James M. Kouzes
Jim Kouzes is an executive educator, professional speaker, and the coauthor with Barry Posner of the internationally award-winning and best-selling book, The Leadership Challenge, now in its 4th edition with over 2 million copies sold. Jim and Barry have co-authored over thirty other books, including The Truth About Leadership, Credibility, Encouraging the Heart, and A Leader’s Legacy, as well as the top-selling off-the-shelf leadership assessment in the world, the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI). In 2009 they were the recipients of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) 2009 Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance Award. The Wall Street Journal has named Jim as one of the ten best executive educators in the U.S., and he was presented the 2010 Thought Leader Award from the Instructional Systems Association. Others honors include the Golden Gavel, the highest honor awarded by Toastmasters International, and the Wilbur M. McFeely Award from the International Management Council. Jim served as president, then CEO and chairman of the Tom Peters Company from 1988 until 2000. Prior to his tenure at TPC he directed the Executive Development Center at Santa Clara University from 1981 through 1987, where was also the Dean's Executive Professor of Leadership until 2011. He also founded the Joint Center for Human Services Development at San Jose State University, which he directed from 1972 until 1980. His career in education began when he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Turkey from 1967-1969.
