Shelly McNamara

Shelly McNamara is a transformational leader, writer, and humanist who has spent more than three decades bringing humanity into the heart of business and culture. As a senior HR executive and Chief Equality & Inclusion Officer at Procter & Gamble, she shaped policy, culture, and leadership development that enabled one of the world’s largest companies to better serve its diverse employees and global consumers. Throughout her career, Shelly built bridges across differences, championed equity, and designed systems that honored the dignity and potential of every person. 

Her expertise spans human-centered organizational design, change management, and executive development — but what truly defines Shelly is her belief in the power of love, connection, and community to transform lives and organizations. She is a bridge builder and change agent who leads with empathy, wisdom, and joy — often delivered with a smile and a spark of light in her eyes.

Born in Cleveland as the youngest of 15 children, Shelly carries a lifelong appreciation for the complexity of human relationships and the resilience of the human spirit. Today she is an accomplished storyteller, speaker, and advisor, passionate about creating spaces where people can grow, thrive, and see themselves in a brighter future.

Beyond her corporate impact, Shelly serves as Vice Chair of the Board for The Trevor Project, the world’s leading organization dedicated to ending suicide among LGBTQ+ young people, and as an advisor on the University of Michigan College of LSA Dean’s Advisory Council. She and her wife, Cindy, her life partner of forty years, have three grown daughters and a son-in-law, and reside in Cincinnati, Ohio.