JoAnn McNutt, PhD

Professional Focus

• Over 20 years’ experience as an organizational psychologist and board effectiveness consultant
• Track record of enhancing board performance across public and non-profit organizations in various sectors including healthcare, performing arts, energy, retail, education, and social services
• Advises boards and executives on board governance structure, strategy, and decision making to identify issues and opportunities and improve board performance and oversight capabilities
• Contributes in-depth expertise in organizational change, leadership, culture, board composition and boardroom dynamics; conducts performance and process assessments, devises development plans, and cultivates effective board-management relationships
• Experience collaborating with boards at various stages, from establishment of a new board to guiding a 100-year-old, privately held company board in preparation for an IPO
• Facilitates meetings, trainings, and retreats; provides individual coaching to board members

Business Expertise

• Co-founder, Organizational Psychologist and Senior Board Consultant at Board First Consulting, LLC
• Organizational Psychologist and Senior Board Consultant at Nygren Consulting, a boutique consulting firm specializing in corporate governance
• Started career with Mercer Delta Consulting (now Oliver Wyman), contributing to the establishment of the firm’s new corporate governance practice
• Captain, Company Commander in U.S. Army Reserve Medical Service Corps; taught change management in Regional Readiness Command’s Company Team Leadership Development Program; commissioned through ROTC

Sector Expertise

• Board Services
• Board Consulting
• Not-for-Profit
• Education
• Healthcare
• Performing Arts
• Professional Associations
• Energy
• Retail

Education & Certifications

• Doctoral degree (PhD) in organizational psychology from California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco
• Master’s degree in change leadership from California School of Professional Psychology
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Santa Clara University
• Directors’ College Certificate, Stanford Law School Directors’ Executive Education Program