Teresa Tanner, Reserve Squad Founder & CEO

“Every behavior we have is motivated by either fear or love — and productive fear we have to lean into to give energy and to exhibit love , and productive and healthy behaviors.”

Teresa Tanner is the Founder and CEO of Reserve Squad, an innovative talent platform that helps companies re-engage former employees — especially women — through flexible, project-based work. A nationally recognized leader in gender equity and workforce transformation, Teresa spent nearly three decades in corporate America, including a decade in the C-suite at Fifth Third Bank, where she served as Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer, and 18 years in operational and HR leadership roles at McDonald’s. Teresa currently serves on the boards of Ms.Medicine and Best Upon Request, and previously held board roles at Vectren. Throughout her career, Teresa has championed corporate cultures that support employees both at work and at home. At Reserve Squad, she’s reimagining how companies can retain skilled talent — particularly working mothers — by disrupting rigid full-time work models and offering “Reservist” opportunities for alumni to stay engaged, contribute meaningfully, and return when ready. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation with Teresa — full of wisdom, heart, and hard-earned insight — as we talk about leading with love over fear, holding your mission while staying open to reinvention, and why the workforce of the future will be driven by connection, not conformity.

This episode is hosted by P&G Alum Sudha Ranganathan, who’s spent over 19 years in diverse Marketing leadership roles at companies like P&G, PayPal, and LinkedIn where she’s honed her passion for customer-centric marketing and talent development.