Cassandra Gaddo SHRM SCP

Cassandra Gaddo is an experienced professional with a diverse range of roles and responsibilities. In 2005, they started their career as an Associate Editor at Associated Publications. Cassandra then moved on to become the Managing Editor and Electronic Media Editor at Today's Chicago Woman magazine, where they led all editorial and digital functions, including staff management and strategic planning. During their time there, they successfully brought the magazine into the digital age and developed expertise on various issues related to women's rights, workplace equity, and diversity and inclusion.

In 2012, Cassandra became the Executive Director of Step Up, a organization that empowers teen girls from under-resourced communities. In this role, they oversaw all internal and external functions of the Chicago chapter, including human resources, strategic planning, budgeting, programs, fundraising, and external relations. Cassandra achieved numerous accomplishments during their time there, such as exceeding revenue targets, increasing the number of teens served, and tripling the local staff while maintaining a strong culture and high retention rate.

In 2019, Cassandra joined the National School Climate Center as a Consultant for a brief period before transitioning to their current role as the Director of People and Operations at Run for Something. In this position, they head up human resources, finance, compliance, and legal functions. Cassandra leads their team to create a positive and equitable team culture and supports the entire staff to be more effective.

Throughout their career, Cassandra has demonstrated their skills in strategic planning, budget management, team leadership, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Cassandra is an accomplished professional who brings a wealth of experience to their current role.

Cassandra Gaddo, SHRM-SCP, holds a Master's of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) with a concentration in Public Policy from Northwestern University. Cassandra also earned a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Loyola University Chicago. Additionally, in August 2020, Cassandra obtained the SHRM - Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification from SHRM. In January 2021, they also completed a certification in Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Northwestern University.