Laryssa Topolnytsky, PhD

As an experienced talent expert, Laryssa advises boards on CEO effectiveness, strategic HR issues, and CEO and board succession, working across industries as a trusted advisor to CEOs and board chairs. She also works with named CEO successors to ready them for the top job, and outgoing CEOs as they transition to the next chapter of their careers, which is often fraught with uncertainty and unexpected emotions. Additionally, she collaborates with CEOs and their executive teams to enhance their performance.

Before joining Heidrick, Laryssa was a senior partner and member of the CEO and board effectiveness practice at a global talent advisory firm. Prior to that, she was a founding member of the first international office of a strategic talent management firm. She has held talent management roles in industry and has change management expertise.

Laryssa is co-author of a book on employee retention and has written numerous peer-reviewed articles on employee commitment and organizational change. She speaks at conferences and client events on topics related to leading in times of change and building resilience. Most recently, she has written several articles for Forbes on optimizing one’s performance as an executive and becoming a high-performing CEO, as well as one in Fortune outlining the human dynamics that make CEO succession challenging.

Western University, PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Western University, MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

The Rotman School of Business, ICD.D