Arlene Withers

About Arlene Withers

Arlene Falk Withers is a human resources and organizational development professional, executive coach, workforce consultant, employment and labor law attorney, and corporate executive. Prior to her current role as National Director of Organizational and Employee Development for SAG-AFTRA, she served as the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for a $6 billion pension and health benefits trust fund serving the motion picture industry. In that capacity she was responsible for the Talent Management, Organization and Leadership Development functions, including mergers, restructurings, change management, succession planning, coaching and mentoring, and a year long leadership development seminar that she created for high potential performers. She also was responsible for the human resources, legal affairs, labor relations, compliance, communications, facilities, records management, eligibility, audit, and the customer service center functions, as well as the New York office. Arlene has served in both corporate and not-for-profit senior executive line and staff roles across several industries, including financial services, insurance, entertainment and health care. As Division President for a major insurance company, she had P&L responsibility for a business with $6 billion of assets under management. In addition, she has worked as a business process reengineering consultant, an executive coach, and as adjunct faculty at UCLA and at Fielding Graduate University. She is a certified mediator, and received coaching certifications from both Cal State Long Beach and Fielding Graduate University, and a Professional Certified Coach (“PCC”) designation from the International Coach Federation. Throughout Arlene’s career, she has focused on leadership development for high potential performers, career transition issues, managing conflict, and managing through change, in order to help employees and clients maximize their potential and business impact.

Experience

1. National Director, Organizational and Employee Development

   SAG-AFTRA

   Sep 2013 — Present · CA

   Responsible for the organizational development, executive coaching, management and leadership training, employee relations, employee communications, performance management, employee engagement, and culture change functions for the largest entertainment industry union representing performers before the camera and behind the microphone, with a national workforce of 550 employees.

Education

• University of California, Los Angeles - School of Law

  Doctor of Law (JD)

  1975 — 1978

• University of Rochester

  Doctoral Program, Cultural Anthropology

• Fielding Graduate University

  Executive Coaching Certification

  2006

• University of Connecticut

  Bachelor's degree, Cultural Anthropology

• Yale University

  Doctoral Program, Cultural Anthropology

Skills

• Hris
• Workforce Planning
• Employee Benefits
• Nonprofits
• Emotional Intelligence
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Management
• Coaching
• Conflict Management
• Employment Law
• Interviews
• Talent Management
• Management Consulting
• Labor Relations
• Non-Profits
• Training
• Organizational Development
• Succession Planning
• Onboarding
• Change Management
• Human Resources
• Employee Relations
• Restructuring
• Employee Training
• Career Counseling
• 360 Feedback
• Leadership Development
• Strategic Planning
• Performance Management
• Organizational Design
• Staff Development
• Career Development
• Performance Improvement
• Conflict Resolution
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Executive Development
• Start-Ups
• Team Building
• Executive Coaching
• Personnel Management