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.
Human capital is the economic value of a person, group, or workforce that is an intangible strategic competitive advantage asset. Kathy is a Human Capital Expert, both from her ability to measure/impact factors affecting a person or group's ability to perform work that produces economic value AND because she is a Human Capital Expert Witness in Federal Courts. Kathy has given presentations to numerous executive and corporate board organizations, and frequently publishes labor market economic forecasts and articles.
Kathy is always confidential, collaborative, and utilizes evidence-based research to customize a corporation, organization, and/or executive’s unique profile and future path.
Her Human Capital expertise is with asset management, financial institutions, consulting firms, insurance companies, and public and private companies, plus private equity globally. Services include:
• Talent—Acquisition/Recruitment, Compensation, Development, Engagement, Retention
• Career Assessment • Transferable Skills Analysis • Business Communication & Marketing • Corporate Conflict Resolution
• Earning Capacity • Imputed Income and Economic Loss
• Organizational and Job Role Design/Transformation
• Corporate and Board Governance—Culture Change, Strategic Repositioning, Human Capital and Economic Risk Trends
• Labor Market Economics/Trends
EXPERIENCE
CEO, THE HQ COMPANIES, INC.
A customized human capital solutions consulting firm. 1997—present.
TALENT PARTNER for a curated community of the best board members & board eligible executives. 2020—present.
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.
EDUCATION
HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Master of Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology—in process, courses to date:
Industrial—Organizational Psychology; Organizational Behavior; Negotiation and Organizational Conflict Resolution
Demonstrates understanding of what motivates/adapts/fits people in organizations/corporations…and vice versa.
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS: MBA in Analytic Finance, Econometrics, and Statistics
Demonstrates understanding of the language and measurements of business and growth.
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, Marketing Major
Demonstrates understanding of how sales/marketing/influence gain executives desired organizational profiles…and vice versa.
OF NOTE
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE — 2024—present.
— top Midwest college for 25+ years, U.S. News & World Report
Board Director, School of Business & Entrepreneurship Advisory Board
Specifically requested by Dean and Board Chair to assist with Board governance and organizational design.
CHICAGO FINANCE EXCHANGE — 2018—2025.
— invitation-only group of top Chicago women finance leaders; reached term limit.
Board Director
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO’S ALUMNI CLUB OF CHICAGO BOARD — 2012—2020.
— all 12 colleges; reached term limit
Board Director and Governance Committee Co-Chair
THIRTY PERCENT COALITION — 2020—2024.
— consortium of public/private/institutions with +$8T AUM
Corporate Member
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORPORATE DIRECTORS (NACD) — 2022—present.
Member
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BUSINESS ECONOMICS (NABE) — 2002—2015; 2024—present.
Member
PRIVATE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION — 2017—2019.
VP & National Chief Marketing Officer, Operating Committee Member to National Board of Directors
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CHICAGO MONEY SMART WEEK — 2008—2015.
Partner & Workplace Initiative Chair
CFA INSTITUTE / CFA SOCIETY OF CHICAGO — 2006—2019.
Member & Career Management Chair
HEDGE FUNDS CARE, MIDWEST CHAPTER — 2005—2009.
Committee of Hearts Board Director & Member
For specifics or more information, please contact Kathy directly at 312.945.2474 or via email at Graham@TheHQCompanies.com.
