Board Leadership
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Susan Schmidt-Thomson |
Areas of Expertise
Susan Schmidt-Thomson is an accomplished business owner, division president, senior executive and board director with more than 35 years of leadership experience spanning manufacturing, consumer products, professional services, and advanced industries. She brings a proven record of driving transformation, scaling organizations, and strengthening governance across both corporate and nonprofit boards.
As CEO and founder of ActionCOACH Business & Executive Coaching, Training & Succession, Susan and her team advise established companies in sectors including life sciences, professional services, advanced manufacturing, and the construction trades. She helps leaders and boards achieve sustainable growth, prepare for succession, and navigate complex transitions. ActionCOACH of Dane County was recognized as the top ActionCOACH firm in the world in 2023.
Previously, Susan held division president and executive leadership roles at Kapro Tools, Inc., Fiskars, Inc., and other manufacturing organizations. She is recognized for:
- Leading a turnaround that restored a struggling subsidiary from year-over-year losses to profitability within 12 months, and then double the revenue and net profit.
- Delivering 3X revenue and profit growth for dozens of mid-market companies through strategic planning, team realignment, business systems & financial oversight and customer retention initiatives.
- Transforming R&D operations to align with long-term corporate growth, leveraging advanced manufacturing and 3D-printing resources for a publicly traded company.
Susan has served or currently serves on numerous boards, including Neugen/WEA Trust, The Madison Club, NARI, TEMPO Madison, and the Clean Lakes Alliance, as well as several nonprofit organizations. Her boardroom experience spans governance, CEO oversight, strategic growth, and culture transformation.
She holds dual degrees — a B.S. in Business Administration from the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, and a B.A. in Journalism from the same institution.
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