Mari-Anne Kehler

Mari-Anne Kehler, CDP, serves on GHJ’s Executive Committee and leads the firm’s business strategy, overseeing business development, marketing and brand. She also serves as Strategist for the GHJ Foundation, the Firm’s platform for community-focused giving and social impact.

Mari-Anne brings more than 30 years of experience helping organizations grow with purpose. Known for her ability to translate vision into action, she draws on deep expertise in strategic planning, collaboration, innovation and executive coaching. Her work spans professional services, finance, consumer brands, and the media and entertainment industries.

A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), Mari-Anne is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP), credentialed by the National Diversity Council through Emory University. She integrates inclusive leadership into every facet of her work, driving not only growth but belonging and long-term impact.

She has been recognized by industry peers and media outlets for her leadership and contributions. The Los Angeles Times named her a Visionary Honoree in its DEIA Magazine. She was a finalist for the Inspirational Women in Business Awards, a two-time nominee for the Los Angeles Business Journal Women’s Leadership Awards and a recipient of LABJ’s Most Influential Marketer recognition. She was also honored with the CMO Club’s CMO Transformation Award for leading firmwide brand evolution beyond the marketing department.

Before joining GHJ in 2015, Mari-Anne held senior roles at global organizations. At a Big Four firm, she served as a national Managing Director, overseeing National Tax and Pacific Southwest marketing and business development and earning accolades as a top-rated facilitator at the Firm’s global training program. She also led West Coast marketing for a Nestlé division, began her career on Wall Street at Morgan Stanley, and held strategic leadership roles at Bertelsmann Entertainment and Grey Direct.

Mari-Anne’s nonprofit work centers on leadership development, strategic advising and advocacy. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards supporting children, education and the disability community, and currently serves on the Board of the Autism Society of Los Angeles. For over two decades, she has mentored families and professionals navigating the transition to adulthood for individuals with disabilities; work deeply informed by her lived experience as the mother of an adult son with autism.

She is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree with a focus on spiritual caregiving. Her studies enrich her approach to leadership by deepening her understanding of how people find meaning, healing, and connection in the face of change and challenge.

Mari-Anne is a frequent speaker at universities and conferences on inclusive leadership, disability advocacy, brand strategy and sustainable business growth. Her first book, Putting the Profit in Nonprofit, was a #1 e-book bestseller on Amazon. Her second book, The Art of Growing Your Business: A Comprehensive Guide for Professional Services Firms, is set for publication in 2026 and offers a practical roadmap for sustainable growth, client-centric strategy and purpose-driven leadership within the professional services industry.