Mary Lawrence Wright - CEO
Mary Lawrence Wright is a certified executive coach with broad based international corporate leadership experience. In 11 years with British Petroleum in the United States and Europe, and three years with the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia, Mary developed expertise in building multi-national teams and driving cross cultural organizational change. While with BP in Belgium, Mary developed, built, staffed, and operated BP’s first Euro-centric business in advance of European economic integration. The $150 million multi-national retail network combined 1000 plus employees of numerous nationalities under a unified brand. Mary also worked as a free lance journalist and communications consultant, while living in London, England for 10 years, specializing in international lifestyle issues. She has published articles in numerous international magazines, and US newspapers.
Upon returning to the United States, Mary founded Career Compass Worldwide in 2008. Leveraging her hands-on management and communications style, Mary coaches rising leaders through periods of rapid organizational and personal transition to identify, action, and exceed personal and organizational goals. Her clients include individuals in the banking, health care, and marketing and communications industries. Mary’s specialties include international leadership development, career assessment and development, change management, and personal communications skills.
Mary holds a BA in History and African Studies and a Masters in Business Administration from the Pennsylvania State University. She also is a certified coach through the College of Executive Coaching, an International Coaching Federation (ICF) College. Mary is a United States citizen and holds permanent resident status in the United Kingdom. In recent years, she has contributed marketing and communications support to The American School in London and Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois. She currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Suzanne B. Yellen, PhD - Partner
Dr. Suzanne Yellen is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in behavioral psychology and psychometric assessment. Suzanne leads Career Compass Worldwide’s Individual and Organizational Assessments, and Research and Education activities.
Suzanne brings a broad based background as a professor, researcher, and practitioner to Career Compass Worldwide. Her previous positions have included Director, Psychosocial Oncology, Rush Cancer Institute, Chicago, Illinois and Assistant Professor, Rush Medical College, where she taught Interviewing and Communication to both medical students and Ph.D. candidate psychology residents. Suzanne’s original research in decision-making has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. She is particularly interested in research into individual decision-making, test construction and validation as it relates to the business world. Suzanne has had a private therapy practice since 1999 and an assessment based coaching practice since 2009.
Suzanne has extensive experience in numerous organizational and individual assessments, including the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator (MBTI). She strongly believes that formal assessment tools can objectively, and non-judgmentally, identify individual preferences thereby facilitating a collaborative coaching environment.
Suzanne holds a BA from Northwestern University, a BA from Barat College, and a Masters and PhD in Clinical and Social Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is currently completing her certification as an executive coach through the College of Executive Coaching.
In addition to her responsibilities with Career Compass Worldwide, Dr. Yellen mentors young clinical psychologists, has served as a mentor coach for assessments in her coaching practice, and is a professional ski instructor in Vail, Colorado.