Ellen Raynor

Background

About Ellen Raynor

I have significant experience in many areas of talent management: Performance management, talent reviews, succession planning, high-potential development, team effectiveness, merger integration and so on. I still dabble in some of those areas. But leadership development has always been my particular passion. When I was a kid, I used to play “school" with my brother, 7 years younger. I was the teacher, of course, and I loved it. I always expected I'd become a real teacher. I just didn't know I'd be working with adults. But learning and educating others has always been in my DNA. My early roles in sales built a solid foundation of business acumen. I think about what a business needs and never forget that building leadership capabilities has an ultimate purpose: To positively leverage the human talent that will drive success and help the organization to thrive. I ended my corporate career after 18+ years at McKesson in Director-level talent management and leadership development roles. During my final years with the company, I earned a prestigious HR Impact Award as well as an ICARE award, recognizing how I reflected the company's values. But you know what? The biggest rewards for me have been to watch the graduates from my leadership development programs prosper and advance in their careers. I still keep in touch with many of them and treasure the notes of gratitude I received when I left my final corporate role. In 2022, I started my business: Essentials for Leadership, LLC. I am a "solopreneur" with a virtual-only business model. My niche is smaller companies that lack the resources to do what I can do for them. I've also had some success working with larger companies that want to try something or someone different to fill a particular content or participant need. I love what I do and enjoy the challenge of running my own business. Please read more about my programs and services in the "Experience"(job history) section. When I'm not working, I share my 1901 farmhouse with my rescue beagle, Buttons, and a pair of 16-year-old tuxedo cats (brother and sister) whom I adopted six years ago when they were left at a shelter. I have eclectic tastes, enjoying everything from Broadway musicals and fine dining to arts and crafts fairs, drives in the mountains, museums of all kinds, biographies, logic puzzles and true crime TV. If I can help you or the leaders in your organization, please reach out!