Justin Lawhead

Founder & Principal Consultant, Career Pathway Strategies Group

Justin Lawhead is the founder of Career Pathway Strategies Group, a firm dedicated to transforming how individuals navigate their professional journeys and how organizations develop talent ecosystems. With a mission to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity, Justin brings extensive experience in workforce development, strategic leadership, and policy implementation that directly supports the company's purpose of connecting today's workforce challenges with tomorrow's opportunities.

With 20+ years in higher education leadership, Justin brings deep expertise in creating pathways that connect talent with opportunity. As Dean of Students and Associate Vice President at the University of Memphis, led Career Services and numerous workforce development initiatives, including a Quality Enhancement Plan that created experiential learning pathways for 5,000+ students. His innovations in mentoring programs, employment processes, and standardized career resources demonstrate his ability to transform aspirations into achievable career goals. Justin has built strategic partnerships with major employers and community organizations like New Memphis Institute.

As a thought leader in the field, Justin has delivered keynote presentations at events like the 2024 Tennessee SHRM Conference on "Creative Workforce Development" and authored publications on leadership assessment and innovative partnership models. His data-driven approach is evident in his implementation of assessment dashboards and career readiness tools that ensure alignment with workforce needs.

Through Career Pathway Strategies Group, Justin fulfills the company's core purpose by designing customized talent frameworks and leadership programs that empower individuals while helping organizations build sustainable talent ecosystems for future success mobility for all stakeholders in the talent development continuum.