Patti Schaar (LC2 2021, LC 2020)
Founder & President, BlüShift Strategy
As BlüShift Strategy’s thought leader, Patti is adept at uncovering hidden truths and developing strategic plans that produce growth and drive fundamental change. She quickly develops a trusting rapport with both executive leadership and management by listening objectively, speaking frankly, and understanding both institutional and individual expertise and perspectives. Throughout her career, clients have looked to Patti as their trusted advisor along their entire journey as leaders.
Patti’s rich consulting and in-house background spans industries ranging from Automotive to Agriculture, Education to Nuclear Non-proliferation and functions from Strategy to Finance, HR to Operations. After successfully improving profitability though process optimization at Owens Corning, NAC International, and GE, Patti transitioned to strategic management consulting at McKinsey & Company.
While at McKinsey, Patti managed high profile engagements identifying and implementing supply chain, purchasing, pricing, and post-merger management initiatives at multi-billion dollar enterprises in the health care, electronics, steel, and paper and pulp industries. Additionally, based on systemic insights and by leveraging client relationships, she co-founded a breakthrough core practice to build clients’ institutional capabilities through training, coaching and continuing education.
Patti’s consistent success is directly tied to her unique ability to combine analytical tenacity in assessing organizational capacity with her innate and authentic dedication to coaching all levels of leadership through transition, growth, and sometimes uncomfortable change. This blended approach to corporate consulting and executive coaching arms clients with strategic confidence to take on complex and transformative issues.
Patti holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree (Aerospace) from the University of Dayton and is a Gestalt Professional Certified Coach.
Patti is passionate about education and building a thriving Cleveland community. She currently serves as a member of the Friends of Breakthrough Board of Directors, a 501c3 supporting Breakthrough Public Schools, a high performing charter school system in Cleveland. Patti is a proud co-president of Leadership Cleveland 2020 and is actively involved in multiple community organizations. A homeowner in Gordon Square, she can be found frequenting Edgewater Park and nearby restaurants and bars…all while trying to catch a Guardians game on TV.