JoAnn McNutt, PhD

Organizational Psychologist

Contact

Organizational Psychologist
Board Effectiveness Consultant

Board First Consulting, LLC
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Mobile: 925.586.0880
joann@boardfirstconsulting.com
boardfirstconsulting.com

Purpose

I am passionate about helping boards govern with intentionality. As an organizational psychologist, I assess issues and challenges facing boards through a lens of understanding how leaders interact in the boardroom and what drives them to make decisions. Helping boards experience their breakthrough moment, where they become empowered to change and elevate how they contribute to the organization, inspires me to do this work. With every board engagement, I aim to bring out the best in each director and create a culture of high performance at the top. Healthy boards create thriving organizations and cause a positive ripple effect on our communities, economy, and society. I believe boards and their directors/trustees are the keys to a better world.

Expertise

I work with boards and CEOs to advise and partner with them in the following areas:

  • Gathering Data: Designing and conducting survey and interview-based performance reviews of boards, individual directors, and executive team members, including 360 reviews
  • Generating Insight: Surfacing key issues underlying the board’s culture, structure, process, and people; facilitating meetings and retreats designed to create meaningful dialogue and reflection
  • Inspiring Action: Developing short- and long-term solutions for boards and executives to make meaningful change and incorporate governance best practices; coaching board members and executives one-on-one to increase their self-awareness and contribution to their board and stakeholders

Experience

For over 20 years, I have served boards and senior executives of public and non-profit organizations across multiple sectors, including healthcare, performing arts, energy, retail, charitable giving, professional associations, education, and social services.

I have served over 12 years in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Service Corps, where I held various leadership roles. I was the Company Commander of the 352nd Combat Support Hospital based in Oakland, CA, and was a cadre member of the 63rd Regional Readiness Command’s Company Team Leadership Development Program, where I taught change management. Prior to receiving my commission through ROTC, I was an enlisted soldier in the Army Reserve where I was trained as a surgical technician.

Personal

I live in Danville, CA, with my husband, two teenage daughters, and our Mini Australian Shepherd.

Education

PhD, Organizational Psychology
California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco, CA

MA, Change Leadership
California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco, CA

BS, Psychology
Santa Clara University, CA

Certificate, Director’s College
Stanford Law School, Directors’ Executive Education Program

Military Service

U.S. Army 91D Surgical Tech
U.S. Army ROTC at SCU Battalion
U.S. Army Reserve Medical
Service Corps; 352nd Combat
Support Hospital, Company Commander