Mark is the Founder and Managing Principal of IA, applying over thirty years of experience in the implementation of internal and external HR transformational initiatives for public and private sector clientele worldwide. By offering unbiased and candid advice to C-level leaders in nearly all geographies and vertical market segments, Mark has brought billions of dollars’ worth of value to his clients and employers. He has spent his career fostering relationships through attention to detail, natural curiosity, and a self-deprecating sense of humor.

Your Needs, Our Evolution

By Mark Stelzner / Mar 29, 2025

FROM MARK Following last month’s IA retreat in the California desert, we cleared the sand from our eyes (and elsewhere) to focus on our 20th year of large-scale transformation. Having guided organizations through some of their most complex initiatives, we have been very intentional about not overstaying our welcome, instead focusing intently on knowledge transfer and […]

Read More
picture of a road sign against a blue sky with change of plan written on it

4 steps to achieving transformative change in turbulent times

By Mark Stelzner / Feb 25, 2025

If you’re a senior leader, we fully acknowledge how difficult it is to do your job right now. You are navigating through extreme and unprecedented volatility and disruption. Shifting consumer behaviors, rapid technology changes, intense competition, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions have sadly become the new normal. The pace of change has only accelerated, with new […]

Read More

new year, new challenges

By Mark Stelzner / Jan 27, 2025

From Mark, Welcome back from what I hope was a rejuvenating holiday break. If you’re like many of us, you returned to your desk with renewed energy and ambitious plans for 2025—only to find that the landscape has shifted yet again during our brief absence. The pace of change continues to accelerate, and with it […]

Read More

Reflections on 2024

By Mark Stelzner / Dec 21, 2024

From Mark As we approach the end of 2024, it’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and looking forward to new opportunities. This year has brought both challenges and triumphs, but one thing we can all agree on is how much our furry companions have brightened our workdays. Whether they’ve been a source of comfort during […]

Read More

Gratitude and Giving

By Mark Stelzner / Nov 26, 2024

From Mark As we gather around our tables to celebrate this season of Thanksgiving here in the US, we’re reminded that our greatest privilege lies not just in what we receive, but in what we can give. While life throws us curve balls from time to time, we at IA understand how incredibly lucky we […]

Read More

the haunting signs of year-end burnout

By Mark Stelzner / Oct 30, 2024

From Mark, The final months of 2024 are upon us, and with shorter days and longer to-do lists, many organizations are facing a familiar challenge: end-of-year burnout. Like the autumn fog that settles in during October evenings, workplace exhaustion can creep up gradually, affecting teams before leadership has a chance to intervene. The relentless pace towards […]

Read More

tales from HR Tech 2024

By Mark Stelzner / Oct 9, 2024

From Mark, In what I can only characterize as a transition year, the original HR Technology Conference & Exhibition took a final bow in Las Vegas last week, with the newly emerging “HR Tech” brand (replete with logo and identity changes) embracing the shortened moniker applied to this storied event for more than two decades. No matter the […]

Read More

From fist pounding to fast friends – a tale of transformation

By Mark Stelzner / May 31, 2024

When I first started working on organizational transformations many years ago, I had the misguided notion that sharing my expertise as much as possible equated to value. That typically meant talking… a lot. One day, a leader finally told me to “shut the **** up.” She said it seven times in a row while pounding […]

Read More

Balancing on the Transformation Tightrope

By Mark Stelzner / May 7, 2024

In the world of HR transformation, senior leaders often find themselves on a precarious tightrope. On one side, there’s the need to build organizational capacity, ensuring that teams have enough resources, infrastructure, and bandwidth to execute on the business’s strategic initiatives. On the other side, there is the ongoing need to cultivate capability, equipping teams […]

Read More

Saying the quiet part out loud…finally

By Mark Stelzner / Apr 29, 2024

As the curtains close on the recent Elevate People, Ignite Change (EPIC) HR conference, for which I had the privilege to serve as conference chair and emcee, I find myself reflecting on the profound impact of our collective conversations. This year’s event was more than just a gathering of professionals – it was a bold step toward […]

Read More
Scroll to Top