Vantage Leadership Consulting

02/06/2025

What’s really working in succession planning? We sat down with Senior HR leaders across industries to unpack the challenges and opportunities organizations face today.

The data is stark: 35-47% of newly promoted executives fail within 18 months, with turnover costs reaching 400% of annual salary*. But our latest roundtable revealed actionable strategies that are making a difference.

Key takeaways from the conversation:
· Shift from "ready now" to "ready enough" mindsets
· Build transparent, two-way succession conversations
· Focus on experiential learning and real challenges
· Track conversion rates to measure what's working

Organizations making real progress treat succession as a living, evolving system. That mindset shift is helping them turn leadership risk into strategic resilience. Read the full recap from our roundtable: https://www.vantageleadership.com/succession-planning-in-action-insights-from-hr-leaders/

*see full blog post for sources

Succession Planning in Action: Insights from HR Leaders It is estimated that between 35-47% of newly promoted executives fail within the first 18 months. Given the significant costs associated with executive-level turnover (e.g., estimated to be between 200-400% of annual...

08/05/2025

Our latest team spotlight shines on Lauren Banks, our exceptional Executive Assistant at Vantage. Lauren specializes in mastering logistics and organization while being an integral part of our company culture.
With her unique blend of calmness, poise, and creativity, Lauren approaches each challenge with remarkable efficiency and thoughtfulness. Her ability to keep operations on track while contributing significantly to our culture and party planning committees has made her an invaluable asset to our team.
The office simply wouldn't be as fun or run as smoothly without her. Get to know her: https://www.vantageleadership.com/meet-lauren-banks-10-questions-in-10-minutes-2/

06/05/2025

"The future of leadership development isn't just about growth. It's about fundamentally rethinking how organizations approach leadership support." This insight from Vantage’s Sr Partner, Jacqueline Ackerman's recent HRTech Cube interview captures the transformation happening in leadership development today.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Jacqueline examines:

• How leadership development is evolving to meet post-pandemic challenges

• The critical balance of external expertise with internal organizational wisdom

• Building resilient leadership pipelines across generations

• Creating integrated development ecosystems for sustainable success

At Vantage Leadership Consulting, we're committed to helping organizations build the leadership capacity needed for both today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities.

What leadership development approaches are working in your organization? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Read more:

Dr. Jacqueline Ackerman of Vantage Leadership Consulting shares insights on leadership development, rising trends, and future-ready strategies.

14/04/2025

📚Recommended by Vantage Partner, Eileen Linnabery: Humble Inquiry by Edgar H. Schein & Peter A. Schein teaches you how to turn "telling" into open, curious conversations that build trust within your team. The book offers practical advice on overcoming communication barriers, eliminating assumptions, and using empathetic listening to create better dialogue. With real-world examples from fields like healthcare, it's a valuable guide for improving team communication.

Read our recent blog by Melissa Regester, Ph.D. for more insights on leading with curiosity: https://www.vantageleadership.com/the-power-of-curiosity/

11/04/2025

What an incredible experience at SIOP 2025! We had the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions, tackle some of the most pressing challenges in Industrial-Organizational psychology, and connect with over 600 attendees, colleagues and peers who are equally passionate about shaping the future of our field.

Over 5 sessions, we dove into crucial topics like ethical decision-making in prosocial work, CEO succession amidst economic uncertainty, and the power of psychological safety in coaching. We also explored how to measure coaching impact and how to drive board effectiveness through team dynamics. All in a day’s work!

The energy and collaboration at each session sparked new ideas, challenged our assumptions, and provided actionable insights that we’re excited to bring back to Chicago.

08/04/2025

Intern Spotlight: Isabel Mendoza💫

Isabel joined Vantage in 2025 as an intern. She holds a B.S. in Psychology & Spanish from Beloit College and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Illinois Tech. Vantage is delighted to have her as part of the team.

What inspired you to pursue an internship with Vantage?
"Between seeing the consultants present their work at SIOP and reading the articles on LinkedIn, I saw that Vantage offered the type of work I wanted to pursue. Once I saw an intern spotlight and that Vantage was hiring, I knew I had to apply!"

How has this internship aligned with or changed your career goals?
"Both my research and applied interests are within the leadership development space. At Vantage, I saw that I could get applied experience across multiple domains of interest, furthering my development as a professional."

What’s your favorite aspect of the company culture?
"I have appreciated how I can ask everyone questions and no one treats me as though my question is silly. I also appreciate how people ask for my opinion in meetings, even as an intern."

Interested in Vantage's Internship program? Email mregester@vantageleadership.com.

20/03/2025

How can I-O psychologists navigate ethical dilemmas in increasingly complex organizational environments? Join the conversation at where Vantage Partner, Eileen Linnabery, Ph.D., will participate in the panel "Ethical Dilemmas in Prosocial Work: Leveraging a Situational Judgment Approach"

This panel session will utilize a situational judgment approach (SJA) to explore ethical dilemmas, promote fairness, and guide decision making in the face of modern challenges.

When: Friday, April 4th, 10:30-11:20am
Session ID: 417
Find out more: https://www.vantageleadership.com/resource/vantage-leadership-consulting-continues-tradition-of-presenting-at-siop-annual-conference-2/

19/03/2025

Join the conversation at ! We are excited to have four speakers at this year’s conference:

Eileen Linnabery, Ph.D. - Ethical Dilemmas in Prosocial Work: Leveraging a Situational Judgment Approach
Friday, April 4th. 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Session ID 417.

Eileen Linnabery, Ph.D. - Crowning the Next CEO: Succession Planning in Economic Uncertainty
Friday, April 4th. 4:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m. Session ID 624.

Keith Goudy, Ph.D. – Shark Tank for Coaches: Psychological Safety, Change, and Business Impact
Saturday, April 5th. 8:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. Session ID 680.

Eileen Linnabery, Ph.D. – Beyond Feel-Good Feedback: Cracking the Code on Measuring Coaching Impact
Saturday, April 5th. 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Session ID 619.

Jacqueline Ackerman, Ph.D., Eileen Linnabery Ph.D., and Mary Sullivan M.A. - Energizing Board Self-Evaluations With Team Effectiveness and Assessment Practices
Saturday. April 5th. 2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. Session ID 1304.

We would love to connect with colleagues, clients, and friends. Feel free to send a DM if you’re interested in meeting up during SIOP!
Find out more: https://www.vantageleadership.com/resource/vantage-leadership-consulting-continues-tradition-of-presenting-at-siop-annual-conference-2/

07/03/2025

"I have been told that 'you can be kind and compassionate, and, at the same time, there is nothing wrong with having on edge on topics that are important to you. But people may need to know when they have brushed against that edge.'"

For International Women's Day, we asked some of our Vantage partners about their leadership journeys. Jacqueline Ackerman, Ph.D., shared a leadership lesson that she learned early in career that still guides her today.
“To me, this captures an important balance that being kind and having boundaries aren't mutually exclusive. The advice emphasizes that others need explicit signals when they've reached one of your non-negotiables. Many of us, myself included, have been socialized to prioritize others' comfort and harmony above all else. This gives permission to identify your core values and defend them firmly while maintaining positive relationships in most contexts."

What lesson transformed your leadership approach? Share your story below!

05/03/2025

"Speak up before you feel ready, take the seat before it’s offered—because your work won’t always speak for itself. Be your own best storyteller."

For International Women's Day, we asked some of our Vantage partners about their leadership journeys. Susan Ko, Ph.D., shared her perspective on advice she'd give to women entering the workforce today.

"Far too often, women focus on delivering results, believing that recognition will naturally follow. But performance alone isn’t enough. Visibility and voice are just as essential. Advocate for yourself, own your achievements, and take control of the narrative surrounding your leadership journey.
And remember: strength and presence don’t have to come at the expense of others. You can be bold, assertive, and ambitious while also uplifting those around you. Kindness is not weakness—it's a powerful form of leadership.”

Thank you, Susan for your insight. What advice have you given or received that impacted your leadership journey?

28/02/2025

Our latest team spotlight shines on Jasmin Martinez, one of our exceptional Leadership Consultants at Vantage. Jasmin specializes in designing impactful leadership experiences that drive real, measurable growth for our clients.
With her deep expertise in coaching, team development, and leadership assessment, Jasmin approaches each project with remarkable composure and thoughtfulness. Her ability to create transformative leadership journeys has made her an invaluable asset to our team and to the clients we serve. Get to know her. https://www.vantageleadership.com/meet-jasmin-martinez-10-questions-in-10-minutes/

20/02/2025

Intern Spotlight: Isaiah Crisp ✨
Isaiah joined Vantage this year as an Intern/Research Associate while pursuing his PsyD in Organizational Psychology with an Industrial-Organizational Psychology focus at Claremont Graduate University. He brings his experience from private and public sector (e.g., NIH, SSA) consulting. Vantage is delighted to have him as part of the team.

What inspired you to pursue an internship with Vantage? The opportunity to gain valuable experience in data analytics and leadership assessment and coaching while working on the other diverse projects. In addition, to continue developing and growing as a consultant.

What's your favorite aspect of the company culture? The collaborative spirit from everyone all the way up to the top of the firm. People really want others to succeed and get the best out of their experience.

What advice would you give to future interns or students considering this program? Think of yourself more than an intern! Vantage treats you as a consultant with ideas and experience to share and utilize.

Interested in Vantage's Internship program? Email mregester@vantageleadership.com.