KIHA Lunch & Learn: Retirement Reimagined with Scott McLagan and Barb Kreisman, PhD

Barbara Kreisman, PhD

Professor Emerita

University of Denver

Dr. Kreisman’s background transcends multiple years in the field of Leadership, Organizational Development and Strategic Planning. She is the former Associate Dean of the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver and has over 30 years of experience in the high-tech environment with such organizations as Dell Technologies; Emerson Electric (Fisher Controls, subsidiary); and Motorola Semiconductor Sector. She helped each of these organizations grow, transform and become future-ready.

During the academic year 2023-24, Barb was a Fellow at the University of Chicago, participating in the inaugural cohort of their new Leadership and Society Initiative, designed to focus on some of society’s most pressing issues.  Her research is on healthy aging.

Barb’s academic achievements consist of a Ph.D. in Leadership & Organizational Behavior from the University of Texas at Austin; a master’s degree in human Resource development and a second interdisciplinary graduate degree in Business and Career Counseling. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater where she now serves on the school’s Foundation Board. 

As an Emerita Professor, Barb has been engaged with the design and launch of a program entitled Retirement Journeys and New Horizons.  She is also a master faculty member for the Modern Elder Academy, a “wisdom school” launched in Baja, Mexico by author and entrepreneur Chip Conley.

Barb has become heavily engaged with the non-profit community and served as Board Chair for Wish of a Lifetime during its acquisition by AARP. She is on the Advisory Board for DU’s Graduate School of Social Work. Barb has been a long time Board Member for the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado (ULFC) which focuses on leadership development for persons of color. In June of 2020, Barb also became a member of the International Women’s Leadership Forum (IWF) . She was a founding member of the Latino Leadership Institute and worked closely with former Denver Mayor and US Department of Transportation Secretary Federico Pena on this initiative.

Scott McLagan

Professor Emeritus

University of Denver

Scott is an Emeritus Professor of the Practice in Management at the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business.  He was the Faculty Lead for the Executive Leadership and Global Business elements in DU’s highly ranked Executive MBA program for 18 years prior to retiring in 2022.  Scott continues to teach and consult in the areas of Leadership, Executive Team Development and Strategic Planning/Execution.

Prior to moving into academia and consulting, Scott spent over 25 years in the corporate world and has a diverse professional background.  He held senior executive roles with two large global companies (Fisher Controls and Emerson Electric) and a high-tech start-up.

Scott currently serves on the Board of Directors Hyder Construction, Inc. and was Chairman of the Board of HSS, Inc. prior to it being acquired in May, 2022.  He is also President Emeritus of the Denver Children's Home Board of Directors.