Our People

• Home
• Who We Are
  • What We DoGagen MacDonald is a strategy execution firm that helps companies turn strategies into results. Working collaboratively from the corporate office to the front line, we use an organization’s brand, culture, vision and history to motivate and align employees behind accomplishing business objectives. Focusing our experiences and passions, we make your cause our cause.
  • Our ClientsA sampling of our past and current clients. Due to confidentiality agreements, we are unable to disclose our full client list.
  • Our PeopleOur core consulting team.
  • CareersBecause we pursue breakthrough solutions with some of the world’s most prominent companies, we offer our team exciting professional opportunities.
• Where We Can Help
  • Sustainability and Corporate ResponsibilityGagen MacDonald helps those who are responsible for developing, executing and communicating a sustainability strategy find ways to fully engage the enterprise and work against a truly integrated, enterprise-wide sustainability approach. Because people at their core want to be part of something larger than themselves, we help companies define a sustainability platform that can be used as a “rallying cry” for employees to act upon to achieve a specific purpose. A purpose that contributes to our communities, to the environment and, of course, to the bottom line.
  • Culture and Change LeadershipCreating a culture that leads to improved operating results is challenging; it requires your people to behave differently to achieve different results. When improving performance requires your company and its people to take big steps forward together, Gagen MacDonald can help you create a sense of shared purpose and lead your organization to better results.
  • Leadership Development, Training and Organizational CapabilitiesAt Gagen MacDonald, we work with companies to enhance the performance of employees and key functions to ensure the right capabilities are in place in order to be successful. Our diverse, global team of certified trainers and consultants can help you build capabilities within your organization to develop the high-performance culture you need to compete and grow.
  • Strategic Employee Communications and EngagementGagen MacDonald can help you engage your employees to turn strategies into bottom-line results. We approach business opportunities with a communications mindset because that’s how we believe you successfully run a company. By extending strategic communication expertise deeper into management decision-making and strategy execution, the communications function helps drive the business rather than just report on it.
  • Intranet Communications and Internal CollaborationYou’ve heard the promise of Web 2.0: Connect, collaborate and create. Corporate intranets are the central repository of information about the company, from HR benefits to current news to the company’s position on corporate social responsibility. That’s where the opportunity lies – employees want the information, but find the intranet inaccessible, difficult to navigate and lacking a mechanism for them to provide feedback. Gagen MacDonald believes that migrating toward an intranet 2.0 strategy can significantly enhance business performance. Through culturally appropriate social media tools and collaborative platforms the intranet becomes not just a library, but a place for employees to connect with the company and collaborate with each other.
  • Internal Brand Strategy and DeliveryAt Gagen MacDonald, we don’t develop brand promises – we promise to help companies deliver them. And that means helping you to focus behaviors and motivate people to deliver the expected “brand experience” consistently at every point of customer contact. We do this by engaging your people, using our experience and a selection of proprietary tools, including message maps, brand delivery modeling and brand/business strategy alignment.
  • Organizational Design for CommunicationsAt Gagen MacDonald, we believe organizational design for corporate communications extends far beyond rearranging boxes on an org chart to looking at the complex relationship between strategy, structure, people, process and culture – and making sure all are aligned to support the objectives of the business.
• Tools We Use
  • Research and MeasurementOur view on metrics and measurement is to build strong, conclusive research. In addition to using traditional research methods, we actively work with experts from all fields to redefine and build solutions to help organizations become more effective.
  • Coaching, Development and TrainingWe have developed a variety of tools to help our clients ensure they have the right people, with the right skills to get the job done.
  • Message Alignment and DeliveryTo inspire action, strategy has to be translated into a message set that is easy to remember and say. We combine what management wants to say with what employees want to know. Then we provide the instruction to improve leadership credibility.
  • Strategic Communications and PlanningFrom CEO transitions, to labor agreements, to strategic shifts—successful implementation requires thoughtful and thorough strategic planning…planning that considers all dimensions of the issue. Gagen MacDonald helps leaders see issues from multiple points of view through various filters, with an eye on the successful implementation of the plan or program.
  • Employee EngagementWe use employee engagement tools to create momentum, build visibility and drive commitment to the business cause. Often these tools are “transformational” experiences that change how people think about their work, about management and about their relationships with the company and other employees.
• How We Work
  • The Gagen DifferenceGagen MacDonald developed a core process – or, more accurately, a way of thinking – to create solutions that help our clients meet demanding, changing requirements. We don’t force a model on your company; we mold our approach to fit your specific organization, culture and need.
  • Our ValuesOur values represent who we are and what we do for our clients and the people we reach.
  • Our Commitment to SustainabilityAt the core of our values is a commitment to serving our clients. This commitment stems from a philosophy deeply rooted in our team: “we help because we can.” This is what it means to be “Gagen.” Our commitment to helping others extends beyond our clients to our broader community. From our backyards to our profession, we make involvement in the community part of our lives every day.
• Resources For You
  • ArticlesAs strategic partners, trusted advisors, teachers, mentors, and coaches, we are compelled to share our experience, knowledge and perspective to be a catalyst for change.
  • White PapersGagen MacDonald’s thought leadership and research provides the latest thinking in strategy execution, as well as valuable insights to help enable your business strategy.
  • SeminarsGagen MacDonald seminars are focused on helping Communications and Human Resource professionals positively impact the bottom line.
• Thought Leadership
  • AnnouncementsRecognizing that collaborative and lasting relationships are founded on sharing information, we regularly post news of developing capabilities and expertise, as well as firm events and industry trends that have implications for our clients’ business success.
  • AwardsWe’ve had the privilege to partner with great clients on some of the most interesting business challenges and opportunities, and we’ve been honored and recognized by leading organizations for our work.
  • Industry Affiliations and LeadershipOur active leadership and participation in strategic industry organizations enable us to continually stay abreast of the key trends and critical news events impacting our clients.
  • Speaking Engagements and EventsOur consultants are often invited to speak and present on a range of topics at local and national events hosted by industry associations, educational institutions and clients.
  • Employee Engagement ForumOur Employee Engagement Forum creates opportunities for our clients and contacts to hear directly from one another about fresh approaches to solving common challenges, to talk about what’s going on with communications and how they want to shape our industry, and – on a personal level – expand their own networks.
• Start The Conversation
  • Give us a CallThink we can help you? Give us a call and we’ll gladly discuss the possibilities of working together to achieve the results you need.
  • Share Your ThoughtsShare a bit about yourself and your thoughts on what we can do for you.

What It Means To Be “Gagen”

“The 'Gagen Way' is a commitment to doing the right thing and doing more than expected to help others achieve success."

Gagen MacDonald is a strategy execution firm that consults and partners with leadership teams and their employees to drive business results. Contact us: (312) 640-9100

© 2008-2010 Gagen MacDonald, LLC.