Larry Senn

Dr. Larry Senn is recognized in the field of organizational leadership and is known as the Father of Corporate Culture by CEO Forum magazine. Senn began his career by co-founding a process improvement consulting firm, where he identified that the primary challenge in organizations was not deciding on change, but implementing it. He observed that companies, like individuals, possess distinct personalities, which can be either healthy or dysfunctional. This observation led him to pursue a doctorate at the University of Southern California, where his dissertation, "Organizational Character as a Tool in the Analysis of Business Organizations," became the first field study of corporate culture in the United States. The central finding of his research—that organizations reflect the character of their leaders—became the foundation for his subsequent work in corporate culture and leadership development.

Senn founded Senn Delaney with the mission to guide CEOs and senior executives in building high-performance teams and effective organizational cultures. Senn Delaney is recognized as a longstanding organizational culture-shaping firm and operates as the culture-shaping group within Heidrick Consulting. Throughout his career, Senn has led culture-shaping engagements for nearly 100 Fortune 500 CEOs, presidents of major universities, state governors, and members of U.S. presidential cabinets. His work spans industries including telecommunications, financial services, energy, and health care. Early in the firm's history, Senn and his business partner worked with Sam Walton during the formative years of Walmart, which reinforced his understanding of the impact of organizational culture on business performance.

In addition to his consulting work, Senn is an author in the areas of corporate culture, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. He co-authored "Winning Teams, Winning Cultures" and "21st Century Leadership," and has written extensively on the relationship between personal well-being and organizational performance. His book, "Up the Mood Elevator: Living Life at Your Best," presents a framework for understanding how emotional states influence thinking, relationships, and results. This concept has been incorporated into Senn Delaney's culture-shaping seminars, reaching participants globally. His follow-up book, "The Mood Elevator: Take Charge of Your Feelings, Become a Better You," further explores these ideas for a broad audience.

As a keynote speaker, Senn uses an audience participation experiential delivery method designed to engage attendees and provide practical takeaways. His presentations draw from decades of research and client experience, offering insights into leadership, organizational culture, and personal development. Senn's work continues to influence leaders and organizations seeking to build cultures that support both individual and organizational success.