Leslie Yerkes

About Leslie Yerkes

Leslie Yerkes has been advancing the cause of positive organizational culture for over twenty-five years, ever since she started The Catalyst Consulting Group with a mission to do “consulting with a conscience.” Her interests are many but her vision for a workplace emboldened by empowered, enthusiastic employees and managers is singular. Author of six books, including three for Berrett-Koehler, Leslie tends to run with her enthusiasms only after testing their viability in the rubber-meets-the-road environments of the organizations she consults with, be they small passionate non-profits or global Fortune 50 conglomerates. She nailed fun at work with co-author Dave Helmsath way back in 1997,(in 301 Ways to Have Fun At Work,), and revisited the concept with the essential Fun Works, Creating Placers Where People Love to Work, in 2001.Her perspective on culture and leadership is complex but practical, sophisticated and deeply humane. It’s focused on how to optimally build business success by appreciating and supporting the strengths of the people and culture which make up the human core of the organization.Leslie is co-author of the best selling 301 Ways to Have Fun at Work (Berrett-Koehler) and is the author of Fun Works: Creating Places Where People Love to Work (Berrett-Koehler); Beans: Four Principles for Running a Business in Good Times or Bad (Jossey-Bass); They Just Don\'t Get It: Changing Resistance Into Understanding (Berrett-Koehler); and in 2008, Beyond Kicks Carrots: Motivation for the 21st Century (Norma Sustenere Publishers.)As a consultant, author, thought leader, and keynote speaker, Leslie is all about deep change and other kinds of daring.

Experience

1. Owner

   Catalyst Consulting

   Aug 1987 — Present

   I founded Catalyst Consulting Group, Inc. in 1987. The field of organizational development and behavior has evolved and become more integrated into working life over my years as a consultant leader and business owner. We too at Catalyst have learned, grown and evolved. Business ownership is the best \'boot camp\' for mastering core competencies. If I did not learn the lessons well the business survival was challenge. I have enjoyed every minute of the journey of starting, growing, evolving and remaining relevant in a world where working relationships are important. I look forward to the next ten years of serving responsible leaders in diverse industries who know and value the importance of employee engagement.

Education

• Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University

  MSODA, Organizational Behavior

  1987 — 1989

• Wittenberg University

  Bachelor's degree, Education

  1977 — 1981

Skills

• 360 Feedback
• Organizational Change
• Process Improvement
• Executive Coaching
• Non-Profits
• Team Building
• Organizational Design
• Appreciative Inquiry
• Writing
• Sustainability
• Engagement
• Problem Solving
• Business Planning
• Succession Planning
• Business Strategy
• Talent Development
• Staff Development
• Management Development
• Performance Management
• Small Business
• Emotional Intelligence
• Strategic Planning
• Organizational Behavior
• Change Management
• Team Leadership
• Coaching
• Leadership Development
• Performance Improvement
• Public Speaking
• Planning
• Executive Development
• Mentoring
• Talent Assessment
• Team Management
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Organizational Development
• Instructional Design
• Large Group Facilitation
• Mbti
• Employee Engagement