Serilda Summers-McGee

Serilda Summers-McGee is the Founder and CEO of Workplace Change, a people and culture firm created to guide, advise, and encourage the business world through internal as well as external growth and transition, while incorporating transparency, fairness, respect, and access into HR systems. Serilda has been a People & Culture innovator for over 19 years, honing her ability to identify challenges and opportunities while teaching the masses how to be better leaders. She has inspired thousands to create, embrace, and mobilize lasting organizational change.

Most recently, Serilda was Chief Human Resources Officer for the City of Portland, Oregon, one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.. While serving as the CHRO, she led a bureau of 84 professionals who supported a workforce of more than 10,000. She has held leadership roles for the Portland Development Commission, the Oregon Department of Education, Kaiser Permanente, Partners in Diversity, and Reed College.

In 2019, Serilda positioned the City of Portland’s Bureau of Human Resources to win the Western Region International Public Management Association For Human Resources “Agency Award For Excellence.” Serilda was also recognized by the Portland Business Journal receiving the “Women of Influence Award” in 2018, “HR Excellence Award” in 2019 and “CEO of the Year Award” in 2022.

For Serilda, the importance of HR became apparent while working the counter at Taco Bell in her first high school job, that lasted 8 years. She believes in the power of an equitable and inclusive work environment. She knows that to be a healthy company, there must be healthy culture. Serilda has made it her life’s work to help organizations and leaders create and sustain optimal work cultures.