Who Is Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer?
Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer stands as one of the most prominent voices in human capital strategy and modern leadership development. With more than 30 years of experience, she has shaped how organizations across private, public, nonprofit, and multi-industry sectors invest in their people. As founder and CEO of Bentzen Performance Partners, co-founder of The Zeal of the Heel, and creator of the 7 Minute Pivot, her work blends strategic insight with human-centered impact. Cynthia developed the Human Capital Investment Strategy (HCIS), a framework that aligns talent strategy with business growth, elevates organizational culture, and establishes people as a company’s most enduring competitive advantage.
Her ability to bridge business imperatives with the human experience has earned her recognition in Improving HR, The Empathy Advantage, and Success Without Compromise. She has shared her expertise on global stages and in leading podcasts such as Daring to Leap and This Is Women’s Work, reinforcing her reputation as a trusted guide for leadership teams navigating change, complexity, and transformation.
A Strategic Approach to Human Capital and Culture
Cynthia’s work sits at the intersection of measurable business outcomes and the realities leaders face when building healthy, high-performing organizations. She helps companies understand that growth depends on intentional talent investment, an area where many organizations hold untapped potential. Through HCIS, she empowers CEOs, boards, and executives to uncover this value and move their organizations toward stronger alignment, deeper engagement, and more sustainable performance.
Her approach is both strategic and deeply human. Cynthia understands the pressure leaders face to deliver results, but equally recognizes the need for workplaces that support purpose, clarity, and well-being. Her insights consistently resonate with audiences looking to strengthen leadership pipelines, evolve culture, or shift how talent is viewed within the business ecosystem.
Executive Coaching That Creates Breakthroughs
As a board-certified executive coach, Cynthia partners with high-capacity leaders seeking renewed direction, steadiness, and personal clarity. She supports individuals in reconnecting with purpose, reclaiming their voice, and leading with greater authenticity. Her 7 Minute Pivot method is widely embraced by high-achieving women navigating moments of restlessness or stagnation. The tool helps them define what comes next, reignite ambition, and take intentional steps toward meaningful change.
Her coaching style blends rigor with empathy. Cynthia pushes clients to confront patterns that hold them back while highlighting strengths they may have overlooked. Her work often guides leaders from burnout to breakthrough, enabling them to step into roles with heightened confidence, steadiness, and strategic clarity.
A Career of Influence and Recognition
Cynthia’s academic and professional foundation includes a Ph.D. in social psychology, an MBA, the Board Certified Coach designation, and the SPHR credential. Her contributions to leadership and human capital strategy have earned her recognition as a St. Louis YWCA Leader of Distinction, one of Ingram’s “50 Missourians You Should Know,” and among Becker’s “143 Women Leaders of Hospital and Health Systems to Know.”
Her writing is equally influential. She is the author of Human Capital Investment Strategy and the USA Today bestseller Now, Near, Next, along with the Intentional ALLYship Companion Guide. These works are widely used by organizations committed to elevating women’s leadership and building more inclusive cultures.
Book Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer for Your Event
Cynthia brings a message grounded in strategy, purpose, and possibility. Audiences appreciate her ability to make complex topics accessible and immediately actionable. Whether speaking about culture, leadership, talent strategy, career navigation, or the power of intentional human investment, she delivers insights that inspire both personal and organizational transformation.
Her keynotes leave leaders with clarity on where they are, where they are going, and how to bring their people with them. For events focused on the future of work, women’s leadership, organizational culture, or executive development, Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer offers a compelling voice that resonates long after the session ends.
