By Staff
Tell us about your company and services.
The Spralling Group, LLC., is a recently launched, full-service organizational development consulting firm. I serve as the President & CEO leveraging over 30 years of corporate leadership and expertise in human resources, engineering, sales support, transformation leadership, diversity, equity & inclusion, employee engagement and grass-root initiatives to create greater impacts in the communities we serve. I continue to work with top industry leaders across all levels in both for-profit and non-profit organizations with a passion for crucial conversations, and advancing initiatives for women in the workplace and historically underserved and under-represented communities. Our services include:
Consultant Services
- Strategy & New Business Development
- Leadership & Talent Development
- Organizational Development
- Program Development
- Employee Resource Groups
- Conversations for Understanding
General Services
- Keynote Speaker
- Host/Moderator
- Project Management
- Employee Engagement
- Workforce Development
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
What inspired you to join the world of entrepreneurship?
With over 30 years in leadership experience in corporate America, across multiple levels and with all the rapid changes in my corporate Worklife, there came a pivotal point, a personal moment in time that I felt compelled to focus on ME, MY next Move, MY next Milestone, My new Journey. I’m embarrassed to acknowledge this but it’s true, for the first time in my entire corporate career, I paused to consider what was BEST for me. Prior to this pivotal and painful point of decision-making, I had always made leadership decisions based on what was best overall for the company and the employees we served rather than, any “what’s best overall for Theresa Spralling”. When the decision boiled down to me re-relocating to Dallas, Texas, particularly after just moving back to Atlanta in January 2023, I was personally thrusted into a “what’s best for me” mode and I realized instantly that choice is a powerful thing! I was instantly faced with the choice of another move to a city that I knew I could never make my home for a role that I excelled in and was passionate about OR do elect to exit the corporate train and pick up my marbles and fly solo. While corporate America has been extremely good to me and my family in all aspects, from financial opportunities to employee experiences, promotions, corporate exposure and leadership development opportunities, and more, I realized that I wanted more for myself and that I deserved more for myself. Even though corporate has been good for me, I longed for a new venture with fewer boundaries and guardrails. The entrepreneurial spirit was summoning me in a powerful way, particularly since I had the best of both worlds, retire from the OLD and rewire for the NEW! Timing, Curiosity and Need inspired me to join the world of entrepreneurship. I see new ventures ahead. New pathways and limitless possibilities.
What does success look like for you?
- Finding a need and fulfilling it
- Learning, Growing and Sharing
- Rising up and Lifting up
- Leaving a place better than I found it
- Inspiring Others to BE more and DO more
What kind of impact did you have in corporate America?
I love this question! I am confident that I left corporate America better than I found it! I left M.A.D. I made a difference! A positive difference. In fact, many still refer to me as a role model and a catalyst for change. As CEO of Women of AT&T National Organization, I was instrumental in leading the organization to award-winning status and growing its membership from 6,000 to over 25,0000. I was also responsible for the company’s From Tolerance to Understanding Movement. Additionally, I was influential in creating a safe space for diversity and inclusion whereby everyone is valued and respected. I am known for many firsts. I have a reputation for building new things well and fixing broken things.
Why is it so important to you to empower women?
Empowering women, empowers the world. Despite the progress we have made, women and girls continue to face discrimination, violence, inequities and an unleveled playing field when it comes to opportunities, leadership development and growth. When women can reach our full potential, we are more productive and fulfilled and as a result, we are able to bring others along with us including, families, children, communities, companies and workforces. We nurture by design and we grow exponentially therefore creating greater impacts for the benefit of humanity.
What is the true value of mentorship?
I continue to believe in the power of mentorship. I continue to actively engage in mentoring relationships because of the effectiveness of mentoring. These relationships are crucial and serve as a safety net for mentees as they navigate unchartered territories, unsafe environments and political climates when climbing the corporate ladder. In addition to mentors, there are three other key roles to ensure overall success. See grid below. I can elaborate further.
What type of experience should someone expect when working with you?
I am known for creating rich and powerful experiences vs completing projects and hosting events. The Spralling Group takes it beyond the norm to raise the standard for a memorable experience that motivates, inspires and compels more. You can always count on me put relationships first and lead with integrity & respect with zero compromise in quality of work.
About
Theresa is an accomplished leader with a track record of success in people management and creating positive impacts for a Fortune 50 global telecommunications company. A skilled executive, she has extensive experience managing all aspects of business operations including General Management, Human Resources, Sales, Engineering, Talent Development, New Business Development, Employee Resource Groups, Strategy & Partnerships, Program Management, and Community Engagement.
Theresa is driven by a core set of beliefs, including being honest, holding herself and others accountable, doing the work well with integrity, and respecting others.
She is a highly respected executive and accomplished leader with exceptional ability to drive and execute high level strategies in a highly matrixed work environment. Theresa has demonstrated broad and deep expertise with a proven track record of success in diversity, equity & inclusion, building high performance teams, organizational growth & employee engagement, cultivating and managing strategic partnerships. She is strong in problem solving, cultural sensitivity and people skills.
She earned a 4-year journalism scholarship to attend the University of Alabama. She continued her education at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, where she received dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Business Administration and Behavioral Science. She is perennial and a life-long learner who has completed post graduate studies and received an ASTD (American Society of Training and Development) Coaching Certification.
For over 25 years, Theresa has worked at the intersection of engineering, technology, and human capital, helping to forge strategic alliances, design and sell engineering solutions, and build a powerful workforce. She is a founding leader of the “From Tolerance to Understanding” movement at AT&T, working to highlight the power of critical conversations to raise awareness and reach understanding.
Theresa has earned a long list of awards and national recognition. Her achievements are comprised of a multitude of leadership awards, prestigious honors, and top recognition among various professional affiliations including the most recent, Catalyst for Change Leadership Award and the Leadership Excellence Award.
She currently serves as Vice Chair for the Board of Trustees at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and a most recently appointed board member for the Students Without Mothers, LLC., organization. One of her proudest achievements is leading Women of AT&T National Organization to award winning success and growing the organization from 6,000 to over 25,000 members during her tenure. She achieved similar results with Toastmasters International of Georgia. During her leadership as district governor for the organization, she grew memberships throughout the state by over 300%, from 2000, to 6000 members.
Theresa takes pride in “Leading the Way”, and she lives by the mantra, “If serving is below you, leadership is beyond you”. Her hobbies in golfing, mentoring, traveling and spending time with her family.
