CQ’s Story
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
– Paulo Coelho
These are the words that inspired the genesis of CQ Associates.
CQ Associates emerged from a shared desire to leverage professional experience, leadership skills and knowledge with a commitment to driving positive change in the world. After a combined 31 years in Corporate America, in addition to other diverse life experiences, we were in search of something more. That something turned out to be CQ Associates.
The prism of our leadership experience affirmed the positive correlation between culture and performance. Understanding that a positive and conscientious culture drives a competitive and successful organization was core to our experience, not to mention empirically validated in research literature.
We began to think about an effective and meaningful way to “measure” organizational culture. We named this measurement Culture Quotient, or CQ, and developed a proprietary process to measure the CQ of an organization. Embedded in the process is a concept that we call cultural alchemy—an approach that combines art, science and a belief that transformation is possible.
CQ Associates strives to drive performance through understanding and improving cultures, ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals, groups, organizations, and beyond. We are ambitious, experienced, and committed, and most importantly, we endeavor to drive positive change in the world, one culture at a time. Will you join us?
~Carrie and Cory
Our Team
Cory Carlesimo
Co-Founder
Carrie Shumway
Co-Founder
Carrie Shumway
Co-Founder
Carrie's Story
I am a student athlete at heart. I learned experientially the importance of group dynamic, grit, mindset and leadership skills on the fields and courts of my youth. As a psychology major and Division I two-sport scholar athlete, I watched and experienced the power of positive and negative cultures and its impact on performance. I established lifelong bonds of sisterhood through sharing a common goal with my teammates—and getting after that goal.
After college, I took my competitive spirit, work ethic, and curious mind to New York City to begin my financial career in institutional sales and trading at Merrill Lynch and Knight Securities. Here, I navigated a male dominated culture and gained a deep appreciation for the importance of leadership’s role in creating a high integrity, inclusive workplace. By my 30s, the arc of my professional experiences merged with my commitment as a mother and community leader. I cultivated my creative passion by studying at Parson’s School of Interior Design. I served on a board of a non-profit organization and held a leadership role in restructuring their governance. Later, I earned my Master’s in Psychology with an academic interest in deep listening as a therapeutic tool and opportunity for transformation.
My professional stance includes a commitment to being present and thinking critically, a strong passion for establishing and deepening connections and a disciplined approach to listening. My ambition is to facilitate positive change in this evolving, complex world.
Certified as a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher through Jack Kornfield’s and Tara Brach's Two-Year Professional Training Program offered by SoundsTrue & University of California at Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center (Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program or MMTCP). Trained as a Council facilitator through Center for Council and Council Heart. Experienced in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology in Education, Columbia University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Harvard University, cum laude.
Cory Carlesimo
Co-Founder
Cory's Story
I will never forget my father’s deep, cavernous voice speaking the words: “Who do you want to be?” In those moments of forced introspection, he was usually exasperated with something that I had done. My dad was a college coach, athletic director, and motivational speaker. He had a unique ability to inspire others and his legacy serves as an inspiration for CQ Associates. Here at CQ, we are focused on driving performance through optimizing culture and strengthening organizational connections.
Armed with a Philosophy degree, I took my competitive spirit and leadership aspirations to pursue a career on Wall Street. Over the next 24 years, I served in various leadership roles that demanded an entrepreneurial mindset and passion to succeed. I embraced the growth and learning that came with the successes and failures of these volatile times. I was fortunate to be tasked with building and managing disparate and complex businesses at Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and Susquehanna International Group. The importance of a positive culture emerged as the single greatest determinant of realizing our potential and effectively navigating these years. Eventually, I found myself searching for something more. I began to think about how I could leverage my leadership experience to broadly impact positive cultural change. My trajectory shifted, and the seed for CQ Associates was planted.
Leadership is a privilege and a great responsibility. As a leader, you are in a unique position to drive the culture of your organization. We are living in polarizing and complex times. And yet, I am hopeful. I believe in CQ’s ability to optimize performance and make a positive impact. I am inspired by the opportunity to help clients optimize their culture, to drive performance and to create a ripple effect of positivity, one culture at a time.
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy , Fordham University
Cory's Story
I will never forget my father’s deep, cavernous voice speaking the words: “Who do you want to be?” In those moments of forced introspection, he was usually exasperated with something that I had done. My dad was a college coach, athletic director, and motivational speaker. He had a unique ability to inspire others and his legacy serves as an inspiration for CQ Associates. Here at CQ, we are focused on driving performance through optimizing culture and strengthening organizational connections.
Armed with a Philosophy degree, I took my competitive spirit and leadership aspirations to pursue a career on Wall Street. Over the next 24 years, I served in various leadership roles that demanded an entrepreneurial mindset and passion to succeed. I embraced the growth and learning that came with the successes and failures of these volatile times. I was fortunate to be tasked with building and managing disparate and complex businesses at Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and Susquehanna International Group. The importance of a positive culture emerged as the single greatest determinant of realizing our potential and effectively navigating these years. Eventually, I found myself searching for something more. I began to think about how I could leverage my leadership experience to broadly impact positive cultural change. My trajectory shifted, and the seed for CQ Associates was planted.
Leadership is a privilege and a great responsibility. As a leader, you are in a unique position to drive the culture of your organization. We are living in polarizing and complex times. And yet, I am hopeful. I believe in CQ’s ability to optimize performance and make a positive impact. I am inspired by the opportunity to help clients optimize their culture, to drive performance and to create a ripple effect of positivity, one culture at a time.
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy , Fordham University.
Carrie's Story
I am a student athlete at heart. I learned experientially the importance of group dynamic, grit, mindset and leadership skills on the fields and courts of my youth. As a psychology major and Division I two-sport scholar athlete, I watched and experienced the power of positive and negative cultures and its impact on performance. I established lifelong bonds of sisterhood through sharing a common goal with my teammates—and getting after that goal.
After college, I took my competitive spirit, work ethic, and curious mind to New York City to begin my financial career in institutional sales and trading at Merrill Lynch and Knight Securities. Here, I navigated a male dominated culture and gained a deep appreciation for the importance of leadership’s role in creating a high integrity, inclusive workplace. By my 30s, the arc of my professional experiences merged with my commitment as a mother and community leader. I cultivated my creative passion by studying at Parson’s School of Interior Design. I served on a board of a non-profit organization and held a leadership role in restructuring their governance. Later, I earned my Master’s in Psychology with an academic interest in deep listening as a therapeutic tool and opportunity for transformation.
My professional stance includes a commitment to being present and thinking critically, a strong passion for establishing and deepening connections and a disciplined approach to listening. My ambition is to facilitate positive change in this evolving, complex world.
Certified as a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher through Jack Kornfield’s and Tara Brach's Two-Year Professional Training Program offered by SoundsTrue & University of California at Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center (Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program or MMTCP). Trained as a Council facilitator through Center for Council and Council Heart. Experienced in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology in Education, Columbia University.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Harvard University, cum laude.
Will You Join Us?
