Rashada Whitehead

Executive summary

Rashada Whitehead is Grant Thornton’s national managing principal of Culture, Immersion & Inclusion and a member of the firm’s Senior Leadership Team. She is responsible for driving priorities through a transformational enterprise strategy that delivers people-first and client-focused outcomes, including a strong emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Whitehead has been with Grant Thornton since 2019 and has held several leadership roles in its People & Community group, such as leading Grant Thornton’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion task force and serving as its head of Colleague Experience. In 2020, Whitehead spearheaded the creation of Grant Thornton’s inaugural DE&I report.

An award-winning professor and former PRWeek “40 Under 40” honoree, Whitehead began her career in public relations before becoming a culture transformation executive. She has managed global communications for Fortune 500 companies and served as CEO of two businesses: a national public relations firm and a reputation management and culture transformation firm.

The experienced people and culture leader teaches public relations at Roosevelt University in Chicago. She has also provided culture insights and coaching through the University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies.

Community involvement

A native Chicagoan, Whitehead serves as a mentor for many local education and youth-focused organizations. She is committed to literacy, financial equity and professional development for underrepresented youth and future leaders.

Education

Whitehead received her bachelor’s degree in English writing from the University of Illinois at Chicago and her master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from Roosevelt University. She is also a graduate of the Tuck School of Business’ Executive Education program at Dartmouth College.