Antoinette Freeman is a human resources strategist bringing over 20 years of expertise in training and development, executive coaching, recruitment and retention, employee relations, and workforce diversity and inclusion. As a fortune 500 executive, Antoinette developed and executed corporate-wide training and development initiatives focusing on leadership development, employee engagement, diversity, and inclusion. She earned her Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University which further solidified her experience as a coach and mentor. She is a dynamic, engaging, and thought-provoking speaker who challenges and coaches leaders to become their very best in order to achieve success for themselves and their organizations.
Antoinette started her career as a retail merchandiser with New England-based Jordan Marsh Department Stores, currently known as Macy’s. She moved up rapidly through the organization to become a Human Resources Director with responsibility for 5 stores in the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island areas.
Antoinette was recruited by the former Circuit City Stores, Inc., a Richmond-based Fortune 500 home electronics and appliance company, to manage the company’s management training program. This intensive 5-day program was re-designed and enhanced by her team of 5 professional trainers who were tasked with educating field managers on fundamental HR policy and procedure regarding employee relations issues (e.., how to handle performance management issues, recruitment and retention, situational leadership, sexual harassment, and managing a diverse workforce). After successfully launching this program, Antoinette was promoted to manage a team of 5 recruitment managers responsible for a staff of 18 recruiters. At the height of Circuit City’s massive growth plan, her teams were assigned to recruit for field management and corporate hourly to senior-level positions within the company.
Antoinette was then promoted to Director of Executive Development, a newly created role within the organization, assigned with the task of management and leadership training, assessment, and development. This undertaking resulted in her team creating and developing leadership training programs, building an assessment center, creating development plans for high-potential leaders, providing leadership coaching for individuals and teams, and assisting with the development of a bench and succession plan for the organization.
She received certifications in assessment, testing, and development tools through PDI Ninth House, a company acquired by Korn Ferry. Antoinette added to her experience by joining Markel Corporation, a specialty insurance company, as their Professional Development Director. In this newly created role, she was able to initiate corporate-wide training and development programs. She developed and integrated a competency model in core skills training classes for the management team.
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