Shelly McNamara

In July 2024 Shelly retired from Procter & Gamble (P&G), after 39 years, as a business and Human Resources senior executive. In her final role as P&G’s Chief Equality and Inclusion Officer, she worked with colleagues from around the world to make P&G one of the most innovative, diverse, and inclusive organizations.

Shelly leveraged her education and expertise in organization development, and change management, to drive systems, culture and leadership transformation in this role, and throughout her career. The focus of her work is growth - growth of the business, and for employees.

Shelly served as one of the most visible and influential members of P&G’s LGBTQ+ employee base, driving changes in systems, policy, and culture. P&G has lasting equity as a company that welcomes, respects and includes a full range of human beings in its employee base. They see this as a critical enabler to serving a broad and diverse consumer base. Shelly has been at the center of much forward progress. She has also been recognized as an Inspirational Leader and Change Agent within the walls of P&G, in the greater Cincinnati community, and by Case Western Reserve University where she earned her Master of Organization Development. She has been a featured speaker in North America, Europe, and Latin America, at community events, and for a number of regional and global companies.

Shelly met her partner and wife of 40 years, Cindy, while attending The University of Michigan. They have three daughters and live in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Shelly is also an author. Her first book, “No Blanks, No Pauses” was released in 2021 and showcases her strengths as a writer, humanist, and gifted storyteller. Shelly serves as vice chair for the Trevor Project, a leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit for LGBTQ+ young people.