Dr. Ellen Taaffe

Associate Professor

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Biography

Ellen Taaffe is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Kellogg School of Management, specializing in Management & Organizations. She teaches Personal Leadership Insights and is the Director of the Women's Leadership Program, where she designs and teaches the Kellogg Women's Leadership Seminar series for MBA programs. Ellen is a featured speaker and executive leadership coach for Kellogg's Executive Education programs and has a rich background as a governance leader, serving on multiple boards for public and private companies. Her published work includes the award-winning book 'Mirrored Door: Break Hidden Barrier Locks Successful Women Place,' and she frequently shares her insights on leadership and careers through various media outlets such as Harvard Business Review and Forbes. With over 25 years of experience in Fortune 500 companies like PepsiCo and Royal Caribbean, Ellen has been pivotal in brand management and corporate strategy. She holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management and a BS from the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business, where she was honored in the Hall of Fame. Ellen is passionate about fostering growth in both individuals and organizations to help them achieve higher performance levels and meaningful outcomes.

Research Interests

Leadership Women's Leadership Corporate Governance Executive Education

Experience

Clinical Associate Professor

2016-01-01 — Present

Kellogg School of Management • Evanston, IL

Teaching courses in management and personal leadership.

Board Director

2018-01-01 — Present

AARP Services Inc. • Evanston, IL

Vice Chair of Nominating Governance and member of Health Products & Quality Committee.

CEO

2015-01-01 — Present

ETC. LLC • Evanston, IL

Advisor and executive coach.

President

2010-01-01 — 2015-01-01

Smith-Dahmer Associates (Renamed Ravel) • Evanston, IL

Led brand and product strategy consultancy.

Vice President Marketing

2007-01-01 — 2009-01-01

Whirlpool Corporation • Evanston, IL

Oversaw marketing for the company.

Senior Vice President

2005-01-01 — 2007-01-01

Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited • Evanston, IL

Led various marketing initiatives.

Vice President

1999-01-01 — 2005-01-01

PepsiCo • Evanston, IL

Managed significant brand portfolios and strategy.

Awards

#

Independent Book Award (IPPY Award)

2023-01-01
#

100 Women Leaders Boardroom

2025-01-01

Requirements for Northwestern University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume/CV
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.