Director Emerita at McKinsey & Company, Joanna helped consumer-facing clients for over 30 years on growth strategy, performance transformation, organization effectiveness, and leadership development. In 2007, Joanna led the creation of Centered Leadership with the mission to develop all leaders seeking to transform their organizations and communities.
Joanna has counseled over 100 companies, governments, and organizations around the world, including Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Malaysia, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, U.A.E. and many western countries. She leads top team discussions, facilitates executive workshops, and delivers keynotes on centered leadership, unlocking the potential of women, and engaging Millennials in the workforce.
Joanna has long been a strong advocate for women. Joanna served on NYC’s Commission on Women’s Issues for a decade, invited by Mayor Bloomberg. She led ground-breaking research for The Wall Street Journal’s Women in Econ Task Force and for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She has spoken at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit, DB’s Women on Wall Street and Women in Asia summits, the EVE Programmes in France and China, and more. A member of former Secretary Clinton’s International Council of Women Business Leaders, Joanna co-chairs its Leadership Working Group.
She is also the best-selling author of How Remarkable Women Lead and Centered Leadership. Her newest book, Grow Wherever You Work, helps rising leaders accelerate their growth by embracing challenges. Editions in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese are pending.
Currently, Joanna is working on new research: MAKERS on the Front Line. With almost 50 companies participating, the collective goal is to uncover the boldest actions underway to accelerate the advancement of women and people of color.
Joanna holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, and Harvard Business School, where she was a Baker Scholar. Having completed 20 years as a Sesame Workshop trustee, Joanna currently serves on the board of Genesco.
Joanna and her husband split their time between New York City, a farm in upstate New York, and Tucson, Arizona. They have two remarkable daughters.
Joanna Barsh 