Leading By Example

Meet Sean Kelley, a catalyst, dreamer, and connector. He brings a wealth of experience from his roles as a former executive at Amazon and Microsoft, where he pioneered inclusive talent strategies and military veteran transition programs. As a cross-functional global leader, he enhances Nexus’ consultative offerings across various verticals, including technology, consumer products, financial services, private equity, venture capital, and life sciences.

In addition to his role as a senior partner, Sean serves as an active angel investor and advisor for bioscience and human resources tech/talent start-ups led by diverse founders through his advisory firm, Sage&Sea Ventures. His dedication to underrepresented populations is evident in his advisory roles at the National Center for Women in Technology and his role as co-founder and executive director of Duke University’s Veteran Transitions Research Lab.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a distinguished Navy veteran, Sean played a pivotal role in spearheading military affairs strategies for both Microsoft and Amazon, establishing them as global industry leaders. His success at Microsoft, including leading talent acquisition and spearheading the Microsoft Software & Systems Academy, paved the way for his role as talent acquisition director at Amazon.

Apart from his military background, Sean holds a BS in economics from the Naval Academy and an MS in global leadership from the University of San Diego. His commitment to mentorship, collaboration, and inclusive excellence is evident in his roles as a start-up advisor with Sage&Sea Ventures and a national trustee of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.

Sean sees his role at Nexus as an opportunity to align his life’s work with the firm’s mission of creating opportunities for diverse leaders at the executive level. In addition to his position at Nexus, he will continue his roles with Duke University’s Veteran Transitions Research Lab and Sage&Sea Ventures, actively contributing to the advancement of inclusive leadership and opening doors to opportunities for veterans, their families, and diverse leaders.