Welcome Aleka MacLellan

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Aleka MacLellan, who recently joined ghSMART as a Principal.

With a career built at the intersection of behavioral science, leadership advisory, and organizational psychology, Aleka brings a powerful blend of rigor, empathy, and real-world insight to our clients and our team.

Her path to ghSMART is marked by curiosity and purpose – a journey shaped by a deep interest in people, a belief in the power of leadership, and a drive to make meaningful impact across industries and organizations.

A Career in Leadership Advisory, Grounded in Psychology

Aleka’s professional journey combines strong academic foundations with deep hands-on experience in leadership advisory. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, which has given her valuable insights into human behavior at work and what drives leadership and team performance. But it’s her practical application of these insights in real-world leadership challenges that truly defines her career.

Very early in her I/O psychology career, Aleka was tasked with selecting and leading a national leadership team for a nonprofit organization. This responsibility gave her firsthand exposure to governance, leadership dynamics, and the importance of assembling the right group to guide an organization’s strategy and mission. It was an early lesson in how leadership teams can either enable or inhibit success. Flash forward 15 years and she now sits on the nonprofit’s board of directors.

Before joining ghSMART, Aleka built upon that foundation through a series of roles at boutique and global leadership advisory firms. She worked closely with CEOs, executive teams, and boards on critical issues like CEO succession planning, executive selection, leadership development, and team effectiveness. These experiences deepened her understanding of the complex realities leaders face and how to help them navigate change effectively.

Her work spans multiple industries and geographies, focusing on helping leaders build resilient teams, scale their capabilities, and lead transformational initiatives. Aleka combines analytic rigor with empathy – ensuring that solutions are not just effective but also grounded in the human realities of leadership.

Throughout her career, a consistent theme has been helping leaders become more self-aware and intentional. “I’ve always been fascinated by how leaders grow,” she shared. “What makes someone not just perform, but thrive – and how can organizations create the conditions for that to happen?”

The Value of Coaching – and a Shift Toward Impact

Over the years, Aleka has built a reputation as a trusted coach and advisor to senior executives and leadership teams. In her most recent roles, she was increasingly sought out for her ability to navigate complexity: from helping a new CEO transition into the role, to guiding executive teams through periods of change and ambiguity.

At the heart of her work is a commitment to evidence-based practice – leveraging data, insights, and behavioral science applications to inform decision-making – balanced with a nuanced understanding of the human experience.

What drew her to ghSMART was the opportunity to bring that approach to a new level of scale and impact.

“ghSMART represents the kind of work I love doing – using rigorous methods to help clients make better leadership decisions, but also being part of a team that genuinely cares about doing meaningful work in the world.”

It was a natural next step. The firm’s mission to help leaders amplify their positive impact resonated deeply with her own values and professional ethos.

Beyond Work: Reflection, Resilience, and Curiosity

Outside the office, Aleka’s approach to life mirrors the depth and curiosity she brings to her work. One striking example is her experience with a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat – something she and her husband have done together and continue to practice. Rather than focusing on the challenge of not speaking for 10 days, Aleka highlights the refreshing clarity it brought: a rare opportunity to quiet the noise of everyday expectations and reconnect deeply with herself. The discipline required to maintain long hours of meditation was demanding, but the benefits of insight and clarity found on the other side made it worthwhile. It’s a practice that reflects her broader commitment to reflection, self-awareness, and resilience.

Aleka’s curiosity extends beyond meditation. She has traveled extensively to over 65 countries, embracing new cultures and experiences with enthusiasm – a trait that enriches her leadership perspective. Whether exploring different countries or engaging in meaningful conversations, she approaches life with an openness and intentionality that informs her work with clients and colleagues alike.

Her personal journey underscores a belief that leadership isn’t just about strategies or structures – it’s about the people, the stories, and the deeper awareness we cultivate within ourselves and others. This balance of introspection and outward curiosity shapes not only who Aleka is but also the powerful impact she has in guiding others to thrive.

Alignment with ghSMART’s Mission

Aleka joins ghSMART at a moment when her unique blend of analytic rigor and emotional intelligence fits perfectly with the evolving needs of leadership advisory. As organizations face increasingly complex and human-centered challenges, Aleka’s ability to help leaders scale themselves, build resilient teams, and navigate transformation aligns seamlessly with ghSMART's approach.

She’s known for her clarity, presence, and skill in asking the right questions at the right moments. While her technical expertise is impressive, it’s her genuine way of seeing and supporting others that truly sets her apart. Whether guiding a team through a high-stakes strategy shift or helping a CEO uncover blind spots, Aleka consistently shows up with intention and care.

“It’s about impact, but it’s also about doing the work in a way that feels authentic. That’s what I love about ghSMART – the emphasis on both excellence and humanity.”

What Lies Ahead

As Aleka settles into her role as Principal, we’re excited about the future ahead – not just for her, but for the clients and colleagues who will get to work alongside her. Her story is one of thoughtful evolution: from academic to advisor, from researcher to coach, and now, from leadership expert to collaborative partner at ghSMART.

Aleka’s journey reflects the kind of curiosity, purpose, and depth we value at ghSMART, and we’re thrilled to have her on the team. Learn more about her here.