Emily Slusher
Emily Slusher is a dynamic Strategic Business Analyst and Project Leader with over a decade of experience driving process improvement, vendor management, and cross-functional collaboration across the military, hospitality, and corporate sectors. Currently serving as a Negotiator at Corpay Lodging (formerly CLC), she applies her analytical expertise and negotiation acumen to deliver efficient travel solutions, simplify operations, and cultivate trusted client partnerships.
An Army Veteran and former Broadcast Journalist, Emily brings clarity, composure, and bold communication to every role she takes on. By 23, she was leading soldiers in a war zone and managing high-stakes communications for military and state leaders; lessons in leadership that continue to shape her human-centered, results-driven approach today.
Throughout her career, Emily has managed $15M+ accounts, guided teams through enterprise-wide system implementations, and led organizational change with radical candor and strategic foresight. Known for her sharp instincts and humor under pressure, she thrives in complex environments where she can challenge assumptions, rebuild systems smarter, and foster genuine collaboration.
Beyond her professional work, Emily is passionate about building workplace cultures that are intentional, strategic, and deeply human. She shares insights on leadership, workflow design, and authenticity through her writing and thought leadership, inspiring others to rethink how work gets done. Driven by curiosity and guided by integrity, Emily continues to be a strong voice for innovation, empathy, and resilience in the fields of corporate travel, business analysis, and project leadership.
• Broadcast Journalism
• Columbia College Chicago- Bachelor's
• Veterans of Foreign Wars
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the guidance of many people, and also to myself. To the following mentors: Faron Clifford, Christa Kenefick, and Russell Ermeling, thank you for showing me what true leadership looks like. I have carried those lessons forward by mentoring peers, fostering teamwork, and leading with empathy, accountability, and resilience. To myself: For always fighting the good fight, for standing proud, using my voice, and inspiring others to do the same.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Once at a company townhall, I presented my CEO with a challenge. He had rented a machine that replicated milking a cow, and I asked him if he wanted to race; see who could fill up the cup first. We got about five second in, and he pulled his "teat" off the cow, his cup now full. He looked at me, smiled and said, "don't be afraid to take risks, or make a mess." It was a simple piece of advice that carries a complex understanding. I still think about it a decade later. It crosses my mind after making a hard decision or putting myself out there.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Use your voice, for silence defeats progress. Believe in yourself, you are the chisel and the rock. Challenge your leaders, stay true to your values, and don’t be afraid to leave the wrong environment in search of the right door.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
As a Corporate Travel Negotiator, who specializes in lodging, I am navigating a major transition as hotels shift from fixed corporate rates to dynamic, demand-based pricing. While this model challenges traditional budgeting and cost predictability for clients, I recognize its advantages; greater flexibility, real-time market alignment, and the potential for savings during low-demand periods. The real task is finding equilibrium by leveraging the efficiency and insight that AI-driven pricing offers while safeguarding the stability, transparency, and traveler confidence my organization depends on.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Resilience, teamwork, and integrity, are principles I learned both on the soccer field and in the Army, before I found myself in the business world. They molded my belief in building strong, adaptable teams and empowering others to rise through challenges. Resilience is the dynamic interplay of stress and reward systems; a physiological and psychological orchestration that can be trained, strengthened, and optimized. Teamwork chemistry is a real neurochemical feedback loop of trust, reward, stability, and shared focus, amplified by endorphins that keep morale high. Integrity is a house built on cognition, emotion, social trust, and reward systems. It strengthens principled behavior, making it sustainable and self-reinforcing.