Hire the Best Strategic Planning Specialists in Michigan

Hi, I’m Lisa Russell, a certified PMP, senior Strategy & Operations Leader and Fractional Chief of Staff with 25+ years of experience helping executives and organizations align vision, strategy, and execution. I bring a rare blend of strategic thinking, operational discipline, and people-centered leadership, developed through decades of experience supporting executive teams at Fortune 500 companies and high-growth organizations. My passion lies in helping leaders transform complexity into clarity — and strategy into meaningful, measurable outcomes. 🚀 What I Do I partner with executives and leadership teams to: -Translate strategy into actionable plans and measurable OKRs -Build scalable operating models, governance, and rhythms for consistent delivery -Drive organizational alignment and change adoption across multiple teams -Facilitate leadership off-sites, workshops, and retreats that build trust and clarity -Create portfolio dashboards, KPIs, and reporting frameworks for visibility and focus -Support executive communications and decision-making with structured insights I excel in fast-paced environments where priorities shift quickly and clarity is most needed. My approach strikes a balance between structure and adaptability, creating systems that work without stifling creativity or agility. 🧭 Recent Impact Fortune 500 Technology Company (Chief of Staff Role): -Drove platform transformation across six central business units by establishing a unified strategic planning process and a 5-quarter portfolio roadmap. Leadership Team Enablement: -Designed and facilitated multiple 3-day leadership off-sites that strengthened trust, clarified roles, and aligned priorities post-reorganization. Operational Excellence: -Created a “Strategy-to-Execution” playbook and delivery site that simplified planning, improved transparency, and reduced duplication across 200+ initiatives. -Program and Portfolio Management: -Built scalable templates and dashboards that turned data into insights and empowered leaders to make faster, more confident decisions. 🧠 How I Work Clients appreciate that I: -Listen deeply before prescribing solutions. -Balance big-picture strategy with practical execution. -Deliver with empathy, accountability, and speed. -Communicate clearly with executives, managers, and teams alike. -Approach every project as a partnership — not a transaction. Whether you need a fractional Chief of Staff, a strategic operator to lead cross-functional work, or a facilitator to align your leadership team, I bring clarity, structure, and results. 🌿 Specialties -Strategy & Operations -Chief of Staff Support -Business Transformation -Portfolio & Program Management -Organizational Change Management -Strategic Planning & OKRs -Leadership Offsites & Workshops -Executive Communication -Agile & Lean Practices -Business Analysis & Reporting 💬 Let’s Connect If your team is growing, changing, or needs a more straightforward path forward — I can help you define, align, and deliver. 📅 Available for: -Fractional Chief of Staff engagements -Strategic planning facilitation -Organizational health and leadership alignment workshops -Short-term consulting projects (10–30 hrs/week) Let’s discuss how I can help your team bring your vision to life — faster, smarter, and with purpose.

With over 20 years of experience in executive leadership roles, including CEO and COO positions, my knowledge-base spans all aspects of leadership, from high-level strategic planning to day-to-day operations management, as well as overseeing administrative functions, financial accounting, budgeting, compliance, human resources, and business development. I have led initiatives in process improvement, financial forecasting, operational efficiency, and market expansion, ensuring the successful growth and sustainability of each organization I have worked with. As CEO, I was responsible for shaping the vision and direction of the company, ensuring financial sustainability, building a strong executive team, and driving initiatives that aligned with goals for growth and market leadership. As COO, I was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization, ensuring that all departments operated efficiently and aligned with the company’s strategic goals. My time in these roles allowed me to cultivate a versatile skill set, encompassing everything from operational planning to leadership development and performance optimization as follows: Setting Organizational Direction: Defined and articulated the company’s vision, mission, and long-term strategic goals, working closely with key stakeholders to ensure that all initiatives aligned with the vision and contributed to sustainable growth. Strategic Planning: Designed and implemented strategic initiatives that aligned with the company’s vision and goals, overseeing project timelines, monitoring key milestones, and ensuring that resources were allocated effectively. Risk Mitigation: Implemented frameworks that identified potential risks to the business—whether financial, operational, or market-related—and developed mitigation. Budget Management: Oversaw the company’s operational budget, ensuring that resources were allocated effectively to support growth while maintaining cost efficiency. Financial Reporting: Analyzed detailed financial reports to provide insights into operational spending, projected growth, and potential areas for cost savings, allowing for informed strategic decision-making. KPI/Benchmark Setting: Developed and implemented performance management systems that tracked progress toward organizational goals and ensured continuous monitoring and performance improvement across the organization. Research: Spearheaded various research projects, including market analysis, competitive benchmarking, pro-forma, and industry trend assessments, to inform strategic decisions and support business growth. Well-versed in academic research and continuing education logistics for medical professionals. Reporting: Adept at producing detailed reports – from employee satisfaction surveys to financial performance metrics – that consolidate findings from research and data analysis. Project Management: Led multiple projects from inception to completion, managing timelines, delegating tasks, and ensuring that deadlines are met. Operations Oversight: Worked closely with department heads to ensure operations were aligned with goals and that processes were streamlined to reduce inefficiencies. Technology Integration: Spearheaded initiatives – from cloud-based solutions for data management to introducing new EMR/EHR and HRIS platforms – to modernize and integrate new technologies that streamlined operations and improved organizational performance. Database Management: Designed and maintained complex databases that housed key organizational data, from employee records to project documentation, medical and accounting records, key contacts, etc., and oversaw the migration of data between systems during organizational shifts. Data Analysis: Synthesized data into easily digestible formats to inform HR initiatives, improve employee retention, identify opportunities for process improvements, overall strategic planning, and revenue growth. Human Resources: Involved in every aspect of human resources, from recruitment and onboarding to performance management, employee relations, training and development, retention, policy development, compliance. Regulatory Compliance: Ensured that all company operations complied with industry regulations and standards by overseeing audits, managing compliance documentation, and working with legal teams to address any regulatory concerns. Employee Engagement: Regularly conducted engagement surveys, gathered feedback, and worked to implement initiatives that improved job satisfaction and created a positive work environment. Whether you're looking to navigate the complexities of leadership, improve project outcomes, or overhaul your organizational structure, I provide customized solutions tailored to your needs. Let’s connect and discuss how I can support your business goals.

Experienced in launching and growing businesses as an entrepreneur. My expertise lies in developing business strategy/plans, marketing strategy/plans and executing them. I have worked with traditional businesses and eCommerce businesses. I am and engineer with an MBA (major in marketing and minor in healthcare) and have worked for a global consulting firm (Deloitte) and also large multi-billion dollar US based companies. Apart from my ability to build realistic business strategy/plan and marketing strategy/plan, I have experience with improving a company's online presence and improving their lead generation and revenue through digital marketing. I have experience with Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media Marketing, Email Marketing, Website CRO, Google and Meta Ads, Marketing Campaign Management, Integrations (GA4 and Facebook Pixels), Copywriting and Creative Development, Analytics, and others. My goal is to help customers achieve their business objectives and their revenue targets through a practical and realistic business plan supported by a robust marketing plan.

I graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S.E. in Industrial and Operations Engineering and an M.S. in Design Science. I am currently finishing my PhD, also in Design Science. At the graduate level, I teach Analytical Product Design, Design Process Models, and Design for Six Sigma. I also teach modules on Innovation & Intrapreneurial Thinking and Change Management for the Manufacturing, Leadership, and Supply Chain Professional Certificate Programs offered by UM College of Engineering. My research incorporates statistical analysis and human behavior theory to glean greater insights into organizational and human capital management-related issues. For the past few years, I have worked as an independent consultant. I specialize in business intelligence implementation, business strategy, data analytics & visualization, design methodologies, marketing engineering, process improvement, and program evaluation. I have strong skills in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research. I thoroughly enjoy performing advanced market research, particularly preference elicitation methods (e.g., Conjoint, Semgnetation, MixDiff). I am certified in Design Thinking and offer various front-end design activities, including innovation sprints and brainstorming sessions. I love working with entrepreneurs as they are seeking to scale and/or sell and offer support during the due diligence process. I have extensive experience redesigning business processes across various industries (automotive, construction, energy/utilities, higher education, retail). Let me know how I can use my skills to assist your organization.