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

Mary _MJ_ McConner

Global Keynote Speaker | Thought Leader | Award-Winning Consultant | Educator

Dr. Mary “MJ” McConner is a global thought leader and consultant specializing in workplace belonging and inclusive leadership. With a career dedicated to developing tailored professional development programs, she has spoken to professionals in over 180 countries, empowering leaders to foster innovation, elevate workplace culture, and achieve sustainable success.

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As the Founder of Inclusive Excellence Consulting, Dr. McConner partners with organizations worldwide to build inclusive 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 named a 2023 Super Woman in Business by the Memphis Business Journal and an honoree for its inaugural Expand: Diversity in Business Awards.

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EDUCATION

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

  • Master of Arts (M.A.), Theology, University of Notre Dame, In Progress

  • 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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EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

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

  • Harvard University, Management Development Program, 2019​

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COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & SERVICE

  • Crosstown High School: Board of Directors, Member

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

  • Grand Valley State University Alumni: Board of Directors, Engagement Committee Chair

  • Greater Memphis Chamber: Chairman’s Circle Investor

  • ICABA World Network: 2024 BPM Global Black Leading Professional and Member

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

  • Memphis Business Journal Bizwomen Council: Member

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

  • STS Enterprise Corporation: Board of Directors, Vice Chair

  • STAR Scholars Network: Leadership Team, VP of DEI Leadership 

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

  • Women Impacting Public Policy: Member

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

  • 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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