An accomplished executive and business leader, Denise Grant is a highly regarded counsel to global leaders in the C-suite and the boardroom on complex matters across the range of business, governance, organizational effectiveness, leadership, law, public policy and external relations. She has over 25 years of experience developing strategies and implementing solutions in the corporate, public and nonprofit sectors.  

Prior to founding Overlook Strategies, Ms. Grant served as managing partner of the Washington, DC office of Russell Reynolds Associates, the global executive consulting and leadership firm.  During her decade at the firm, she worked with some of the world’s most high profile companies and nonprofits to assess their organizations and implement leadership solutions at the top executive and board levels.   She conducted CEO succession planning and searches, developed CEO and senior executive transition plans, led broad organizational assessments and counseled boards regarding their effectiveness, governance and board development.  She held various global leadership positions at the firm.  

Previously, Ms. Grant had a successful career spanning the business, legal and public policy arenas, with leadership roles in a corporation, a large non-profit and on Capitol Hill.  Ms. Grant was a corporate officer at a Fortune 100 company, where she served in a variety of leadership and operational business roles.  She also practiced law for nearly a decade, including as an attorney with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and Assistant General Counsel of a significant corporate trade association. During her legal career, Ms. Grant provided strategic counsel to top executives at large, global companies and associations on complex regulatory, litigation and public policy matters. She was a trusted advisor and problem-solver on issues at the intersection of business, law, policy and external relations.  In addition, Ms. Grant served as Legal Counsel to a member of the United States Senate leadership. In that position she led legislative strategy and initiatives on a wide range of matters. 

Ms. Grant has been a frequent speaker and presenter at panels, conferences and in the media throughout her career.  

Ms. Grant is active with various nonprofit organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, the Bryce Harlow Foundation and the Avalon Foundation. In her role as a Trustee at Transylvania University, she is co-chair of the capital campaign. She is also a member of the Economic Club of Washington.   

Ms. Grant received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Transylvania University and her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where she was a member and editor of the Law Review.