Nick Tatum
Meet Nick
Nick Tatum is a Senior Learning Designer at McChrystal Group, where he designs leadership development experiences and learning strategies for enterprise clients. He holds a PhD in Communication and a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Communication from the University of Kentucky. Drawing on his background in curriculum design and adult learning, he creates workshops and scalable programs that help leaders strengthen communication, decision-making, collaboration, and team effectiveness. His approach combines thoughtful design, meaningful relationships, and practical application so learning translates into lasting impact.
What did you do before joining McChrystal Group?
Before joining McChrystal Group, Nick spent nearly a decade as a professor, teaching courses in public speaking, communication, learning theory, and statistics. He authored a textbook and published more than 50 scholarly publications focused on adult learning and instructional communication. He also delivered more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences.
In higher education, Nick served in administrative roles focused on assessment, curriculum development, program improvement, and educational effectiveness. These experiences strengthened his ability to lead complex initiatives, collaborate across stakeholder groups, and design learning experiences around meaningful outcomes.
Why did you join McChrystal Group?
Nick joined McChrystal Group because of its innovative, proven approach to building effective teams and its uniquely human-centered consulting process. He was also drawn to the opportunity to work in an exceptionally collaborative environment alongside talented teammates who care deeply about performance, trust, and purpose. The chance to translate research-backed insights into strategic, high-impact learning experiences made McChrystal Group a particularly compelling fit.
What is a hidden talent of yours?
Outside of learning design, I have a background in music and singing. I have served as a professional voice coach, vocal arranger, and vocal director at the collegiate level.
B.A., Abilene Christian University
M.A., Abilene Christian University
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
