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Maril Gagen MacDonald

Industry Pioneer in Change Leadership & Cultural Transformation

Maril Gagen MacDonald is a nationally recognized leader in communication, strategy execution, and business transformation.13 She is the Founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald, a strategy execution firm specializing in employee engagement, culture change, and leadership.23

Career Highlights

  • Founded Gagen MacDonald in 19984
  • Previously served as Chief Communication Officer and Executive Management Committee member for Navistar13
  • Held leadership positions at Pitman-Moore Inc., Bayer USA, and The Standard Oil Company/British Petroleum13

Achievements and Recognition

  • Recipient of the Arthur W. Page Society's Hall of Fame and Distinguished Service Awards13
  • Recognized by PR Week as one of "The 50 Most Powerful Women in PR"13
  • Received the 2021 IPR Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership and contributions to public relations6

Other Roles and Initiatives

  • Founder of Let Go & Lead, an online community focused on leadership strategies13
  • Board member of various organizations, including American University and the Women Presidents' Organization1
  • Past chairman and long-serving board member of the Page Society and the Institute for Public Relations13

Maril Gagen MacDonald holds a B.A. in Communication from Purdue University.3 Her work focuses on collaborating with corporate leaders to optimize business performance by engaging and mobilizing workforces behind strategic goals, culture, and brand.35

Highlights

Aug 21 · linkedin

I’m thrilled to share the upcoming episode of Let Go & Lead, where I had the privilege of interviewing the remarkable Bonnie St. John, Paralympian skier and bestselling author. Her journey is one of resilience, determination, and positivity.   Bonnie’s story begins in sunny San Diego, CA, where, as a young girl, she faced the challenge of having her right leg amputated below the knee. Adversity only fueled her spirit, and she quickly found creative ways to adapt. As a teenager, a friend introduced her to skiing. Despite countless falls and bruises, she kept getting back up – and fell in love with the sport.   The mantra of “getting back up” became woven into the fabric of her life. In 1984, Bonnie achieved a historic feat: she became the first African-American woman to win a Paralympic or Olympic medal at a Winter Games, securing a silver and two bronze medals… despite having a wipe out on the course and – you guessed it – getting back up!   Bonnie and I share a belief that positivity and gratitude are vital mindsets in life and leadership, and this comes up often in our conversation.   Years ago, my brother taught me to channel gratitude by simply reframing something from “I have to do this” to “I get to do this.” It can feel unnatural at first, but it has really changed my perspective and has many times rewarded me with a feeling of peace and calm when I needed it most. Bonnie is a master at this! She consistently reframes scenarios to find the positive, even when it’s a young girl adapting to having only one leg. We also talk about the power of using positive emotions to lock in learning, to open one’s mind to possibility, and to boost perseverance.   With all these benefits, who wouldn’t want more positivity in their life? Join us on Let Go & Lead, and learn more about how we can leverage positivity to do our best work!

https://lnkd.in/gVKcnRF4

#LetGoAndLead #LeadershipExcellence #Inspiration #DiversityMatters #Adaptability #Gratitude #BonnieStJohn

Aug 19 · linkedin

Companies have their own realities to consider as the U.S. elections draw nearer, but I think there are some north stars that nearly every leader would be wise to keep in mind.

I cover them in Gagen MacDonald's latest Mac newsletter. Read my piece at the link, and as always, let us know how we can help.

#culture #employeeexperience #leadership #preparation #transparency #election2024

Related Questions

What are some of the key strategies Maril Gagen MacDonald uses to energize and mobilize workforces?
How did Maril Gagen MacDonald's work at Navistar contribute to its turnaround?
What is the Let Go & Lead community that Maril Gagen MacDonald founded?
Which companies have Maril Gagen MacDonald worked with in her career?
What awards and recognitions has Maril Gagen MacDonald received?
Maril Gagen MacDonald
Maril Gagen MacDonald, photo 1
Maril Gagen MacDonald, photo 2
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Location

Greater Chicago Area