James Skinner

The push for talent development and leadership development may be Skinner’s greatest legacy at McDonald’s. One of his core management beliefs is that leaders should always be grooming at least two potential successors, and diversity and inclusion play an important role in the company’s workforce – it’s not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do. Skinner, who was a ‘right-hand man’ for years, never feared his No. 2, and went out of his way to surround himself with “people that were smarter than [him].” In his presentations, he details how to develop winning talent and a succession plan that will ensure an organization’s success for years to come, all while sharing fascinating stories from his legendary 41-year career at the world’s largest food service retailer.