Barbra Sheridan McGann is Chief Research Officer at HfS. This role encapsulates her passion for research, analysis, and strategy, which has been 20 years in the making. Barbra’s scope of work covers the business process outsourcing and emerging "as a service" market broadly, as well diving into industry and functional areas of Healthcare & Life Sciences, Public Service, and Marketing. She’s been recognized for her ability to distill complex issues and focus on a straightforward plan of action.

As the business process outsourcing market has matured, Barbra has tracked, analyzed, and advised on market and competitive moves and meaning for Accenture for over 5 years. She worked with Accenture leadership globally to develop organic and inorganic strategies that drove growth of new and mature offerings. Prior to that, Barbra helped launch and build the unique partnership between Accenture and Microsoft that created Avanade, an IT services company, focusing on the Public Sector and Financial Services markets. Barbra’s career at Accenture started with reviews and events on software selection in the enterprise resource planning software market.

Barbra earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with Honors, and was recognized for outstanding leadership in Volunteerism with the Chet Pagni Service Award, from the University of San Diego. She’s also completed post-graduate executive leadership work at Northwestern University and Smith College.

Barbra’s home base is just outside the Windy City of Chicago, where she lives with her husband and two daughters, coaching soccer, leading Girl Scouts, and generally enjoying whatever activity is best suited for the ever-changing and unpredictable weather. This includes climbing the stone steps at the old toboggan run in the local forest preserve, cross country skiing, gardening, and reading by a fire.