Beth Axelrod, a Principal of McKinsey & Company's Stamford, Connecticut office, has served clients across a variety of industries for twelve years on business strategy and organization issues. Over the past three years, she has counseled more than thirty companies on talent strategy. Axelrod is currently the leader of the War for Talent practice and is one of the leaders of McKinsey's global Organization and Leadership practice. She led the 2000 War for Talent research. Axelrod speaks frequently to companies and conferences about talent issues, including the Conference Board and the Human Resource Planning Society.