Jennifer Riley

Academic Area(s)

Business Analytics, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Strategic Management, Business Consulting, Executive Team Coaching, Organizational Development

Biography

Jennifer Havens is the Director of the Center for Business Analytics and a Professor of Practice at Virginia Tech. She leads a comprehensive Business Analytics Master's program, integrating real-world case studies and advanced analytical tools to enhance student success and elevate the program's recognition. In her role, Jennifer manages student capstone consulting teams that deliver impactful solutions to federal government and private sector clients. She forges strategic partnerships with industry leaders, embedding current practices into the curriculum and aligning academic research with business needs to provide practical experience for students.

Jennifer has a diverse professional background, with significant experience in executive coaching, leadership development, and strategic management. Her prior experience includes founding and leading the Institute for Leadership Effectiveness at Carilion Clinic, where she implemented leadership competency models and developed comprehensive leadership development programs. Jennifer's work at Carilion Clinic resulted in improved emotional and social intelligence among leaders, enhanced DEI management scores, and reduced turnover rates.

As an accomplished author, Jennifer contributed a chapter to “Proving the Value of Leadership Development: Case Studies from Top Leadership Development Programs,” highlighting her work in leadership development at Carilion Clinic. She is also a certified Emotional Intelligence (EQI) Assessor/Facilitator and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation.

Jennifer’s research interests focus on interdisciplinary questions at the intersection of business analytics, leadership, and organizational development. She has specific interests in working with and researching highly technical leaders and how they navigate the complexities of developing and utilizing their power skills (aka “soft skills” or leadership gravitas). She has presented her research nationally in healthcare and technology sectors on this and related topics.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Jennifer is actively involved in various volunteer and advisory roles, including the Pamplin Advisory Council for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) and the Virginia Tech Business Leadership Center Advisory Board. She is an avid runner, mother, type 1 diabetes activist, and volunteer in our regional school system.

Education

• M.B.A., Radford University, 2009
• B.S., Marketing Management, Virginia Tech, 2002

Focus Area(s)

Business Analytics, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Strategic Management, Organizational Development, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Business Consulting