Susan Salgado

Susan Reilly Salgado, Ph.D., is a recognized keynote speaker with a commanding stage presence and a simple message: thriving cultures drive exceptional results. With a unique combination of academic pedigree and real-world experience, Susan’s keynotes distill complex concepts and hollow buzzwords into tangible ideas that are easily understood and highly actionable. Her proprietary model of culture is rooted in her academic and executive experience, including 15 years as a partner in Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG), where her leadership development work was fundamental to the company’s ability to evolve its culture throughout significant growth, including the creation and scaling of the Shake Shack brand. 

Through her speaking and consulting, Susan has shared concepts and best practices that have been time-tested across more than 20 different industries, from hospitality, to luxury retail, to hospitals, to financial services, and beyond, including such companies as Delta Airlines, Hyatt Hotels, Merrill Lynch, CLEAR, Assa Abloy Security Systems, Chanel, Ford Motor Company, Custom Ink, H-E-B, Cedars Sinai Hospital System, NFP, Chick-Fil-A, Condé Nast, Coca Cola, and Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry. 

Susan’s work has been profiled in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Business Insider. She is a co-founder of the NYC Chapter of Conscious Capitalism, has recorded a TEDx talk, has been a contributor to Inc. magazine, and was named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business. Susan lives in NYC with her husband, their daughter, and their two dogs.