Coalition for Women in Industry Speakers

Allison Grealis

President, Women in Manufacturing Association and Education Foundation

Allison Grealis is founder and president of the Women in Manufacturing® Association (WiM), a national trade association focused on supporting, promoting and inspiring women in the manufacturing sector. She also is president of the WiM Education Foundation, the 501(c)(3) arm of WiM, which provides effective and affordable educational opportunities for women in manufacturing.

 From 2001 until March 2020, Grealis also served as vice president of association services for the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), a full-service trade association representing the metalforming industry. 

Grealis is a frequent speaker at industry events, including the Financial Times’ Future of Manufacturing Summit, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence conference, the North American Manufacturing Excellence Summit, the Generis American Manufacturing Summit, and more. She also regularly is featured on industry podcasts and in the media.

Grealis was recognized as one of 2018 Crain’s Cleveland Business’ Women of Note, which celebrates women for their outstanding leadership in the community.

Grealis serves as a member of the Community Advisory Board and Outreach Committee of the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women of Case Western Reserve University. She also is a member of the Saint Joseph Academy Engineering and Design Honors Program Advisory Board. She previously served as a board member for the Greater Cleveland Society of Association Executives and Our Lady of the Elms High School.

Grealis earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with a certificate in Women’s Studies from Ohio University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Akron.

Kweilin Ellingrud

Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company

Kweilin is the leader of McKinsey's life insurance work in North America and has broad experience designing and implementing global performance transformations—for example, redesigning operating models and increasing operational efficiency and effectiveness. She improves customer journeys by applying digital, analytics, and process-redesign principles.

In addition to her client work, Kweilin is a member of the McKinsey Global Institute Council, which provides expert input for MGI's research on global economic, business, and technology trends. Other areas of expertise include women in STEM, accelerating gender equality through investment strategies, women in leadership, and the future of work. She is a frequent speaker at global conferences and also works directly with global philanthropies, multilateral organizations, and companies on how to move toward gender equality.

Kweilin serves on the board of directors for the Greater Twin Cities United Way and the YWCA of Minneapolis. While working for two years at a Boston not-for-profit organization that helps women entrepreneurs start and develop businesses, she created a microloan program for low-income women.

Growing up, Kweilin spent a number of years in China, Ecuador, France, and Japan, living with local families and learning the local languages.

Mary Elizabeth Sadd

Senior Client Partner, Korn Ferry 

A  key  member  of  the  firm’s  global  CEO Succession  Practice,  Ms.  Sadd  has  a  long track  record  of  work  with  CEOs,  creating senior teams that successfully deliver on the business strategy.

During her 20 years in executive search, Ms. Sadd has successfully led many searches at the top level of organizations, including those for  CEO,  COO,  CCO,  President  and  GM roles.     Clients  have  spanned  the  Fortune 500,  as  well  as  private,  private  equity,  and venture   capital-backed   companies, where she  has  advised  on  broad talent management strategies.

Ms.  Sadd  is  particularly  well  known  for  her leadership   and   development   work   in   the industrial  and  packaging  sectors  as  well  as leading the firm’s Chief Commercial Officer’s practice  for  the  Industrial  market.  She  also participated  in  Korn  Ferry’s  landmark  study of    women’s    journeys    to    Fortune    1000 company   leadership   and   Women   CEOs Speak    report,    in    partnership    with    The Rockefeller Foundation, and presents on the insights  and  actionable  applications  to  more effectively progress women in leadership.

Prior to joining Korn Ferry, Ms. Sadd was the President   and   CEO   of   Pinnacle   Search Partners LLC, an executive search firm with a  global  scope,  focused  on  CEO  and  other leadership  positions,  in  the  industrial  and packaging markets.

In   addition   to   her   executive   search   and management  succession  and  development work,  Ms.  Sadd  held  leadership  positions with GE Plastics and Mobil Chemical, Plastic Packaging Group earlier in her career.

Ms.   Sadd   has   a   Bachelor   of   Business Administration in International Business from The  University  of  Georgia,  and  is  fluent  in Spanish.