About Etty Burk: Award-Winning Author and Inclusion Advocate

Hi!

Are you a leader looking to create a healthier, more engaged organization?

With a research-driven approach, I partner with leaders across industries to help them create workplaces where employees feel valued, connected, and productive. Thriving employees fuel thriving organizations—leading to better financial results, operational excellence, and happier customers. It’s a win-win for everyone.

As the founder of Leading with Difference and an organizational psychologist, I work as an outsourced Human Resources, strategy, and transformation executive, helping organizations—both commercial and nonprofit—build inclusive and effective cultures.

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Real Feedback, Real Results:
Straight Talk from Our Clients and Partners

Etty is a wonderful asset to any team looking to grow their HR Infrastructure! She has an extensive knowledge base regarding healthcare companies as well as startups. She is very diplomatic and great at balancing the needs of the company with the needs and perspectives of the employees. She acts with integrity and is reliable and warm. She is our go to consultant for any HR needs that are beyond our scope and I recommend her very highly! She cares about workplace culture, is creative and dedicated to her work. She works well with all members of a team in a collaborative manner.
Carlene Macmillan, MD
Carlene Macmillan, MDRadically Genuine, Relentlessly Curious Psychiatric MedTech Leader, Harvard Trained
Etty is an incredible person, extremely hard-working, and a star at her job. She cares immensely about the team both personally and professionally. Her ​HR and Org Development experience ​was ​an incredible asset to Level. Her team built ​out the HR function​ and led all recruiting efforts as the company doubled in size. Etty was a great resource for the senior team and the board, specifically as it related to employee compliance issues, and how best to manage any challenging HR situations. She is approachable and strategic. I would love to work with Etty again.
Margaret Luh
Margaret LuhDirector of Marketing at New York Power Authority
Working under Etty, I had the opportunity to learn from her many years of experience in the HR field. Etty has significant practical experience with conflict management and training on talent development. I worked alongside Etty to build out policies in our employee handbook and develop a manager supplement. Her advice on how to make the swathes of information in these handbooks digestible to a broad audience pushed me to create a more fun, impactful, and all-around better policy guide. Etty is an incredibly passionate and determined individual who frequently goes above and beyond to meet the needs of her department and organization. Her dedication is a positive example for all.
Elizabeth Himeles
Elizabeth HimelesManager, Talent Acquisition and Engagement & Nonprofit HR Professional. 
Etty is a hardworking and diligent team player. Etty is an exceptional asset in any matrix based project driven environment, her ability to keep stakeholders on point and engaged has tremendous value. Etty worked closely with us on a global transformation project, helping us to liaise effectively with a highly diverse team of stakeholders that spanned the shop floor to the board room and involved representatives from all corners of the globe, ensuring that our communications and considerations where culturally sensitive and appropriate to the recipients. I highly recommend Etty.
Christian Rule
Christian RuleRapidly transforming green screen systems into modern agile technology assets for Insurers, Banks, Retailers and Manufacturers

Media Spotlight:

What Millennials Secretly Get Up to While Working From Home

HR strategist and organizational psychologist, Etty Burk, told Newsweek that the shift toward remote work reflects a broader shift in workplace culture.

How Comic Sans became the Crocs of fonts

Or as organizational psychologist Etty Burk put it: “Comic Sans asks the big question: ‘Who am I, really? What’s my purpose in this huge design world?‘”

Experts Recommend These Jobs for INTP Personality Types

As an organizational psychologist, I know that INTPs often struggle to find a fulfilling career that fits their strengths and preferences.

The 20 Most Stressful Jobs

"The need for precision and constant vigilance, coupled with the potential for severe complications and the unpredictability of patient responses, makes this a highly stressful job," organizational psychologist Etty Burk said.

5 Tips to help us with life's obstacles (pg 49)

Dr. Etty Burk is an experienced and mindful organizational psychologist and HR business leader specializing in helping individuals and organizations thrive.
- Executive Function Magazine,
Oct 2024 Edition

Beyond Balance: Nurturing A Culture Of Well-Being And Productivity

I recommend that leaders explore fostering a similar culture by starting with trust. Trust your team to manage their responsibilities effectively. Encourage open dialogues about work-life balance, and be prepared to tailor approaches to meet individual needs.

Implementing Ethical Standards: 7 HR Strategies For A Responsible Workplace

HR can facilitate a fair and ethical workplace through decisive action and a commitment to integrity. HR's actions impact the resolution of issues and build a strong foundation of trust and transparency across the organization.

Beating Work Burnout: 8 Leaders Share Their Stories

My experience with burnout was a significant challenge. Actually, it was a turning point in my leadership journey. It occurred at a rapidly growing start-up company, where the excitement of scaling was accompanied by 80-hour weeks, increased responsibilities and a relentless pursuit of success.

How Can You Manage and Improve Employee Engagement?

One method that has been a foundation of my work for managing and improving employee engagement is fostering a culture—an environment where every individual feels safe, respected, and valued. When people feel genuinely included, their commitment and enthusiasm naturally rise, leading to a more engaged and productive workforce.

When Have You Facilitated Interdepartmental Collaboration to Foster Organizational Development?

As an organizational psychologist, I've often helped bridge gaps between departments to drive organizational growth. One memorable experience involved a tech company where silos between the development and marketing teams were causing delays in product launches and missed market opportunities.

How to Help Leaders Overcome Challenges Through Coaching: 8 Case Studies

One experience that stands out involved coaching the head of legal at a Fortune 100 company facing a significant organizational change. The leader initially resisted involving his team in strategic discussions around the change, worried it might complicate or slow down the process. To address this...

How Do You Handle Criticism Or Negative Feedback from Your Team?

One effective strategy I use to turn negative feedback into constructive change is reframing it as an opportunity for growth rather than a setback. When I receive negative feedback, I remove any emotional attachment and look at it objectively. I ask myself questions like, “What specific actions or outcomes led to this feedback?” and “How can this feedback guide me to make adjustments that will improve my performance or approach?”

Independent Press Award: GAB TALKS with Etty Burk

This uplifting and beautifully illustrated story is a catalyst for important discussions with children and adults about respect, kindness, and acceptance. We all possess unique skills and talents and have the power to make real positive change. Author Etty Burk, an organizational psychologist who works with teams and organizations, delivers a powerful lesson for people of all ages about diversity and inclusion in Aaron's story.

This is an outstanding book, and I recommend it to teachers, parents, and any young reader who loves a good story.

Reviewed by Astrid Lustulin for Readers' Favorite.

Aaron the Different tells a tale that is enjoyable and will give young readers much food for thought. Many children will feel that Aaron and his friends are not accepted because they are different for some reason, but that does not mean they cannot achieve something good if they have the opportunity. Etty Burk asks us not to underestimate the qualities of those who do not look like us and, at the same time, encourages us to think about how they feel.

Interview with Mom’s Choice Award-Winner Etty Burk, PhD

Aaron may hail from an imaginary planet, but young readers will certainly be able to relate to this painfully self-conscious 8-year-old misfit. For elementary school children struggling with mental health and self-esteem issues, Aaron the Different helps address the important topic of bullying—and beautifully illustrates how being different can be an asset rather than a stumbling block.

Millennials Lead Way With Resume Photos

Organizational psychologist and HR strategist Etty Burk said she can see why adding a photo may be tempting but also advised against it. "While it might seem like a personal touch that sets you apart—especially for millennials who are more likely to add photos—it can have unintended consequences.

How to Quiet Your Inner Critic

Organizational psychologist Etty Burk, PhD recommends swapping out harsh, all-or-nothing statements like “I can’t do anything right” with something more realistic, like “That didn’t go as planned, but I’ve handled worse.” The idea isn’t to fully counter your negative thoughts, but to soften them.

Key Experience and Impact:

  • Transformative Leadership: Built a values-driven culture at a legacy health system, recognized by Diversity Inc., while leading post-merger integration, process improvements, and cost-saving initiatives.
  • Strategic Advisor to Growing Organizations: Partnered with startups, SMEs, and global organizations to drive impactful change, including scaling a renewable energy startup’s workforce from 35 to 400+, boosting productivity by 30%, and achieving a 35% reduction in benefits costs.
  • Global Change Management: Streamlined 12 financial services businesses, saving $4M, and led strategic initiatives impacting 65,000 employees, enhancing engagement and performance.
  • Operational Excellence: Removed silos at a $1.5B global media company, earning spots on the Fortune 100 and Working Mother lists. Achieved a 50% efficiency improvement in radiology workflows by collaborating with clinical and administrative teams.
  • Consulting Expertise: Guided change initiatives for startups, mid-sized organizations, and world-class entities like NASA, World Bank, Citibank, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, delivering practical, lasting solutions.
  • Values-Driven Impact: Known for creating inclusive, high-engagement cultures that align people with purpose, enhance retention, and drive measurable outcomes.
  • Thought Leadership: Sought-after for her expertise in human capital strategy, change management, and talent innovation. Etty is a featured speaker at industry events and has been quoted in leading publications, including Newsweek and LeadershipCoaches.io, Salarsh:p, Fast Company, USnews.com, Executive Function Magazine, OrganizationalDevelopment.org HRmanager.io, HR.com, and talent culture sharing insights that help organizations thrive
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