Valerie MacLeod Resume

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, interviewing skills, process improvement, performance management, career management, gathering focus group feedback, improving customer focus, measurement of quality program behaviors, upward & 360° appraisals, project management, systems thinking, team effectiveness measurement, meeting effectiveness, benchmarking skills, competencies definition & application, organization redesign and process measurement & tracking. Recent clients include AER, Devon Energy, Town of Black Diamond, Encana, Cenovus, SaskTel, Wellspring Calgary and Alberta Home Builders Association.
      • Coached managers and individuals in areas including leadership, change management, communication, strategic planning, executing strategic plans, strategic thinking, employee motivation, customer focus, process improvement, employee development, career management, succession planning, life planning, conflict management, organization design, employee retention, hiring, and innovation & creativity

 

Change Management

      • Tailored & delivered Transition Management workshops (internally certified by Bridges and Associates, externally certified by Haines Centre for Strategic Management)
      • Designed & delivered Change Workshops in Calgary, Regina, 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 Improved Teamwork session in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and True Colors
      • 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, building trust, and wellness

 

Training & Development

      • Developed & delivered workshops in Strategic Thinking, Strategic Management (Strategic Planning and Change Management), Change Management, Thriving During Change, leadership, teambuilding, transition/change management, career management, communication, business education, behavioral interviewing skills, human resources, being a change agent, managing the people side of projects, process improvement, managing people, presentation skills, creativity, effective meeting skills, problem solving, & computer skills
      • Delivered programs in Strategic Planning, Strategic Change, Strategic 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, Maximizing Career Choices, 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 US parent company and introduced lead recruiter concept
      • Applied 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” 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 Haines 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
      • Featured as one of three coaches in “Put Me In Coach” in August 2010 “Oilweek 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, strategic change, systems thinking, leadership, strategic human resource management, teambuilding, executive coaching, process improvement, innovation & creativity, customer focus, career/life planning, leadership and organization effectiveness consulting, strategic hiring & 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)

 

Red Deer College, Faculty of Continuing Education – Fall 2010

      • Instructor Strategic Management Competencies for Organizational Success Certificate

 

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 & 2014) – 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
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