William G. Castellano

William G. Castellano serves as Professor of Human Resource Management at Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR), where he directs the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing and acts as Executive Director of the NJ/NY Center for Employee Ownership. With over forty years of professional experience spanning corporate Fortune 50 companies, entrepreneurial ventures, and academic research, Castellano previously held senior HR management positions at Merrill Lynch and Manufacturers Hanover Trust before joining Rutgers.

His educational credentials include a Ph.D. in I.R.H.R. from Rutgers University. Castellano has held multiple leadership roles at Rutgers including former Associate Dean of External Engagement and Executive and Professional Education, and former Director of the Center for HR Strategy. He also serves on the board of the Global Equity Organization and has been instrumental in developing New Jersey's ESOP Assistance Program in partnership with the NJEDA.

Castellano's research centers on the impact of employee ownership and equity compensation strategies on individual and organizational outcomes, with particular focus on succession planning for business owners and wealth-building for employees. His expertise in strategic HR management, employee engagement, and effective human capital management has made him a sought-after expert in workforce trends, especially regarding remote work, hybrid models, and the future of work.

As an educator, he teaches graduate courses in HR Strategy, Managing the Global Workforce, and Economics and Demographics of Labor Markets, along with undergraduate courses in HR Management and workforce development. He also leads several executive certificate programs addressing contemporary HR challenges including digital transformation, equity compensation, and mergers and acquisitions.

• Executive Director, NJ/NY Center for Employee Ownership
• Director, Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing
• Board Member, Global Equity Organization
• Former Associate Dean of External Engagement
• Former Director, Center for HR Strategy

Castellano's work has gained national recognition, particularly through his leadership in launching the 'Shares Laboratory' in April 2023 - a first-of-its-kind research initiative tracking equity compensation trends across American workplaces. His insights have been featured in major publications including The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, CNN Business, The Associated Press, BBC, and Forbes, with recent focus on expanding employee ownership opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses.