Kathy Graham is the CEO and Founder of The HQ Companies, Inc., which are:
All About Human Capital Solutions for Board Growth, Career Growth, and Corporate Growth.

People—human capital—in the appropriate positions, organizational structure, and culture are what drives corporate growth.

CHARACTERISTICS

Always confidential, collaborative, evidence-based, customized to the corporation/organization/executive’s unique profile.

EXPERIENCE

Talent Partner for a curated community of the best board members & board eligible executives. 2020—present.

Specialized executive & board recruitment using 100-day talent acquisition engagement process. Additionally, craft for members upon request corporate board resume/bio/elevator speech/examples/LinkedIn, plus provide direction on what types of boards fit their interests/background, coaching through initial contact approach through interviews and acceptance. Vast majority of members requesting such services are now serving on at least one corporate fiduciary board (and for most, it was their first corporate fiduciary board)…and most gained that Board Director role fast.

CEO, THE HQ COMPANIES, INC.

A customized human capital solutions consulting firm. 2006—present.

With +80% success rate, help corporations/institutions with board and corporate governance, culture/structure, and talent acquisition/structure/change adaptation and human capital growth strategies that drive organizational growth.

With +80% success rate, assist executives with:
1) identifying career opportunities meeting personal/professional goals/interests and in desired environments/industries.
2) crafting resume/bio/elevator speech/examples/social media to resonate with and attract those opportunities.
3) creating the network, cultivating the relationships, interviewing, and securing next ideal board and corporate positions.

Above demonstrates understanding of cultural fit and capability to aid executives in finding the best corporate boards/positions—and, for corporations/institutions, demonstrates ability to advise regarding the best talent and structure options for boards/positions.

EDUCATION

Master of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, HARVARD UNIVERSITY, in process.
Demonstrates understanding of what motivates/adapts/fits people in organizations/corporations…and vice versa.

MBA in Analytic Finance, Econometrics, and Statistics, THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Demonstrates understanding of the language and measurements of business and growth.

BSBA, Marketing, NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
Demonstrates understanding of how sales/marketing/influence gain executives desired organizational profiles…and vice versa.

OF NOTE

Board Director, CHICAGO FINANCE EXCHANGE — invitation-only group of top Chicago women finance leaders — 2018—present.

Board Director, THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO’S ALUMNI CLUB OF CHICAGO BOARD, Governance Committee Co-Chair. — 2012—2020.

Corporate Member, THIRTY PERCENT COALITION — consortium of public/private/institutions with +$8T AUM — 2020—present.
A by-invitation-only alliance of companies, private equity, asset managers, nonprofits collaborating towards U.S. board diversity.

Chicago Chair, 2020 WOMEN ON BOARDS — 2017—2019.
Connected +300 corporations with ~1,000 experienced/qualified, diverse Board Directors with wide range of expertise/industries.

Active Member, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORPORATE DIRECTORS (NACD) — 2022—present.

“Kathy Graham is a unique combination of a finance and human capital expert who aligns financial skill sets to strategic goals in order to drive excess stakeholder value through practical and actionable solutions.”
— Eileen Kamerick, long-standing client & current Board Director for Associated Bank (NYSE), Hochschild Mining (LSE), Legg Mason Closed-End Mutual Funds (NYSE), & ACV Auctions (NASDAQ), a private equity-backed tech company that went public in 2021 AND former CFO leading/preparing numerous IPOs & M&A activities for public/private-equity backed firms, including CFO of Americas for BP PLC; EVP & CFO for Leo Burnett and for Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.

Contact Kathy directly at 312.945.2474 or via email at Graham@TheHQCompanies.com.