Journalists are welcome to contact us for expert commentary about communication in the workplace, emotional intelligence, executive coaching, leadership development, business leadership, strategy, and growth, the future of work, and building high performing teams. Our consultants are experienced leaders and subject matter experts that have been featured in many of the world's leading news and media outlets as shown below. Scroll down to view our consultant profiles and topics of expertise.

Shawn Kent Hayashi

Topics of expertise: Building high performing teams, communication, collaboration, emotional intelligence, executive coaching, mentoring, speaking and presenting, professional development, change management, business leadership, strategy, and growth, networking, and negotiation.

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Kristy Tan Neckowicz, PMP

Topics of expertise: IT leadership, project management, business growth, strategy, and planning, change management, communication, leadership development, professional development, and team-building.

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Andrew Ward, Ph.D.

Topics of expertise: The future of work, working with boards and governance, business growth, strategy, and planning, change management, leadership development, and team-building.

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Steve Hart

Topics of expertise: strategic talent management, HRIS and analytics, diversity and inclusion, employee relations, organizational effectiveness, culture, and change.

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Press & Company News

Recent Press & News from The Professional Development Group

October, 2018 - The CEO Magazine Interviews Shawn Kent Hayashi on Collaboration

September, 2018 - New University of Pennsylvania Podcast Interviews Shawn Kent Hayashi

February, 2018 - HR Magazine Features Shawn Kent Hayashi in "Emotional Intelligence Is Key to Outstanding Leadership"

February, 2018 - The Globe & Mail Features Shawn Kent Hayashi in "How Conversations Can Help You Accomplish More at Work"

January, 2018 - "Habits That Keep You Primed For Success" Published in Forbes

December, 2017 - "Are You CEO Material? Take These Steps to Find Out" Published in Forbes

October, 2017 - "Are You Unknowingly Undermining Your Team's Creativity?" Published in Forbes

October, 2017 - "The Core Four: Questions to Ask When Someone Is Slacking" Published in the Lehigh Valley Business Journal

October, 2017 - "Competition or Collaboration: Which Will Help Your Team Produce The Best Results?" Published in Forbes

September, 2017 - "Four Tips To Ease Growing Pains For Your Team and Your Business" Published in Forbes

September, 2017 - "Are You Making These Communication Missteps? It Takes Two To Tango" Published in Forbes

September, 2017 Shawn Kent Hayashi Featured on TrainingIndustry.com in "The 3 Best Tools for Developing a Team"

August, 2017 Forbes Features Shawn Kent Hayashi in "Take Off Your Mask And Become More Comfortable Being You"

August, 2017 "It's Not Your Team, It's You--How To Tell If You Need A Leadership Coach Or A Team Coach" Published in Forbes

July, 2017 Forbes Features Shawn Kent Hayashi in "13 Accountability Tricks To Help You Break That Bad Habit"

July, 2017 "Four Reasons Your Leadership Coach Also Benefit Your Team" Published in Forbes

July, 2017 – Shawn Kent Hayashi Featured on TrainingIndustry.com in "What's the Best Way to Approach Executive Development?"

July, 2017 "Six Bad Conversation Habits and How to Fix Them" Published in Forbes

July, 2017 "If You Can't Spot the Gorilla, Is There Someone On Your Team Who Can?" Published in Forbes

June, 2017 – The Professional Development Group Welcomes Cynthia Kyriazis as Productivity & Organization Consultant

June, 2017 – Forbes Features Shawn Kent Hayashi in “9 Ways Companies Can Identify Their Biggest Gap In Leadership"

June, 2017 Crain's Interviews Shawn Kent Hayashi

June, 2017 – Facing the Future Breakfast Meeting to Examine 8 Megatrends that Will Shape the Future of Work

June, 2017 – Learn How to Create, Inspire & Nurture a High-Performing Team in Our Talent@Work Seminar

May, 2017 – The Professional Development Group Launches New Website

May, 2017 – “3 Steps for Keeping the Negativity of Others from Affecting Your Leadership,” Published in Forbes

April, 2017 – “If You Want to Lead Change, Start Thinking of Your Employees as 'Work Stakeholders',” Published in Forbes

April, 2017 – “Strategies For Managing Employees Who Resist Change,” Published on Forbes.com

March, 2017 – Shawn Kent Hayashi Featured in Smartsheet Onboarding Article

March, 2017  Shawn Kent Hayashi to Speak at Villanova's HRD Networking Event

February, 2017  The Professional Development Group Accepted into Forbes Coaches Council

January, 2017The Professional Development Group LLC Welcomes Andrew Ward, Ph.D. as Sr. Consultant

November, 2016The Professional Development Group LLC Welcomes Hasanna Birdsong as Director of Business Development

October, 2016Shawn Kent Hayashi Addresses Speaking Truth to Power on The Daily Muse

September, 2016The Daily Muse Publishes Shawn Kent Hayashi’s Article, “4 Career-Boosting Questions to Ask Yourself When You're Jealous of a Co-worker's Success” 

June, 2016The Professional Development Group LLC Welcomes Ashley Russo as Sr. Consultant

February, 2016Introducing the NEW Book from Best-Selling Author, Shawn Kent Hayashi

May, 2015 The Professional Development Group LLC Welcomes Melanie Sanchez-Jones as Sr. Consultant

April, 2015PA Meetings & Events Magazine Publishes Shawn Kent Hayashi’s Article, “3 Tips for Getting the Most from Your Event Speaker” 

July, 2014Fast Company Quotes Shawn Kent Hayashi in “How to Say What You Really Mean In Conversations”

January, 2014Shawn Kent Hayashi Wins Blue Diamond Award from TTI Success Insights

September, 2013Working Mother Magazine Features Shawn Kent Hayashi’s Article, “So You Made a Mistake…” 

July, 2013Shawn Kent Hayashi Interview: “One Radical Idea That Will Transform Workplace Interactions”

July, 2013 Listen to Shawn Kent Hayashi’s Radio Interview on Prescriptions for Healing Conflict

June, 2013Shawn Kent Hayashi on Emotional Intelligence; Listen to the Interview on WebTalkRadio Health

June, 2013 Under30Careers Features Shawn Kent Hayashi’s Article, “3 Ways to Benefit from a 360 Survey” 

June, 2013“4 Steps for Leading Teams Through Complexity & Conflict” – Shawn Kent Hayashi’s Article in Service Strategies

May, 2013 Forbes.com Features the New Book by Shawn Kent Hayashi

May, 2013 Under30CEO Features Shawn Kent Hayashi’s Article, “Want To Be an Inspirational Leader? 3 Pitfalls That Can Trip You Up”

April, 2013New Book from Shawn Kent Hayashi: “Conversations that Get Results & Inspire Collaboration”

April, 2013The Lehigh Valley Business Journal Publishes “Avoidance & Silence Do Not Resolve Conflicts” by Shawn Kent Hayashi 

March, 2013The Professional Development Group LLC Welcomes Kristy Tan Neckowicz as Sr. Consultant

March, 2013Startup Professionals Blog Features Shawn Kent Hayashi in “10 Strategies to Make Startup Work Seem Like Play”

October, 2012The Professional Development Group LLC Names Five Executives “Star Developers” with New Award

June, 2012The Professional Development Group LLC Creates the Star Developer Awards

August, 2012Innovative Learning Designs Quotes from Shawn Kent Hayashi's ‘Conversations for Change: 12 Ways to Say It Right When It Matters Most’

June, 2012Shawn Kent Hayashi's Article, "Mentoring: An Age-Old Idea That Works Now" Featured in Insights & Strategies

April, 2012Training Magazine Features Shawn Kent Hayashi’s “Conversations that Inspire Growth”

February, 2012Forbes Features Shawn Kent Hayashi & “Conversations for Creating Star Performers”

February, 2012Blog Business World Reviews “Conversations for Creating Star Performers”

January, 2012“Conversations for Creating Star Performers” hits the Amazon Best Seller List

December, 2011New York Times Interviews Shawn Kent Hayashi

February, 2011Forbes Q&A with Shawn Kent Hayashi

October, 2010Bloomberg Business Week Features Excerpt from “Conversations for Change”