Ira Bedzow

Ira Bedzow, PhD is a leading voice on purpose-driven leadership, ethical decision-making, and the role of values in shaping lives, organizations, and society. As the Executive Director of the Emory Purpose Project at Emory University, he helps students—and audiences of all kinds—reflect on meaning, align their choices with their core values, and live with greater intentionality.

A sought-after speaker, Dr. Bedzow brings a unique perspective that bridges higher education, healthcare, business and organizational culture, and moral leadership. He is an Associate Professor in the Practice of Organization & Management at Goizueta Business School, an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Emory School of Medicine, and a core faculty member at Emory’s Center for Ethics. He also serves as a Senior Fellow in the Center for the Study of Law and Religion and leads the International Chair in Bioethics at Emory.

This combination of experience makes him especially valuable to companies and organizations seeking to foster values-driven workplaces, navigate ethical complexity, and build resilient cultures of purpose.

His work focuses on how individuals and institutions can cultivate ethical cultures, especially in the face of complexity. Whether unpacking the ethical implications of biotechnology and healthcare policy or helping leaders move from asking “What should I do?” to “How can I act on my values effectively?”, he offers practical insights grounded in deep philosophical thought.

Dr. Bedzow is also a Senior Scholar at the Aspen Center for Social Values, co-director of the Ferencz Institute for Ethics, Human Rights and the Holocaust, and a regular contributor to Forbes. He brings the depth of a philosopher, the clarity of a communicator, and the heart of a teacher—and, as an Orthodox rabbi, he speaks fluently across traditions, sectors, and audiences.