SHRM Linkage Appoints Tracey Walker as Chief Executive Officer
Walker is a nationally recognized executive strategist and transformational CEO with more than two decades of impact across business, government, and professional services.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Effective December 3, SHRM Linkage announced the appointment of Tracey Walker as its Chief Executive Officer. Walker is a nationally recognized executive strategist and transformational CEO with more than two decades of impact across business, government, and professional services. As the CEO of SHRM Linkage, she brings a bold, evidence-based vision for elevating leadership excellence worldwide—grounded in organizational behavior data, strategic foresight, high-performance cultures and an unwavering commitment to developing leaders who inspire trust and deliver measurable, enterprise-level results. Prior to joining SHRM Linkage, Walker spent 19 years at the global organization, RSM, where she was a Principal and Chief Culture Officer, followed by public sector leadership as Chief Experience Officer at Alvarez and Marsal.
A three-time CXO, she built her career in global organizations where she became known for uniting talent strategy, stakeholder engagement, and disciplined business methodology to accelerate sustainable growth. Her counsel and organizational behavior expertise, has guided Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, and mission-driven enterprises in unlocking performance, elevating the people experience, modernizing culture, and expanding markets through strategic inclusion and human-centered AI.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tracey as the new leader of SHRM Linkage. With a proven record of enterprise transformation, cross-sector impact, and award-winning results, she is uniquely positioned to drive SHRM Linkage into its next era— strengthening leadership pipelines, advancing organizational trust, and driving sustained innovation and growth for organizations worldwide. With her guidance, we are confident that Linkage will not only build upon its 35-year legacy of delivering exceptional leadership development but also continue to set new benchmarks within the industry,” said Syed Wasey, Acting Executive Vice President (EVP), Global Business, SHRM.
“It is my privilege to assume the role of CEO at SHRM Linkage,” said Walker. “This is a critical moment for organizations to elevate how they develop leaders and unlock the full potential of their talent to drive performance. We are committed to expanding the transformative impact Linkage delivers to organizations around the world. Together, we are setting a new standard for leadership excellence.”
Walker’s leadership impact has earned national distinction. She has been named one of the AICPA’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Accounting, received the AGA President’s Award, and was honored as ALPFA’s 2025 Executive of the Year—recognition that reflects her influence across industry and the broader business community. Throughout her career, she has led multi-million-dollar portfolios, built high-performing revenue organizations, and guided complex transformation initiatives across HUD, Treasury, USDA, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae.
Her thought leadership is widely sought by top academic institutions and professional associations. Her lecture and executive instruction include the AICPA and Societies nationwide, Howard University, IFAC, Kelley School of Business, US Department of Treasury, and UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management among others, shaping the next generation of leaders prepared to navigate a rapidly evolving world of work.
About SHRM Linkage
SHRM Linkage empowers organizations to drive enterprise results by developing talent critical to their success. Backed by SHRM, the world’s largest HR association, they deliver research-driven talent and leadership development solutions grounded in more than 1 million data points from 100,000 leadership assessments collected over 30 years.
About SHRM
SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.
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