Brian Hanley

Helping leadership teams connect strategy to execution and move forward together.

Available for fractional or full-time leadership support in business operations, strategy, and execution.

I help leadership teams align around what matters and move the organization forward—especially when the work is complex, cross-functional, or mission-critical.

I’m a working leader, equally comfortable steering teams as I am jumping in and contributing to the work that’s needed. Whether translating strategy into action or navigating through change, I specialize in the things that get teams moving:

  • Operationalizing Strategy: I bring plans to life across the org by clarifying priorities, aligning workstreams, and building the systems that sustain progress.

  • Eliminating Operational Debt: I dig in to find what’s slowing execution—outdated processes, misaligned practices, or too much friction—and clear the path forward.

  • Leading Through Change: I help organizations pivot with confidence, ensuring people understand not just what is changing, but why, and how their work fits.

My journey began in business intelligence—where I learned to connect data to decisions—and evolved through leadership roles in IT, operations, and enterprise transformation. At Gopher Resource, I was entrusted with leading both flagship facilities and later, driving cross-functional change at the enterprise level.

Along the way, I earned a master’s degree in conflict resolution and built a successful mediation practice. That experience deepened my understanding of how teams actually function—and what it takes to unlock trust, collaboration, and performance.Today, I partner with organizations in both full-time and fractional roles, helping them close the gap between vision and execution while building teams that work better, together.

Over 20 years of cross-functional leadership spanning operations, technology, and strategy—driving impact in SaaS, regulated manufacturing, and executive consulting.

Core Competencies

  • Operational Leadership – Directed $100M+ budgets and 500+ teams at Gopher Resource, delivering measurable gains in performance, safety, and output.

  • Strategy-to-Execution Alignment – Translated leadership priorities into executional plans at Pantheon and across advisory clients.

  • Business Intelligence & KPI Design – Built enterprise-wide BI systems at Gopher Resource, enabling real-time visibility and faster decisions.

  • Team & Culture Development – Unified 600+ employees post-acquisition at Gopher, creating sustainable leadership structures.

  • Cross-Functional Integration – Aligned Sales, Product, Services, and Success at Pantheon to improve delivery and retention.

  • Change Management & Communication – Led organizational pivots at both Gopher and Pantheon, ensuring clarity across teams.

  • Conflict Resolution & Trust Building – Trained mediator with a master’s in conflict resolution; founded Hanley Mediation to support high-friction teams.

  • Private Equity & Growth-Stage Experience – Navigated PE ownership at Gopher and fast-scaling SaaS at Pantheon, building value through alignment and traction.

Relevant Experience

Prefer a printable version? Here’s the full resume in PDF format.

The Alignment Company (formerly Hanley Mediation) – Founder, 2024-Present

Organizational Alignment, Conflict Resolution, Leadership Advising

Founded and led a conflict resolution and organizational effectiveness firm supporting leaders and teams in high-stakes, high-pressure environments. Originally launched as Hanley Mediation, the practice evolved into The Alignment Company to reflect its expanded focus on aligning strategy, people, and execution across the broader business landscape. Work spans executive advising, mediation, team development, and enterprise-level programs that drive clarity, accountability, and momentum.

  • Partnered with CEOs and leadership teams to clarify priorities, surface hidden dynamics, and restore alignment across complex initiatives.

  • Developed a proprietary team alignment framework used to translate ambiguity into shared understanding and focused execution.

  • Facilitated high-stakes conversations and guided leadership transitions in both corporate and mission-driven environments.

  • Built a values-led business grounded in trust, outcomes, and long-term organizational impact.

Pantheon – Director, Business Operations, 2021-24

Enterprise SaaS | Strategic Operations & Cross-Functional Delivery

Recruited to bring strategic and operational discipline to a fast-scaling SaaS environment. Positioned as a trusted problem solver across Services, Sales, Product, and Customer Success—stabilizing delivery, improving retention, and enabling enterprise growth.

  • Rebuilt a revenue-critical overages program, increasing enforcement from 12% to over 90% while improving customer transparency and internal accountability.

  • Led the “Red-to-Green” initiative to rescue at-risk accounts, reducing Q4 churn by 8% through coordinated cross-functional action.

  • Rescued and repositioned a failing Managed Services offering—retaining 90% of forecasted revenue and improving service fit for regulated clients.

  • Created and led “Value Workshops” that clarified customer outcomes and deepened strategic relationships with key accounts.

  • Introduced Solutions Engineer role to bridge pre-sales and delivery, improving alignment and renewal success.

Gopher Resource – VP, Plant Operations, Technology & Strategy, 2011-20

Regulated Manufacturing | Operational Leadership & Enterprise Transformation

Held executive leadership roles across operations, technology, and enterprise strategy during a period of private equity ownership and significant organizational change. Entrusted with leading both flagship facilities and later driving company-wide transformation efforts.

  • Directed $100M+ operating budgets and 500+ employees across two major sites; delivered the first profitable year in Tampa, then led Eagan through stabilization and performance gains.

  • Built and scaled the company’s enterprise BI platform, creating a real-time visibility system that shaped decision-making across the organization.

  • Unified 600+ employees post-acquisition through cross-functional transformation efforts—building trust, improving outcomes, and driving sustained performance.

  • Led plant and compliance diligence during company sale, positioning the business for acquisition and engaging directly with prospective buyers.

Earlier Career

Protyle – Founder & Principal Consultant
2012–2015 | Consulting & Software Development
Delivered end-to-end business intelligence solutions for clients across sectors. Built ETL pipelines, reporting dashboards, and analytics platforms to enable better operational decision-making.Actuate Corporation – Technical Marketing Manager / Distributed Applications Architect
2007–2011 | Enterprise Software / BIRT Platform
Led global go-to-market strategy and technical development for enterprise BI and mobile analytics platforms. Spearheaded launch of BIRT Mobile and trained audiences of 100+ BI professionals worldwide.

Education & Certifications

  • Master’s in Conflict Resolution, Hamline University

  • B.A., Business Information Systems, Old Dominion University

Certifications & Specialized Training

  • Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt

  • Franklin Covey Certified Instructor – Leadership & Team Dynamics

  • Finance for Executives – University of St. Thomas

  • Media Training – Executive Communication Series

  • Performance Management Certificate

  • “Five Choices to Extraordinary Productivity” – Franklin Covey

You don’t have to take my word for it.

This page brings together two things that matter most when considering a partner in operational leadership: how I show up when it counts, and what others say after working with me.Below, you’ll find select video clips and testimonials that reflect how I approach the work—driving clarity, building trust, and helping teams move forward together.

Navigating Conflict Inside High-Performing Teams

In this 30-minute webinar, I explore how unresolved conflict—even in high-functioning teams—can quietly undermine execution, trust, and momentum.Delivered as part of my work with leadership teams, this talk introduces a practical, modern approach to addressing friction before it turns into dysfunction. I share how to recognize common warning signs and walk through strategies leaders can use to reset alignment and reestablish clarity.

From Surviving to Thriving: A Story of Team Transformation

This short video tells the story of a cross-functional team with a critical mission—but something’s not working. Despite regular meetings and dedicated team members, progress is slow, and hard conversations are being avoided.The story illustrates how unresolved friction, entrenched behaviors, and surface-level trust can quietly limit a team’s potential—and how Hanley Mediation steps in to help.I outline the tools, structure, and support I provide to help teams move from stuck to high-performing—including facilitated conversations, strategic alignment frameworks, and a deep focus on trust and collaboration.

Contact Me

I’m always open to conversations about operational leadership, strategic execution, and helping teams move forward. If you’re facing complexity, change, or just need a trusted partner to help drive results—I’d love to hear from you. Connect with me over e-mail or via LinkedIn using the buttons below.