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. Ms. Amato has frequently worked with clients on transformations to customer centric and innovation-focused business strategies through a focus on the workforce. Her areas of expertise include leadership assessment and development, employee engagement and retention, and employment value proposition design and branding (including total rewards). She is a frequently requested speaker in academic and business settings. With a broad background in human resources, Ms. Amato has spent 18 years adding value to a diverse, global portfolio including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Consumer, High Tech, Pharmaceutical, and Oil & Gas clients. Her experience includes 12 Fortune Most Admired All-Stars, 22 Fortune 100 companies, and several smaller and privately-held firms. 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 (ABD status) at McGill University in Montreal.