Ms. Lisa A. Ryan’s prolific career is built on devotion to her craft, building sincere long-term relationships, and a genuine love of seeing people thrive. Recruiting and executive consulting is not just an occupation she’s held for her entire adult life, but it’s a calling that has made her a trusted resource and earned her the admiration of countless people in many industries.
After 33 years as a Client Partner at Heyman Associates in New York, Ms. Ryan retired in late 2022. Ms. Ryan was one of the communications executive search firm’s first employees and led hundreds of searches to help it become the world-class organization it is today. Fortune 500 clients of Heyman Associates include GM, AT&T, Wells Fargo, and more, and Ms. Ryan specialized in healthcare, consumer products, industrial, and infrastructure companies. Before joining Heyman Associates, Ms. Ryan was honing her recruiting skills as an Executive Search Associate with The Cantor Concern, and she had previously been the national Management Recruiter for NutriSystem.
Heyman Associates also partnered with higher education institutions over the years, and Ms. Ryan developed a deep affinity for searches in the realm. Ms. Ryan helped place a number of public relations and marketing communications team members at colleges and universities throughout her tenure, providing her with the specialized experience that guides her through searches with Academic Search. Additionally, she has a brilliant knack for recognizing executive talent, and her innate ability to connect with people will be invaluable as she continues to excel in higher education consulting.
Ms. Ryan began her post-college career in college admissions at Widener University, and she was also a Nurse Recruiter and Assistant Registrar for the College of Allied Health Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University. These positions helped ignite her passion for higher education recruiting, and now as a Senior Consultant, she is back in the field that brings her immense gratification.
Throughout her time with Heyman Associates, Ms. Ryan maintained her connections to her alma mater and higher education. She was a member of Susquehanna’s alumni board and is now a Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Philanthropy and Engagement Committee. She was a frequent speaker at the Public Affairs Council, Rutgers University, and the University of Southern California, as well as other professional organizations.
Although networking is a professional necessity in the consulting world, Ms. Ryan takes to it with ease and earnestness. She loves to meet people and learn about their aspirations, and she’s an excellent listener who has perfected the art of advising without being overt. Ms. Ryan continues to maintain relationships she’s held throughout her professional life, and she remains an entrusted advisor for many.