Dawn O’Shaughnessy leads Lockton’s Connecticut People Solutions Practice, overseeing the statewide consulting team and serving on the Lockton Northeast Executive Operating Committee.
She works with employers on health care cost management, employee benefit strategy and workforce-related initiatives. She also serves on the Women in Lockton Steering Committee and mentors employees within the organization.
Prior to joining Lockton, she spent 25 years at Mercer, where she led the Hartford health and benefits team. During her career, she has advised employers, including Northeast health systems, on workforce and health benefit strategies.
What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far?
I’m most proud of building highperforming teams — developing 50-plus consultants, improving client outcomes and delivering strategies that reduce medical trend by two to four points, cut pharmacy spend by up to 15% and boost engagement by 20%. That foundation enables me to lead Lockton’s fastgrowing Connecticut People Solutions Practice and expand our regional impact.
What’s the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally?
In my role as Connecticut People Solutions Practice Leader at Lockton, my next goal is to grow our practice into the Northeast’s most trusted, innovative consulting partner by expanding client impact, developing exceptional talent and delivering people risk strategies that set a new industry standard.
What’s one of the biggest professional challenges you’ve overcome?
Balancing motherhood as a mom of four teenage boys while leading a high-performing consulting practice has been one of my biggest challenges.
Managing a growing team, driving client strategy and stepping into major leadership roles while raising my family has strengthened my resilience, clarified my boundaries and reshaped my definition of success.
How are you involved in the community?
I’m committed to giving back to my community. I have been a long-time teacher of Faith Formation at St. Peter Claver Church and have volunteered for years at Northwest Catholic High School, serving on several Safe Grad committees. Supporting my parish and local schools is deeply meaningful to me.