Rashada Whitehead

Executive summary

Rashada Whitehead is managing principal of Culture, Communications & Inclusion, and a member of the Executive Committee at Grant Thornton Advisors LLC. She leads the firm’s global strategy for communications and drives people-first, client-focused outcomes with a strong emphasis on people engagement and enablement. Her work includes designing, implementing and facilitating a comprehensive approach to company culture, inclusion and brand reputation.

Since joining Grant Thornton in 2019, Whitehead has held several leadership roles within the People & Community group, including leading the Colleague Experience function. In 2020, she spearheaded the creation of the firm’s inaugural DE&I transparency report, which has since aligned into a comprehensive annual ESG 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.

In addition to her executive leadership, Whitehead taught public relations at Roosevelt University in Chicago for ten years and has provided culture insights and coaching through the University of Chicago’s 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.