About Laurel Rutledge

Laurel Rutledge, Founder and CEO of LKR Group LLC and LaurelRutledge.com, is a Career and Leadership Transformation Expert and HR Strategist. Formerly a Senior Human Resources Executive with global, multi-industry experience, she has built teams and departments, led large-scale human capital projects, and coached individuals from the plant floor to the board room. 

Prior to her last corporate role as the VP and Global Head of HR Strategy and Analytics for Covestro, Laurel held other executive human resources roles, as well as senior roles in internal audit, consulting and risk management for companies and clients such as Bayer, Deloitte, Hillenbrand Industries/Hill-Rom, Batesville Casket and General Motors. She actively led and participated in global strategic diversity programs focusing on inclusion as the key to success. 

This background gives her a perspective on human capital management based on the tenet that a good people strategy is based upon a good business strategy. 

Sample Industries and Expertise:

HR and Business Strategy, People Analytics, Talent Management, Project Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Integrations, Labor Negotiations, Employee Relations; Automotive, Healthcare, Finance, Professional Services, Chemicals, Death Care, Medical Devices
Additional roles, activities and awards:

  • Panelist, Bayer Change the Equation Salon, National Press Club
  • Top 15 Women in Business – Houston
  • Contributor, Human Resources Executive Online “The Great STEM Debate” by Carol Patton
  • Founding Board Member, HRLN-Houston (Human Resources Leadership Network)

Laurel holds a B.S in Accounting from the University of Houston-Downtown, and MBA from Indiana University-Bloomington/ESADE – Barcelona and multiple human resources and assessment certifications. In addition, she is the host of the weekly radio show and podcast, both named The Rutledge Perspective, focused on small business human resources and career and leadership transformation topics.