Lisa Schumacher

Lisa Schumacher is the Director of Education Strategies and Workforce Policy at McDonald’s Corporation, with over 25 years of experience in organizational learning and development. She leads McDonald’s workforce development initiatives focused on expanding access to education and creating non-traditional career pathways—both within the McDonald’s system and across other industries. Lisa created and leads the execution of Archways to Opportunity, McDonald’s education strategy that enables restaurant employees to learn English, earn a high school diploma, pursue a college degree, and receive personalized education and career advising. She is a frequent speaker at national conferences and industry events, sharing insights on workforce development, corporate education strategy, and innovative learning models. Prior to joining McDonald’s, Lisa served as Director of Workforce Chicago at the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), where she collaborated with Chicago-area CEOs to lead a business-driven initiative focused on best practices in workplace learning. Earlier, she was Director of the Learning Academy at The University of Chicago Hospitals. Lisa contributes to the field through her roles on CAEL’s Advisory Board and Jobs for the Future’s Corporate Innovation Council. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from Purdue University.