Marisa L. Szem-Stafford is an accomplished executive coach and leader with a passion for organizational development. She thrives as the president of Szem-Szem Consulting, Inc., a firm she founded in 2009, based in Culver City, California. She is an elite specialist in executive coaching, facilitation, instructional design, interview coaching, leadership and business development, strategic planning, and team building. Ms. Szem-Stafford’s extensive experience includes serving as senior director of education and professional development and director of human resources at Hilton.
During her tenure at Hilton, Ms. Szem-Stafford moved from overseeing the training function at a single hotel to managing learning and talent development across 300 hotels in the Western region and eventually the entire Americas region. Her innovative approach to leadership and talent development has earned her numerous accolades. In 2018, Ms. Szem-Stafford received the Innovation and Inclusion Leadership Award from the Society for Diversity. This honor recognized her outstanding work in managing an inclusive work environment program focused on diversity, which she developed in partnership with the American Red Cross. This standout achievement mirrors her dedication to creating inclusive and effective organizational cultures.
Ms. Szem-Stafford’s commitment to lifelong learning and nonstop curiosity have been key to her success. She attributes her achievements most often to these qualities, which have driven her to continuously improve and adapt in her career. She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor of Science in communicative disorders and audiology with a minor in education from The University of Rhode Island. Further, Ms. Szem-Stafford earned a brain-based coaching certificate from the NeuroLeadership Institute. In addition to her professional achievements, Ms. Szem-Stafford is active in her professional community. To contribute to and stay up to date with developments in her field, she maintains membership in the Association of Talent Development.
Peering forward, Ms. Szem-Stafford envisions supporting people in their healing journeys and helping shape the financial futures of businesses and families. She emphasizes the importance of transparency and management development, believing that many organizations overly focus on leadership at the expense of fundamental management skills. She is writing a book to share her insights and experiences, aiming to fill this critical gap in organizational development. Moreover, Ms. Szem-Stafford is a devoted mother and wife. She cherishes being a mother and values the support of her “incredible” husband. Balancing her professional and personal lives, she enjoys hiking and traveling with her family.