Holly Crilly
I will be working with the North American team to ensure extraordinary engagement with existing members and help to recruit, onboard, and engage targeted new members, in alignment with the current strategic plan. In addition, I will collaborate with regional and global teams to help build regional presence and optimize key account management and member engagement processes.
I’m thrilled to be transitioning my career into the global sustainability space and can’t wait to apply my skills and experience working in and with large corporations toward helping WBCSD achieve its mission and strategic targets in the coming years. Most recently, I had the privilege to advise sustainability leader McDonough Innovation in business development and marketing. Before that, I enjoyed 18 years in global leadership at Cisco Systems, in sales strategy, marketing, operations, enablement, and chief of staff roles. Earlier, I sold marketing, PR and communications strategy and execution services to large corporations, as an accounts leader at both Ruder-Finn (Parallax) and Leo Burnett (now part of Publicis), building collaborative relationships across agency and corporate teams. I started my career as a computer magazine writer and editor.
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in English (Literature). While at Cisco, I earned my LEAD Certificate in Corporate Innovation from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, after a year of interdisciplinary studies. More recently, I was a Climate base Fellow, which helped me build foundational knowledge around our climate challenges and opportunities.
My goal is to make a major impact on our global climate, nature, and equity challenges. Leveraging the above experience, I’ll build on the Region’s excellent work by adding new members and ensuring impact on WBCSD Imperatives and on members’ sustainability and business performance. Bringing a positive and collaborative approach, I’ll help expand the North American team and enhance WBCSD’s local presence.
I am based in Chicago, where my husband and I enjoy seeing our young adult kids when they are home. I also enjoy biking, music, boating, writing, and traveling.