Wesley Connor

About Wesley Connor

As an experienced HR professional and executive coach, I possess two decades of expertise in human capital management. Throughout my career, I have played a crucial role in shaping global people development strategies that yield tangible results, such as enhanced retention, engagement, performance, and overall organizational effectiveness. I am renowned for my forward-thinking approach, acting as an innovative leader who leverages cutting-edge human resource theories, processes, and practices to provide strategic direction and drive sustainable growth. Furthermore, I am driven by a deep passion to assist organizations in positioning their talent strategies as a competitive advantage in today\'s marketplace. By infusing my artistic background into the corporate realm, I create work environments that foster passion, joy, fulfillment, collaboration, and exceptional performance. I wholeheartedly advocate for a \"human-centered\" workforce, where employees are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, unlocking an organization\'s hidden genius.

Experience

1. Head of Global Skills-based Workforce Transformation

   Mastercard

   Jul 2025 — Present · New York, NY, US

   In this role, I lead Mastercard’s global integrated skills strategy, an essential enabler of our business priorities and workforce readiness. My role is focused on building a truly skills-based organization that empowers employees to remain agile, future-ready, and equipped for long-term career growth in a rapidly evolving world of work.I’m responsible for designing and implementing a holistic skills philosophy, strategy, and framework across the full employee lifecycle, from hiring and development to internal mobility and workforce planning. I also lead the Career Ecosystem project, a critical foundation of our skilling efforts, focused on enabling meaningful career progression and capability-building at scale.

Education

• York University

  Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

  1996 — 1999

• University of Toronto

  Certificate in e-learning design, programming and implementation

  2014 — 2015

• McMaster University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Psychology

• York University

  Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) , Education

  2006 — 2008

• York University

  Post-Graduate in HR Management, Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General

  2017 — 2018