Gulsah Mattson
Gulsah Mattson is an Area President at Gallagher, where she leads P&L performance, service delivery, client retention, and business development across her region. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, she is known as a mission-driven and results-oriented leader who combines strategic execution with a strong focus on people, culture, and customer experience. Her leadership style is grounded in authenticity, accountability, and a clear sense of purpose, which she applies across both internal teams and external client partnerships.
Her career spans nearly two decades in health and benefits, consulting, and operations leadership. She began her journey in the United States in an entry-level call center role at Anthem, Inc. despite already holding an MBA from Dokuz Eylul University. Through consistent performance and leadership growth, she advanced through roles at organizations including USI Insurance Services and Mercer, ultimately stepping into executive leadership positions overseeing large teams, budgets, and complex client operations. Her background also includes early international experience in business and trade, which helped shape her analytical and global perspective.
Beyond her corporate leadership, Gulsah is deeply committed to community impact and professional development. She serves as a board member for HIRED and supports initiatives such as Dress for Success, while actively mentoring emerging female leaders. She is also the creator of the HR Thrive Awards, an initiative designed to recognize and elevate HR professionals and strengthen the broader HR community. Her work reflects a consistent focus on building organizations, developing people, and creating meaningful, long-term impact across both business and community settings.
• International Trade Skills
• Dokuz Eylul University - MBA
• HIRED (Board Member)
• Dress for Success
• Mentoring Emerging Female Professionals
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to staying grounded in my core values, setting clear goals, and executing well-structured plans rather than relying on chance. I am disciplined about understanding my numbers because I believe you can’t manage what you don’t measure, and this clarity helps guide every next step. At the same time, I remain flexible when unexpected challenges arise, adjusting as needed without losing momentum. Most importantly, I have stayed connected to my purpose—supporting the people I work with, serving customers well, and contributing meaningfully to my organization and community.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to stay focused on continuous growth while remaining adaptable to change—success comes from being intentional about your goals, but flexible enough to adjust when circumstances shift. Throughout my career, I’ve also been influenced by a range of professional relationships and personal experiences that have shaped my leadership style and resilience, even if I don’t point to a single specific mentor. These influences have helped me stay grounded, learn from others, and consistently evolve in how I lead and approach challenges.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to first be clear on your “why” and let that purpose guide your decisions and career path. Second, stay authentic—learn from mentors and role models, but don’t try to become someone else, because your own approach and strengths are what will set you apart. Third, be prepared to work hard and consistently put in the effort required to grow and succeed. Finally, build and leverage your network wisely, but understand that networking alone is not enough; strong performance and results must come first, and meaningful connections will help support and accelerate the progress you’ve already earned through your work.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is adapting to changing business needs while maintaining strong client relationships and operational efficiency. At the same time, this creates opportunities to innovate, expand initiatives like HR Thrive, and make a broader impact across the business and HR community.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My core values are my operating principles, which guide my decisions and keep me focused on my “why.” I value authenticity, strong relationships, and taking care of people, whether colleagues, clients, or community members. I am also committed to giving back through mentorship and initiatives that support and elevate others. In my personal life, I prioritize balance and self-care, finding renewal through nature, exercise, and outdoor activities.
Locations
Gallagher
Bloomington, MN 55431