# Michelle Ferguson

> Michelle R. Ferguson is a New York-based transformation executive, author, strategic advisor and founding member of Chief. After a long career spanning finance, operations, shared services and workplace strategy at S&P Global/McGraw Hill, she became best known for building the company's first women's employee resource group, co-founding a global mentoring program and writing Women Mentoring Women: Strategies and Stories to Lift As We Rise. In 2026, Chief named her to its Member Advisory Council.

- **Role:** Founding Member and 2026 Member Advisory Council Member at Chief
- **Organizations:** Chief, S&P Global, McGraw Hill, KPMG, Abrams, Maxwell Communications, University of Notre Dame, National September 11 Memorial & Museum
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Notre Dame, Master of Business Administration, Columbia Business School
- **Known for:** Founded WINS, S&P Global/McGraw Hill's first women's employee resource group., Co-founded a corporate mentoring program that began with 50 partnerships and expanded globally., Led global business services, international operations and workplace strategy roles at S&P Global/McGraw Hill.

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Began in audit at Peat Marwick Mitchell, later KPMG, before holding roles at Abrams and Maxwell Communications.
- **2003** — After noticing the lack of women and people of color at a colleague's retirement party, founded McGraw Hill's first women's initiative.
- **2004** — The women's initiative launched an initial mentoring program with 50 partnerships, later expanded to include male colleagues and grow globally.
- **2008** — Published The Power of Mentoring through The McGraw-Hill Companies, documenting the company's mentoring program.
- **2012** — Recognized by Appirio as Cloud Pioneer of the Year for the Workday implementation at McGraw-Hill Education.
- **2015-2016** — Served as a senior vice president at McGraw Hill Financial, leading global business services and later global workplace strategies and services.
- **2019** — Joined Chief in New York as a founding member and later led a peer community for senior women navigating career transitions.
- **2022** — Published Women Mentoring Women: Strategies and Stories to Lift As We Rise with New Degree Press.
- **2026** — Named to Chief's Member Advisory Council and appeared on the Purpose Tracks podcast episode Who Gave You Permission?

## Achievements

- Founded WINS, S&P Global/McGraw Hill's first women's employee resource group.
- Co-founded a corporate mentoring program that began with 50 partnerships and expanded globally.
- Led global business services, international operations and workplace strategy roles at S&P Global/McGraw Hill.
- Led a rapid finance, accounting and HR outsourcing transition affecting about 400 people from RFP to launch in roughly six months.
- Authored Women Mentoring Women: Strategies and Stories to Lift As We Rise in 2022.
- Named to Chief's 2026 Member Advisory Council.
- Received Appirio's 2012 Cloud Pioneer of the Year recognition for a Workday implementation.

## Latest updates

- **2026-01** — Appeared on the inaugural Purpose Tracks podcast episode Who Gave You Permission? to discuss mentorship, vulnerability, privilege and collective leadership.
- **2026** — Joined Chief's 2026 Member Advisory Council, a 24-month member-representation and advisory role.
- **2025-03** — Participated in a Catholic Charities of New York Women's History Month conversation on mentorship, sponsorship and moving women from surviving to thriving.

## Links

- Website: https://chief.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleferguson1

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michelle-ferguson
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-28