Live an Extraordinary Life (2004) – life planning book
• 50 One Minute Tips for Leaders (2002) – leadership book with other members of The Centre for Strategic Management
• Articles:
  • "Team Building without Sports Analogies" in The 2003 Team and Organization Development Sourcebook
  • "How Highly is a Team Functioning?" in The Consultant's Big Book of Reproducible Surveys and Questionnaires, 2003
  • "Is Your Team a Highly Functioning Team?" in 2002 Team & Organization Development Sourcebook
  • "How to Improve Team Meetings" in 2001 Team & Organization Development Sourcebook
  • "Tips for Successful Job Search" in Winter 1993 Family Health magazine