NANCY CHEN, MBA nancychen1@gmail.com
Career Titles: Learning and Development Facilitator, Coach, Consultant
Summary
High energy, passionate, and experienced learning and development professional with a 10+year track record in facilitation, training, coaching, consulting and management with Fortune 200 firms, specializing in professional development, business acumen, and sales skills. An MBA from Wharton, and prior management experience in sales, marketing and finance at IBM, American Express and on Wall Street provide a superior ability to align L&D with your organization’s strategic and bottom-line goals. Specializes in teaching business skills to non-business and technical professionals. Has a 98 percent rating as an “excellent” trainer and facilitator. Working knowledge of best practices from needs analysis and strategy to detailed implementation. Certified in professional development, management assessment tools, group facilitation, and professional image consulting.
Core Competencies
• Focuses on the goal and the process: consistently produces tangible, measurable learning outcomes that track with business goals, and improved staff motivation to perform
• Outstanding facilitation skills: adapts approach to learning styles, transforms content into excitement, fun, and progress with a delivery that is energetic, yet natural and entertaining
• Strong, diplomatic leadership and consensus-building skills: deftly secures buy-in from diverse parties in and outside the organization for a unified approach to proposed initiatives
• Consistently demonstrates a sharp business and political acumen, and excellent instincts
• Superior critical thinking: strategic, creative and analytical
• A proven “fast learn” on new programs and technologies
• Strong project management skills: able to oversee multiple complex projects to completion
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and best practices in needs analysis, performance competencies, instructional design, assessment tools, training evaluation, and organizational development
Professional Work Experience
Optimal Image Consulting, New York, NY, Independent Consultant/Facilitator/Coach 1991-Present
Design and deliver live and virtual seminars, interactive workshops, and coaching on: consultative sales skills; business acumen; developing client relationships; team productivity; communication and presentation skills; interviewing; networking; managing projects, time, and stress; professional women’s issues; business etiquette; dress for success. Consult on learning and development strategy and program development, specializing in professional service firms.
• Clients have included American Express, Amway Global, British Airways, Elizabeth Arden, General Mills, Grassi & Co. CPAs, Shearson Lehman Brothers, New York University
• Media coverage: “Live with Regis and Kelly” TV show, Marie Claire magazine
Marcum & Kliegman LLP, Melville, NY, Manager of Training & Development 2006- 2007
Raised the level of productivity, business acumen, and professionalism within this firm of 500 accountants, which specializes in SEC audit and hedge fund clients. Spearheaded the launch of this Top-25 CPA firm’s corporate university. Improved strategy and infrastructure for learning and development. Conducted needs analyses for all internal groups; critiqued current initiatives and recommended changes. Implemented programs to support revenue and profit growth by harnessing training to boost recruiting and retention, performance competencies, productivity, professionalism and motivation to perform.
• Rallied 25-member executive committee and employee groups to support the new L&D strategy creating a united front for rollout
• Developed 9 courses in business skills delivered through live and virtual classroom
• Revised new hire orientation, IT, and accounting curricula to improve technical competencies
• Launched programs in Business ESL to support non-native English speakers, Women’s Leadership, and Coaching to initiate a culture of diversity and inclusiveness
• Implemented a learning management software system to improve efficiency
• Saved $125,000 in replacement costs by coaching an underperforming senior employee about to defect, resulting in their retention and subsequent promotion
• Coached partners in performance management, improving their evaluations
• Served as NY State CPA Association Professional Skills VP to boost professional outreach
Amway Global Corporation, Grand Rapids, MI, National Trainer 1992-Present Facilitate business development and sales skills seminars to help franchisees penetrate the health and beauty market. A top-rated member of the North American training team for this $5BN multi-level marketing leader in consumer products.
• Dynamic facilitation of highly interactive group learning format that empowers those with minimal sales background to apply model consultative selling behaviors successfully in the field
• Brought in $20,000 average product sales per learning event over 3-month period with 100+ member audiences
American Express Corporation, New York, NY, Senior Marketing Manager 1987-1990 Launched a new Small Business Services Division, spearheading product bundling, PR, field sales, TV, print and radio ad campaigns. Managed one employee.
• Applied diplomatic leadership over a three-year project period to unify three competitive Amex divisions, securing their buy-in deliver a seamless product to the target market
• Received the President’s Award for outstanding performance
IBM Corporation, West Orange, NJ, Marketing Representative 1983-1987
Marketing representative to Fortune 200 pharmaceutical and high tech firms
• Exceeded sales goals for IBM hardware, software, and technical service solutions each year
• Successfully applied analytical, financial and business acumen and consultative selling principles to assess client needs, secure buy-in for proposals, earn and sustain clients’ trust and confidence for our value-added relationship, and close significant new business
• Graduated IBM Sales Training Program with honors
Salomon Brothers, New York, NY, Financial Analyst – Mergers & Acquisitions 1979-1981
Researched and analyzed merger transactions as decision support for proposed deals
Education
The Wharton School, PA MBA in Marketing; Board member, Wharton Women
Wesleyan University, CT BA, East Asian Studies Magna Cum Laude
High School of Music and Art, NY Graphic Arts, AP English Awards
Next Level Performance, CO Facilitator Development Program
Omega Institute, NY Certification, Professional Development Training
IPAT, IL Certification, 16PF Performance Assessment Tool
Kripalu Center, MA Coursework, Facilitation of Experiential Workshops
Institute of Process Therapy, CT Certification, Emotional Process Therapy
Image Communications International, NY Masters in Image Consulting
Professional Affiliations
National Speakers Association, Professional Member; American Society for Training and Development, Program Committee Member; Association of Image Consultants International - former Board member
