Nora O’Brien

Managing Director

Deeply dedicated to diversifying corporate leadership, Nora brings a strong research background and a firm grasp of the diversity and inclusion space to her work at Ellig Group. She is a constant and curious learner who keeps on top of market trends in order to analyze best practices and incorporate them into her work. An efficient and creative problem solver, Nora prides herself on her ability to quickly and thoroughly grasp each client’s needs and company culture in order to find the very best of prospective candidates. She works with the team on projects across industries and functions to gain a complete understanding of the role and the market for each search.

Nora first spent two years as a research analyst with our team, providing a valuable analysis for multiple searches before transitioning into her role as an Associate. Before joining Ellig Group, she was a research associate in the CIO/Technology & Operations practice and Consumer & Retail practice at the executive search firm CTPartners, and spent three years as a legal assistant at the law firm of Schechter & Brucker P.C. Her background also includes work in the nonprofit sector, where she focused on volunteer services. A firm believer in taking an active role in her community, she spent some time volunteering herself in the 2012 presidential campaign, and continues to volunteer for several organizations in her free time.

Nora holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from New York University. Her commitment to hard work began at an early age, when she entered the workforce as a baby model and starred in a Pampers commercial and several print ads.

  • Deep focus on diversity & inclusion
  • Dedicated to developing complete picture of the client and role
  • Insatiably curious learner and do-er
  • Quick, efficient, targeted market research

Contact Info

Ellig Group in the Media

Time Logo

4 Ways to Get More Women on Boards

CNN Business

More women are on big company boards, but the numbers are still shockingly low

Vox

Women are running for office in record numbers. In corporate America, they’re losing ground.

CNBC

Boardroom diversity should include ‘four and more’: Chadick Ellig’s Janice Reals Ellig

Forbes

The Female Tipping Point In The Boardroom

Janice Ellig team image

Janice Reals Ellig

Chief Executive Officer

As the head of the Ellig Group, Janice is dedicated to increasing the placement of women and diverse candidates on corporate boards and in C-suites by 2025. Janice joined the legacy firm in 2000 and became Co-Chief Executive Officer in its transition to Chadick Ellig in 2007; she assumed sole ownership of the company as the Ellig Group in 2017 with a new focus on Reimagining Search. Prior to her career in executive search, Janice spent 20 years in corporate America at Pfizer, Citi and Ambac Financial Group, an IPO from Citibank, where she was responsible for Marketing, Human Resources, and Administration.

Heralded by Bloomberg Businessweek as one of “The World’s Most Influential Headhunters,” Janice is often consulted for her expertise and her commitment to gender parity, inclusion, and diversity. She frequently appears at speaking engagements and as a media guest, and she has penned multiple articles for outlets such as Directors & Boards, Directorship, Corporate Director, The Huffington Post, and Forbes.com. Janice also co-authored two books: Driving The Career Highway and What Every Successful Woman Knows, acknowledged by Bloomberg Businessweek as “the best of its genre.”

A tirelessly active member of the industry and champion of her causes, Janice is Founder of the Women’s Forum of New York’s Corporate Board Initiative and its signature event, Breakfast of Corporate Champions. Since 2011, Janice continues to spearhead this event to honor companies committed to board diversity and to encourage CEOs to sponsor board-ready women for the Women’s Forum database. (LINK: www.womensforumny.org).

Janice is personally committed to several NFP organizations: Board Director of the National YMCA and Past Chair of the YMCA Board of Greater New York; Trustee of the Actors Fund and Committee For Economic Development (CED); Incoming Chair, University of Iowa Foundation; Women’s Forum of New York Past President and Chair of the Corporate Board Initiative; member of the Steering Committee, US 30% Club and The Economic Club of New York.

In recognition for her many philanthropic activities, Janice received the University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011 and the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) Eleanor Raynolds Award for Volunteerism in 2008. Named one of the “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by Women’s eNews, she was also a recipient of the Channel 21 Award In Excellence for her contribution to “Excellence in the Economic Development for Women.”

“Listening to our clients’ needs, learning their business and understanding their culture is how we present the best talent and provide  a competitive advantage. We place candidates with the character, competencies, commitment, (intellectual) curiosity and courage to make a difference. Our goal is always to go beyond the expected and deliver valuable advice, measurable results and great talent!”

– Janice Reals Ellig

  • Champion of gender parity, diversity, and inclusion
  • Industry expert, speaker, and author
  • Founder of the Women’s Forum of New York’s Corporate Board Initiative
  • Committed board and committee member and philanthropist

T: (212) 688-8671 ext. 226
E: Janice@ElligGroup.com