James Phills

Jim Phills is Professor of Organizational Behavior (Teaching) at the Stanford Business School, Director of the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders, and Director of the Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship. His research focuses on innovation and learning at the group, organizational, and societal levels of analysis. Phills is the author of a number of publications on learning and change in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, including Integrating Mission and Strategy for Nonprofit Organization, which was published by Oxford University Press in 2005. Prior to moving to Stanford, he was on the faculty at the Yale School of Management where he received the Alumni Association Award for Excellence in teaching in 1995.

At Stanford, Professor Phills has taught courses on Critical Analytical Thinking, Managing Strategic Change, Strategic Leadership of Nonprofits, Social Innovation, and Interpersonal Dynamics. In addition to his research and teaching, Phills has consulted to a wide array of organizations for over 25 years. These projects range from facilitating strategic planning sessions for senior management teams to designing and delivering customized executive education programs. A partial list of his clients includes: American Electric Power, Dean & DeLuca, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, General Mills, Girl Scouts USA, Herman Miller Corporation, Hoffmann-La Roche, I-CO Global Communications, Kaiser Permanente, The Monitor Group, and the San Francisco Police Department. He is member of the Board of AARP Services Inc., InCellDx, Rubicon National Programs, and The Walker Home and School.

Phills is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, holds a Master's degree in Psychology and Social Relations from Harvard University, and received his PhD in Organizational Behavior from Harvard Business School and the departments of Psychology and Sociology.