Nabeela Elsayed

Nabeela Elsayed (born 31 December 1982) is an American retail executive, public speaker, writer, executive coach, and consultant. She served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Walmart Canada until September 2023. Prior to this, Elsayed held leadership roles, including Chief People Officer at Walmart Canada, Global Head of Retail Transformation and Global Digital Transformation Leader at INGKA Holding in Malmo, Sweden.
==Early Life and Education==
Elsayed was born in Iowa City, Iowa, to a Muslim family who immigrated from Qaraoun, Lebanon. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in 2007 and a Master of Science in Management and Administrative Sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2014.
==Career==
Corporate Career: As the COO of Walmart Canada, Elsayed managed operations across over 400 stores and supported a workforce of nearly 100,000 employees. She played a key role in the company's transformation initiatives. Before her tenure as COO, she served as Chief People Officer and Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, overseeing human resources, corporate communications, public affairs, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, and government relations.. Elsayed's contributions were recognized by several organizations. She was named one of Canada's Top 50 Executives by The Globe and Mail, and one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada by the Women's Executive Network (WXN) She was also listed among the Top 100 HR Leaders globally by HRD in both 2022 and 2023.
Before joining Walmart, Elsayed led the Digital and Retail Transformation Office for INGKA Group, where she played a pivotal role in IKEA's global digital transformation She previously served as Chief People Officer for IKEA US and Deputy Retail Manager for IKEA Canada. During her time at IKEA, she advocated for and implemented comprehensive maternity and paternity benefits for all IKEA US employees.
Elsayed began her career at Starbucks, starting as a barista and eventually rising to the role of Head of Talent Acquisition for the MidAmerica region, overseeing recruitment for 600 locations.
Public Speaking: Elsayed is known for her public speaking on leadership, digital transformation, diversity and inclusion, and mental health. She shares insights from her corporate leadership experience and personal journey as a first-generation American and Muslim woman
Writing & Media: Elsayed is a recognized author and media spokesperson, featured in publications like The New York Times Fortune, Forbes, Huffington Post, and the Globe and Mail. In 2024, Elsayed launched a Substack titled "WorkWell," sharing thoughts on re-imagining success and achievement for a better world.
Executive Coaching & Consulting: Certified by the International Coaching Federation, Elsayed has been coaching C-suite executives since 2013. In 2022, she was inducted into the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches organization.
Podcasting: Elsayed frequently appears as a guest on podcasts, discussing her career, personal experiences, and advocacy for mental health. She emphasizes the importance of redefining success and its impact on careers, life, and relationships.
==Additional Roles==
Elsayed has served on various boards, including the TaskRabbit Board of Directors, and Board Advisor at the Future Skills Centre of Canada. She is a Board Director at the Miracle Foundation, and the National Council of Canadian Muslims.
She also founded MuslimHaqq, which addresses misconceptions about Muslims, and a co-founder of Rippl, a global conference on wellbeing. Elsayed is a faculty member at Competent Boards, where she trains board members on responsible governance.
==Honors and Awards==
Honours and awards:
2014, Texas Executive Women on the Move Honoree
2022, Recognized by the Globe and the Mail as Top 50 Executives
2022, Womens Executive Network 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada
2022, HRD Human Resource Director Global Top 100 HR Leaders
2022, MAX Dynamic Leader of the Year
2023, HRD Human Resource Director Global Top 100 HR Leaders
Category:1982 births
Category:American chief executives
Category:American people
Category:Coaching
Category:Consultants