Nichole Gladney is the Senior Vice President of People & Culture, leading a department and team of human resource professionals in fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and mission-driven culture at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. She joined the Zoo in summer 2025 as we wrapped the capstone project of the first phase of our Next Century Plan. Going forward, Nichole will play a pivotal role in shaping how we care for our workforce as we advance the Zoo's centennial vision.

Gladney has extensive experience leading human resources in complex, global environments, with expertise in change management, talent strategy, and organizational development. Before joining Brookfield Zoo Chicago, she served as vice president of talent acquisition and engagement at Keolis North America, where she oversaw talent strategies across 15 states and seven international markets. Her work designing enterprise-wide engagement programs and collaborating in unionized environments speaks to her versatility and commitment to fostering inclusive, high-performing teams.

She also held key leadership roles at Kraft Heinz and Experian, where she guided strategies designed to serve employees from a variety of backgrounds leading multi-generational workforce engagement, leadership development, employee relations, compliance, and organizational development across diverse and geographically dispersed locations.

Gladney has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Rehabilitation Management from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and is a licensed change management practitioner with the Association of Change Management Professionals.