Our Leaders Speak: Elaine Kelly

Elaine Kelly
Director of Operations

Inspired by the lessons, Elaine now leads with empathy, listens with care, and breaks barriers with confidence.

1. One person who inspires me the most in my personal life.

I have been asked this question many times before. When I think of inspirational figures, my mind initially goes to world leaders, inventors, humanitarians, and revolutionaries. But upon reflection, my greatest inspiration is much closer to home—my mother. She chose to sacrifice a career to raise our family and, in doing so, taught me invaluable lessons that have shaped everything I do. She instilled in me the importance of strength and resilience in the face of challenges, as well as the value of empathy, selflessness, and being a good listener. These are qualities I continue to embody in both my personal and professional life.

2. An experience that helped me ‘Accelerate Action.’

Since joining HGS over four years ago, I have witnessed a strong female workforce within our operational function. This has reinforced my belief that, regardless of gender, we hire and promote based on skills and ability. Seeing this firsthand has been a powerful reminder that talent and hard work drive success.

3. My message to women at HGS.

Have confidence in your abilities and trust your intuition. Don’t let limiting beliefs hold you back from progressing and developing in your career.