TALENT IS EVERYTHING.
Hi, I'm Sue Gillan, the "SG" in The SG Collective. I started The SG Collective based on two core beliefs:
1. Talent is everything
2. Knowing how to attract, grow and keep the best talent is everything else
I've spent the past twenty years leading teams in three distinctly different, yet complimentary industries: People Operations, Advertising, and Applied Improvisation. The result is The SG Collective. As a certified and progressive HR professional, I partner with and support creative leaders - both current and future - in their missions to succeed and lead, centering equity along the way. Why equity? Equitable work environments attract and retain the very best talent, resulting in the very best work. Period.
Most recently, I helped launch and lead the national BLAC internship program after serving as Chief Talent Officer of OKRP, where I led HR, Recruiting, and Talent Dev. Starting out at Chicago’s Second City theater as a performer, writer, and director eventually led me to designing applied improv programming for schools, nonprofits and businesses across the world, to coaching executives/leadership teams, and to keynoting for industry events like NYC's AdWeek, Fast Company's Innovation Summit, The ANA, and the One Show.
Why is improv relevant? Because it's not about being funny, it's about being adaptable and brave; brave enough to share ideas, support the ideas of others, take risks, build, and rebuild while focusing on the success of the group — skills that are key to collaboration and evolution. Great improvisation is built on deep listening, vulnerability, and the ability to tap into the unique talents of each team member — all skills that require TRUST. And that trust must be intentionally built.
Successful leaders now understand that "soft skills" are the firm bedrock for building strong, intentional work environments. Sound like a bunch of BS? If you answered "No," let’s work together!
Your Talent
TALENT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS
Our Talent
CREATIVE SERVICES
“Sue is an incredible facilitator, talent development leader and coach! I had the pleasure of witnessing Sue in action through our work with the Live Mas Scholars sponsored by the Taco Bell Foundation. She energizes and lights up the room with her creativity and relationship-centered training approach. The exercises and discussions that she facilitates help participants channel the greatness within, strengthening their confidence and fueling their desire to achieve their definition of success! Sue is simply one of the best!”
As Board Chair, I worked closely with Sue as Co-Managing Director of the BLAC Internship Program. Stated simply, Sue is a dynamo! Her experience as a Chief Talent Officer and Creative Director makes her skill set unique. She is equal parts strategic and creative, direct and empathetic, mission-driven and business-oriented. She is genuinely one of the more well-rounded executives I've had the opportunity to work with during my career.
In her role, our Board charged her with building the program, partnering with agencies, educating and inspiring interns, and holding everyone accountable — ensuring we walk our talk. Sue did all of this with passion and grace.
- Chris Witherspoon CEO at DNA | 2021 Campaign US 40 over 40 | ThinkNW All-Star | DEI Advocate
Sue is one of a very rare breed that can do as well as she teaches and teach as well as she does. She has a direct-line understanding and command of comedy, comedy writing, comedy timing – but her insights and approach to bringing out the best in people goes way deeper than just comedy. If I were a young person today, looking for somebody to help me make the most of whatever God given talent I had, I would feel so incredibly lucky to be able to work with Sue and consider her my mentor. Write, perform, direct, teach, mentor, build, and cheerlead – Sue does it all with the strength and energy of a super hero. - Tom O'Keefe Founder/CEO OKRP
We hired The SG Collective to sharpen our NYC FCB creative team's pitch and presentation skills. What sets The SG Collective apart is the way they make everyone feel comfortable in their own skin in order to hone their authentic voice. That's the magic. They focus on what's powerful for each, individual person versus manufactured, blanket training skills. The feedback we received from participants was, across-the-board, extremely positive and impactful. It's rare that teams ask for more training. Always a great sign! - Karyn Rockwell, President, Wunderman Thompson Midwest