Our Mission
To create lasting organizational value by blending research-driven expertise with hands-on experience to help leaders grow, teams flourish, individuals thrive, and organizations succeed.
Experience in Delivering Innovative Solutions
Our Guiding Values are the bedrock foundation that drives how we make every decision, and how we go about involving each and every person we interact with.
Sure, these are nice words, but they are also our actionable life-blood. We are deeply committed to living them; they are rooted in our minds and actions, every day of the year.
Our Values
Integrity
Act with honesty and high ethical standards to build trust. Foster an environment where all colleagues and clients feel respected and appreciated.
Collaborative Partnership
Approach every engagement as a true partnership, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared accountability.
Action-Oriented Delivery
Driving from insight to impact quickly, with a focus on timely execution that supports our clients’ goals when they need it most.
Transparency
Use research and proven methodologies to drive improvement. Our guidance is innovative, evidence-based, and validated by data and science.
Client Impact
Focus on delivering lasting improvements for clients. We measure our value by their success, leaving them in a better place than when we started.
Human-Centered Growth
Prioritize human potential as the foundation for transformation, cultivating talent to elevate both personal and organizational outcomes.
Our Team of Pracademics
Ready to Strengthen Your Leadership Talent?
Let’s design the right mix of Academy, Coaching, Advisory, and Insights for your organization.
Download Our Overview (PDF)
Dr. Meagan Baskin
Dr. Meagan Baskin is a nationally recognized authority on leadership development, organizational culture, and ethical behavior. With more than 15 years of experience, Meagan specializes in designing and delivering corporate training programs that translate academic insight into practical results, equipping leaders to build high-performing teams, improve communication, and foster values-driven behavior.
Her impact spans Fortune 500 companies (e.g., Hertz), major healthcare systems like Lee Health, universities, nonprofits, and public agencies. Executives and HR leaders trust her engaging, story-driven workshops to drive measurable growth and organizational alignment at every leadership level.
A frequent keynote speaker, Meagan is known for bringing energy to topics such as leadership, ethical decision making, and communication. She leads high-impact programs, including a flagship Emerging Leader experience through the Southwest Florida Leadership Institute, empowering professionals across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
What sets Dr. Baskin apart is her no non-sense – tell it like it is approach—blending theory, practical tools, compelling stories, and immersive experiences to make learning stick.
Dr. David Altounian
Dr. David Altounian is a senior executive, educator, and organizational strategist with over three decades of experience driving innovation, transformation, and growth across global technology firms and entrepreneurial ventures. His core expertise includes executive leadership, strategic marketing, digital transformation, organizational design, and scaling high-performance teams—all anchored in a deep understanding of how to lead change and elevate human potential.
A former technology executive with leadership roles at Dell, Motorola, and Compaq, he was also the Founder and CEO of Motion Computing. Dr. Altounian has built and led successful business teams in both North America and Europe. He brings a rare dual perspective: the operational experience of a seasoned tech executive and the analytical rigor of an academic. This combination makes him a trusted advisor to organizations seeking to align leadership, strategy, and culture for sustained performance.
Dr. Altounian holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a focus on Executive Research from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is a tenured professor of Entrepreneurship at Salve Regina University, a board member at RIHub, an innovation hub for entrepreneurial growth, and a mentor at Capital Factory in Austin, Texas. He is the author of the book “Winning With Strategic Marketing: Driving Success for Startups and Small Businesses” with Mike Cronin. Through executive coaching, board advisory, and leadership development, he empowers organizations to navigate complexity, scale with confidence, and build futures that endure.
Dr. Kimberly Byars
Dr. Kimberly Byars is an executive and organizational strategist who helps leaders and teams perform at their best. With more than two decades of experience driving growth and transformation across the automotive and entrepreneurial sectors, she brings a proven track record in executive leadership, strategic marketing, and talent development—all focused on creating environments where people and business results thrive.
Before joining Involved Talent, Kimberly built a distinguished career with BMW of North America, holding progressive leadership roles in Sales, Marketing, and Training Operations. She later founded and led Affluent Affairs, an award-winning event planning company recognized as “Best of South Carolina” within three years. Known for blending the operational insight of an executive with the analytical rigor of a researcher, she helps organizations align leadership, strategy, and culture to achieve lasting performance.
Kimberly holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration and a BS in Marketing from Clemson University, as well as an MBA from Webster University. She also serves as Strategic Events Coordinator for TID Foundation, leading community engagement initiatives that make meaningful impact.
Dr. Bryan Edwards
Dr. Bryan Edwards is an influential scholar and advisor who is passionate about helping organizations and leaders thrive. As the Joe Synar Chair and Professor of Management at Oklahoma State University, Bryan draws on his expertise in selection, training, performance management, leadership, and team effectiveness to empower people and drive results for the companies he serves. He’s consulted for organizations such as ONEOK, Conoco-Phillips, and many others, earning a reputation for blending rigorous science with practical solutions.
Bryan’s impact extends beyond consulting: he’s an active researcher, securing funding from the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and top industry partners for his work in leadership and organizational development. He serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Psychology and is a Fellow of several leading professional organizations, continuously shaping the field through teaching, publication, and collaboration.
With over two decades of teaching experience and prior faculty roles at Tulane and Auburn, Bryan connects with students and executives alike, fostering workplace cultures where people learn, grow, and succeed. He approaches every engagement with warmth, integrity, and the belief that when people thrive, organizations do too.
Dr. Aaron Hill
Aaron D. Hill, PhD is a global expert in strategic leadership who empowers organizations to unlock performance and sustainable growth. As the William A. McGriff III Professor of Management at the University of Florida, Dr. Hill brings a rare blend of cutting-edge research and hands-on business insight to his work with leaders and teams.
Leading executives and organizations turn to Dr. Hill for actionable strategies that drive results—whether navigating disruption, building high-performance cultures, or making tough decisions with confidence. His leadership insights are regularly featured in major outlets like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review, and his dynamic, evidence-backed keynotes inspire audiences worldwide.
Dr. Hill helps organizations transform their vision into reality by connecting big-picture strategic thinking to the everyday tactics that matter most. Committed to real-world impact, he partners with companies to build resilient leadership, foster innovation, and achieve long-term competitive advantage.
Dr. Mark Sharkey
Dr. Sharkey is a nationally recognized leader and executive advisor with over 40 years of experience guiding organizations through transformation, growth, and strategic challenges in the hospitality and real estate sectors. As the former President and COO of Remington Hotels—one of the nation’s premier hotel management companies—he earned a reputation for blending practical industry expertise with research-driven insights to deliver operational excellence and sustained value.
Now serving as Executive in Residence at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business, Dr. Sharkey mentors future leaders while advising organizations on how to translate strategy into results. His doctoral research on “multi-unit leaders” is directly informed by his decades overseeing large-scale hospitality operations, giving him unique insight into building resilient cultures, adapting to disruption, and achieving lasting competitive advantage.
Dr. Sharkey holds a PhD in Leadership and Management from the University of Denver, an MBA from the Daniels College of Business, and a BA in Business Administration (Hospitality Management) from Michigan State University. He also serves on the board of Ashford Inc., providing strategic guidance across a broad portfolio of hospitality and real estate investments.
Dr. Lex S. Washington
Alexis ‘Lex’ Smith Washington, PhD, is a passionate scholar and consultant who specializes in leadership, team dynamics, and workplace culture. As the William S. Spears Professor of Management at Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, she draws on more than 15 years of experience in higher education and consulting to empower leaders and organizations to thrive. Lex brings a unique ability to translate research on emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and growth mindset into actionable strategies that help managers and teams reach their full potential.
Known for her engaging workshops and practical, science-driven approach, Lex equips leaders to build empathy, foster belonging, and strengthen professional identity. Her expertise has made a measurable impact for clients across the legal, energy, and consumer goods sectors, and she provides coaching and consulting designed to elevate employee development and organizational effectiveness.
A recognized thought leader, Lex has delivered dozens of keynotes and presentations for organizations including Expand Energy, OneOK, and the American Bar Association. Her work is widely published, and in 2019, she was named one of Oklahoma Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40. Through her distinctive blend of insight, integrity, and real-world experience, Lex is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations flourish.
Dr. Craig Wallace
Dr. Craig Wallace is an organizational psychologist with extensive expertise in leadership, high-performance teams, work motivation, talent management, analytics, executive coaching, and leading change—focusing on the most critical element of any organization: its people.
Known as an ‘Original Pracademic’, Craig leads the way in research and practice, crafting groundbreaking solutions that create tangible improvements in business performance and stakeholder well-being. His work seamlessly connects theory with practical application, ensuring organizations achieve their goals and flourish in today’s ever-evolving landscape.
Holding a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Georgia Tech, Dr. Wallace is a Fellow of the Society for I/O Psychology and a faculty member at Clemson University’s Powers College of Business. He is an accomplished author with over 70 scientific studies and more than 10,000 citations, ranking in the top 2% globally of scientific thinkers. With hundreds of keynote presentations, talks, and workshops delivered, he is a trusted voice for SHRM and Psychology Today. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Wallace is a sought-after advisor & consultant to organizations ranging from Fortune 500 firms to small businesses, offering strategic insights and action that inspire confidence and drive success.
