Derek Lusk

Location: Chicago, IL
Language: English

As Head of Executive Assessment at AIIR, Derek helps Fortune 500 organizations design executive succession plans. His area of expertise is using data and science to predict leadership effectiveness in the C-suite. He has a strong track record of identifying leaders that can formulate a powerful vision, choose the right strategies and execute in complexity. Derek has worked as a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies in several industries, including real estate, security, education, oil and gas, insurance, healthcare and biotech.

In identifying talent, he uses a strong background in psychology and statistics to forecast success in top leadership roles. He is intentional about understanding his clients’ business, culture and most pressing roadblocks that need to be solved by the executive team. Based on client collaboration, Derek assesses executives using competencies that align with the culture of the organization and specific role. He provides key insights to enhance the quality of leadership and prepare the organization for future challenges.
Prior to AIIR, Derek gained an expertise in research and psychometrics at Hogan Assessment Systems, where he created leadership competency models and algorithms to empirically predict rising stars. His work at Hogan on strategic partnerships led to a consulting role at Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA), specializing in succession planning, executive team dynamics and culture change. He also helped create RRA’s perspective on leadership, which was featured on CNBC, and refined their executive assessment methodology.

Derek’s thought leadership includes academic journal articles on leadership emergence, discovering high potential talent, leadership versatility and teamwork. He is a contributor to the Harvard Business Review and frequent speaker on a variety of topics—ranging from leadership in the C-suite to diversity and inclusion, organizational resilience and politics. He is a member of the Society for Consulting Psychology (SCP), Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), and on the board of the SIOP Professional Practice Series, a publication for organizational scientists, practitioners and executives.

Derek holds an MBA from Indiana University and a PhD in business psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In his dissertation, he investigated the relationship between the dark side of personality and ineffective leadership styles that cause employee disengagement and poor strategic leadership. He teaches survey methods and organizational attitudes at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.