"Karissa is a pragmatic researcher and can help organizations understand complicated issues and constituencies in the real world.  She can take rigorous methods of social science research and apply them to the very practical questions that impact your business.  The insights generated from her research are sophisticated and actionable as opposed to high level and abstract.  The level of understanding is such that the necessary action steps seem obvious."

Michelle DeLamielleure, Senior Consumer Insights Manager
General Mills

"Dr. Thacker understands the levers that actually drive performance within individuals and teams.  She translates the psychology of performance into common sense actionable choices regarding how to behave.  Her creative approach allows individuals to see more options regarding how to lead a team toward meeting its true potential for performance.  Her wide range of knowledge and practical experiences allow her to craft a unique approach to every client and situation."

Nadia Adly, Executive Director
Morgan Stanley

"Dr. Thacker’s perspective on the art of influence reset our conventional definitions of leadership.  This perspective is helpful in achieving the best possible customer relationships as well as being an effective leader inside an organization.  Her style is immediately engaging and quickly begins to impact the thinking of the audience."

Chris Anderson, Building Innovations Marketing Manager
DuPont

"Dr. Thacker has been an excellent addition to our Executive MBA faculty. Karissa demystifies the idea of being an effective leader and manager making use of a blend of classic research, real world experience, and common sense. Her open, engaging style challenges our students to apply rigor and discipline in their efforts to make sense of human behavior in the workplace. More importantly, students leave her class with a higher level of awareness of their impact on others. "

Gloria L. Diadoto, Assistant Dean
Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics

"Karissa provided us with thought provoking insights in the emotional aspects of leadership and management. She connects the dots between day to day human interactions and business results. She continually highlights the real connections between our behavior, actions, and how we drive for results to land the message that the “how” really matters in our quest to create results. Paying close attention the “how” and the connections allows for making decisions with a more accurate view of reality. "

John Holcombe, Leader AMP Team
W. L. Gore and Associates

"Karissa is a highly skilled assessor of talent at the individual and organizational levels. She digs beneath the surface level to generate insights that contribute real value to both individuals and organizations. Her ability to understand the mindset of executives as individuals at all levels is exceptional. Her ideas regarding what organizations need to do to maximize human capital at a systemic level are also consistently on target."

Jack MacPhail, Managing Director
Korn Ferry International