Amy Sheehy’s passion for philanthropy runs deep. The recently retired engineer and Impact 100 board treasurer continues to work as a consultant, but now diverts her entire salary to charitable endeavors. “I knew that I wanted to lead or somehow support nonprofits after I retired,” Amy says.
Amy grew up in suburban Detroit, earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Northwestern University and landed a manufacturing role with Procter & Gamble. “I worked at P&G locations in Green Bay, WI, and Oxnard, CA, before relocating to Cincinnati in 2006,” Amy says. Amy and her husband raised three sons – now grown – in the Queen City.
With career sights firmly set on a future give-back professional life, Amy explored options. “I asked retired colleagues who had transitioned to volunteer nonprofit leadership or university adjunct roles: ‘How did you do that?’ They all suggested that I round out my experience with an MBA,” Amy says.
Amy completed an executive MBA program at The Ohio State University’s Fisher School of Business. The academic accomplishment was a strategic move – key to Amy’s post-retirement plans. She eventually left P&G and joined biotech startup Assurex Health (now Myriad Genetics). “I had already gained depth of experience in manufacturing, demand planning, forecasting, capacity planning and project management working for a large company, but I lacked breadth,” Amy says.
She continued working at Assurex after earning the MBA in 2015 until joining Signet Jewelers, a global diamond retailer in 2018. Amy worked at Signet until her “retirement” in December 2023 and launch of SEED Consulting Services.
As the Principal of SEED Consulting Services, Amy continues to serve Signet (and local nonprofit Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired) as a consultant; all earnings are redirected to a nonprofit venture. Recipients to date include: Back2Back Cincinnati, Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking and Samaritan Car Care Clinic. Amy desires to offer SEED’s professional services to additional businesses and grow contributions to the community.
Impact 100 provides an ideal conduit for Amy’s passion. Fellow member Becky Scheeler invited Amy to Giving Tuesday in 2022, and “I was hooked immediately…and signed up for everything I could!” She added: “It’s so rewarding to be part of such a sharp group of committed women who are very efficient at their volunteer work…it’s sometimes more organized and efficient than any job I’ve ever had!”