Gretchen Sussman is Leading NOW’s Strategic Advisor & Principal Consultant, responsible for developing
Leading NOW's program content.
She honed her keen business sense through diverse career positions spanning 30 years, gaining all-encompassing
experience in strategy creation & deployment, revenue optimization, leadership development,
and change management. Gretchen’s decades of executive experience developing high-performing teams,
successfully leading transformations, and delivering exceptional results across multiple business sectors and
industries, make her a valuable asset to Leading NOW’s business and clients alike.
Prior to joining Leading NOW, Gretchen successfully led key IPO initiatives for two start-up companies;
pioneered online commerce and international expansion for a North American logistics company; renovated
the strategy, organizational structure and customer partnerships for two global B2B organizations; reinvented
the volunteer and revenue model for a premier leadership development association; and led the retail and
hospitality practice for a change management consultancy, advising senior management teams of Fortune 500
companies around culture, talent, and business transformation. Those organizations include CSM Bakery
Solutions, Instill Corporation, Primo Water, Root Inc., Sara Lee Corporation, The Martin-Brower Company, and
the Women's Foodservice Forum. Gretchen also held Board positions with for-profit and not-for-profit
organizations including International Foodservice Manufacturing Association (IFMA), Women’s Foodservice
Forum (WFF), New Hope of Indiana (NHI), and Snappy Salads. She was a founding member of the Sara Lee
Women’s Network and is a skilled facilitator and requested speaker for conferences, webcasts, and corporate
functions on the topics of gender equity, DE&I, and leadership.