Martha I. Finney

Martha I. Finney is a writer and consultant specializing in employee engagement and leadership communications. A business journalist for 20 years before entering the consulting field full-time, she brings the qualitative perspective of workplace passion and problem-solving to clients who value the transformative power of engaged employees throughout the organization.

Her clients and leader interviews have come from such organizations as the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency; Intuit; Hewlett-Packard; Newell Rubbermaid; Caterpillar; Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide; Marriott; America Online; Yahoo!; the New York Philharmonic; Textron; Charles Schwab; Industrial Light and Magic; AFLAC; Walt Disney Studios; Deloitte Touche and U.S. Geological Survey.

Martha is author or co-author of more than 13 books, including HR From the Heart: Inspiring Stories and Strategies for Building the People Side of Great Business, with Yahoo’s Chief People Officer, Libby Sartain. Her newest book, The Truth About Getting the Best From People (FT Press, February 2008), helps new managers understand how their beliefs and behaviors promote engagement among their direct reports.

Her original research into joy in the American workplace was featured on CNN, NPR’s Morning Edition, and in major newspapers throughout the United States, as well as Across the Board magazine.

• Outcomes: Loyalty; retention; recruitment; motivation; safety; engaged culture; public relations positioning; change objectives.
• Areas of emphasis: Corporate communications; HR groups; workforce development; sales; new managers; new hires; community relations.
• Products and services: Voice-of-the-employees interviews and profiles; white papers; case studies; book chapters; ghostwriting; publishing consultation.
• Keynotes and workshops: “Sustain Your Flame! Keep Alive the Mission and Meaning of Your HR Career” (for internal HR group events) and new manager workshops based on the principles of The Truth About Getting the Best From People.