Maria works with clients to understand the employee lifecycle, identifying and aligning defining moments in the employee journey with business priorities (such as large-scale transformations, digital focus, and customer centric strategies). Solutions deployed often include employer branding, culture transformation, talent strategy, purpose and values articulation, and performance management makeovers.

With a broad background in human resources, Ms. Amato has spent more than 25 years adding value to a diverse, global portfolio including Pharmaceutical, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Consumer, High Tech, and Oil & Gas clients. Her experience includes 13 Fortune Most Admired All-Stars, 23 Fortune 100 companies, and several smaller and privately-held firms.

Ms. Amato joined Korn Ferry from CEB (now Gartner), where she helped to found the firm’s professional services (consulting) business, translating research and best practices into high-impact client engagements. She contributed to methodologies that enabled clients to save millions in total rewards and turnover costs, while increasing employee engagement and productivity.

Maria has a BA (Magna Cum Laude) in Psychology (Highest Honors) from Colgate University, and Masters in Experimental Psychology from the University at Buffalo. She attended the PhD program in Psychology (ABD status) at McGill University in Montreal.