Leo Flanagan joins me for two very important conversations about how to successfully navigate the challenges of reentering the workforce alongside COVID-19. Leo introduces us to his 3 pandemic philosophy; the virus, anxiety and economic downturn and how to set up your business for a successful transition.

Leo F. Flanagan, Jr., PhD has more than 30 years of experience in the crafting and activation of business transformations by integrating human capital, innovation, and customer loyalty strategies. He has held senior level corporate positions at Merrill Lynch, Willis Holdings and The Forum Corporation. He consults across a wide range of industries including digital media, consumer goods, financial services, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology.

Consulting engagements have ranged from working with PE firms and portfolio companies on turnarounds and accelerations to partnering with global enterprises such as Bank of America, Citi, The Home Depot, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, McDonalds, MMC and UBS to craft and activate strategies to drive revenue growth, engage employees, upgrade talent and deliver the brand.

His brand of business transformation is fast, lean, practical and integrated with - not burdened on - the business. His work produces a true ROI. Double digit increases in revenue, customer loyalty and employee engagement and reductions in cost are trademarks of his leadership. One leading financial services company recently calculated the ROI from his work at 67:1. The CFO of a major bank cited his work more valuable than a $1bn acquisition with an 18% ROE.

Early in his career, Leo was a faculty member at Cornell University’s, School of Industrial and Labor Relations. A regular speaker at leading universities, Carnegie Mellon recently selected him as a faculty member and executive coach for its new Executive Leadership Academy. The Academy will prepare high-potential African Americans for advancement.

Always active in philanthropy and volunteer work, Leo currently is on the Board of Tuesday’s Children, an advisor to Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County and a member of Ministry to the Homeless. As Director of Community Resilience & Behavioral Health for H.E.A.R.T. 911 he volunteered in response to the Newtown School Shooting, Superstorm Sandy and the Moore Oklahoma EF-5 tornado.


Leo earned his PhD at City University of New York, his M.A. at Hunter College and his B.A. at Fordham University. Leo and his wife Maureen have four daughters. They also share a passion for travel as well as skiing, tennis, and sailing. Leo is also an avid fisherman.

The Courses discussed on this show can be accessed through his website.

Recommended Reading- The Five Things We Cannot Change and the Happiness We Find By Embracing Them by David Richo