Nancy Hanks is a speaker, facilitator, and executive coach known for helping leaders navigate hard things with honesty, clarity, and heart. Drawing on a career that has included serving as a teacher, principal, Chief of Schools, and senior leadership coach, she brings a rare mix of strategic rigor, lived leadership experience, and down-to-earth wisdom to every room she enters.

Nancy currently serves as a Senior Partner at The Management Center, where she coaches leaders, facilitates trainings, and helps mission-driven organizations strengthen their management practices, culture, and impact. She has worked with leaders across education, nonprofits, and the social sector to build stronger teams, communicate more clearly, and lead with greater confidence and humanity. Her work is grounded in the belief that leadership is not just about results, but about how we create the conditions for people to thrive while doing meaningful work.

Before joining The Management Center, Nancy served as Chief of Schools for Madison Metropolitan School District, where she coached and supported leaders across 32 elementary schools. She has also served as a principal, teacher, and district leader, giving her a deep understanding of leadership at every level, from the front lines to the executive table. Across each chapter of her career, she has been drawn to the same work: helping people lead through change, strengthen culture, and move through complexity with courage and care.

Nancy speaks on leadership, resilience, grief, communication, and the human side of management. Audiences appreciate her for being thoughtful, practical, warm, and real — someone who can bring both insight and compassion to the messy, meaningful work of leading people well.

Audiences appreciate Nancy for her warmth, candor, and practical wisdom — and for her ability to speak to both the head and the heart of leadership.