Kelly Nelson is the global head of strategy development and execution. Based in Washington, D.C., Kelly has spent more than 25 years supporting businesses through strategy and operations transformations. At Spencer Stuart, she works closely with leaders across the firm’s client teams, commercial operations and business functions to drive strategic and operational growth and transformation initiatives, in order to enhance the firm’s ability to deliver industry-leading client service and advisory capabilities and ensure successful outcomes for clients and colleagues.

Deep experience in business operations and transformation

  • Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Kelly helped build a multi-billion digital and analytics business for BCG, the global strategy consultancy. In forming DigitalBCG, Kelly worked with functional leadership to accelerate and infuse key capabilities and integrate new capabilities and talent throughout BCG worldwide, and supported development and delivery of go-to-market programs, including measuring and articulating the progress and impact of digital offers with clients.
  • Previously at BCG, Kelly led finance, strategy execution and critical business operations across North America. In these roles, she was responsible for business operations and transformations across the Americas, specialty business units and new-business startups — leading investment, organization, compensation and talent strategies as well as functional operations.
  • As part of her client service work, Kelly led projects for clients in the travel, consumer goods, energy, nonprofit and government sectors.
  • Earlier, Kelly spent time at Northrop Grumman working in strategic and CEO communications and supporting the company in its transformation from a focus on aircraft manufacturing to broader electronic, information and cyber programs.

Kelly graduated with a B.A. in environmental studies and psychology from Yale. She earned her M.B.A. in finance and management science from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.