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Dr. Mary J. McConner, CDE
Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mary _MJ_ McConner

Award-Winning Consultant | Workplace Culture & Leadership Strategist | Global Keynote Speaker

Dr. Mary “MJ” McConner is a global thought leader specializing in enhancing workplace cultures. With a career dedicated to developing customized professional development programs, she has engaged with and supported professionals from more than 150 countries, empowering leaders and teams to foster innovation, collaborate effectively, and achieve sustainable success.

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As the Founder of Inclusive Excellence Consulting, Dr. McConner partners with organizations worldwide to build collaborative cultures that thrive. A proud member of the hard-of-hearing and dyslexic communities, she combines lived experience with cutting-edge insights to help leaders navigate complexity with empathy and authenticity.

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Dr. McConner’s thought leadership has been featured in U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, AfroTech, FOX, Medium, Living Corporate, and other prominent outlets. She has received numerous accolades, including being recognized as a 2025 CXO 2.0 Business Leadership Excellence awardee, a 2025 40 Under 40 honoree by the Memphis Business Journal, and a 2023 Super Woman in Business by the Memphis Business Journal. 

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EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

  • University of Oxford, Saïd Business School, Oxford Executive Leadership Programme, 2021

  • Harvard University, Management Development Program, 2019

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EDUCATION

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Higher Education Administration, Auburn University, 2017

  • Master of Arts (M.A.), Educational Leadership, Central Michigan University, 2010

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Psychology, Grand Valley State University, 2008​

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BOARD & COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLES

  • Community Foundation of Greater Memphis: GiVE 365 Memphis Advisory Team Chair

  • Crosstown High School: Board of Directors, Member

  • Greater Memphis Chamber: Chairman’s Circle Investor

  • Junior League of Memphis: Board of Directors, Community Outreach Director

  • Memphis Business Journal Bizwomen Council: Member

  • RISE Memphis: Board of Directors, Member

  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Memphis Chapter: Board of Directors, VP of D&I

  • STS Enterprise Corporation: Board of Directors, Vice Chair

  • University of Memphis Fogelman Women in Leadership: Advisory Board, Member

  • Women Impacting Public Policy: Leadership Advisory Council, Membership Chair

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

  • 2025 Memphis Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree

  • 2025 CXO 2.0 Conference Business Leadership Excellence Award Honoree

  • 2024 BPM Global 100 Leading Black Professional Honoree

  • 2024 Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business Fall 2024 Program Scholar

  • 2024 Change Collective Fall Program Scholar (Inaugural Memphis Class) 

  • 2023 Shelby County Board of Commissioners “Resolution Honoring Dr. Mary McConner” Honoree

  • 2023 Memphis Business Journal Expand: Diversity in Business Awards Honoree (Inaugural Class) 

  • 2023 Memphis Business Journal Super Woman in Business Honoree 

  • 2023 OPM Servant Awards Honoree

  • 2023 American Heart Association Mid-South Women of Impact Honoree

  • 2022 Top 40 Under 40 Urban Elite Professionals Honoree

  • 2022 AFP LEAD Blackbaud Diversity Scholar

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