OUR TEAM
EXPERTS WHO FOCUS ON YOUR SUCCESS
STEPHANIE GUO, MBA, GPHR, SHRM-SCP
George Washington Consulting was founded by Stephanie Guo, after years of working as an HR professional and consultant to many of the world’s leading multinational corporations.
Stephanie Guo understands firsthand the differences between Western and Asian cultures. She has developed and delivered training programs to help organizations blend their divergent cultures to work together to achieve organizational excellence and succeed across cultures.
She consulted frequently with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), where she served on the Business Advisory Council, advising them on their entrance into the Chinese market. She has also served as a Subject Matter Expert for SHRM’s global products, including the SHRM Global Learning System, preparatory materials for HR professionals aspiring to the Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) certification.
She has worked with educational institutions, including The Washington Center and The George Washington University School of Business, where she developed and presented Cross-Cultural and Etiquette training programs.
Ms. Guo was previously a consultant for Mercer Human Resource Consulting in Beijing, China, where she was active in the firm’s Global Information Services and Performance, Measurement and Rewards practices. Her assignments included the evaluation of numerous employee benefit programs and due diligence engagements for multinational corporations. Her consulting clients included Shell, Kerr McGee, ConocoPhillips, Total, British Petroleum, Schlumberger, CNOOC, HiSense, Emerson, Kraft, Mars, Phillip Morris, Energizer, Lucent, Maersk and DaimlerChrysler.
Ms. Guo has also served as Manager of the Human Resources Department at China Entercom Corporation, and has worked in the International Settlement Department of Bank of China.
Ms. Guo holds an MBA from Peking University/Fordham University.
FRED SIEGEL
Fred Siegel has over 40 years of experience helping students succeed. He has served in many leadership roles, including director of undergraduate admissions at Boston University and chief enrollment officer at both The George Washington University and the University of Delaware. He later served as dean of freshmen and associate Vice President at The George Washington University, where he created his position to focus on the success of students during their first year at college. He also served as Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Students at Claremont Graduate University in California.
Mr. Siegel’s extensive, nationwide network has assisted many students and their families as they struggle to understand the complex world of college admissions. He has successfully placed his students at many of the best colleges and universities in the United States.
Mr. Siegel studied classics at both Brandeis University and the University of Michigan. He serves on the advisory boards of EC Higher Education, the Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement (chair) and Science Olympiad.
JAMES B. THURMAN, PH.D.
James Thurman is Associate Professor Emeritus of Strategic Management and Public Policy in The George Washington University School of Business in Washington, DC.
Professor Thurman has held many academic and administrative positions at GWSB, including Chairman of the Department of Strategic Management and Public Policy and Faculty Director for GW case competitions. He received his Ph.D., MBA, and BA from The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to GW, Professor Thurman held academic positions at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Northeastern University.
Much of Professor Thurman’s teaching has focused on the capstone strategic management course and helping students prepare for their careers after university study. He makes extensive use of case studies, which he believes to be the best way to increase student learning and prepare students for future business success.
He has served as the faculty director of GWSB’s student case competitions, including the GWU International MBA Case Competition, the GWU MBA case competition, and the Deloitte Consulting-sponsored Battle of The Beltway case competition. The Battle of the Beltway focused on identifying top university talent for Deloitte, and included participation by eight leading East Coast universities: American, George Washington, Georgetown, Howard, Princeton, Richmond, Wake Forest, and William & Mary. He was the GWU coach for MBA teams competing in International case competitions and his teams did very well, prompting GWU to institute a rule that the GWU team could not win its own competition in consecutive years.
Professor Thurman is the author of many case studies, including those focusing on the Greater Washington Urban League, The US Green Building Council, The United States Patent and Trademark Office, AARP, Share Our Strength, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, National Geographic, National Public Radio, and The American Red Cross. Professor Thurman has also consulted for many organizations. He has appeared on CNN and has been interviewed by various business publications.
LARRY L. FILLIAN, JR.
Larry Fillian has been helping international students achieve their educational goals for more than twenty years. He has served as an academic advisor for over a decade and employs evidence-based techniques to help students succeed in their academic plans, and to fully engage in their college experience.
He currently serves as Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the University of Maryland. In this role, Mr. Fillian manages the student experience at a top-ten ranked school. Prior to his tenure at the University of Maryland, Mr. Fillian served in a variety of student affairs, student success, and academic advising leadership roles at The New School in New York City, The University of Kansas, The George Washington University, and Georgetown University.
Mr. Fillian is a member of multiple international organizations designed to advance service to students, and is the co-author of a first-year book designed to help students transition to college. Mr. Fillian studied history as an undergraduate, and completed his graduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin.