Jan Rutherford

Leadership Development Expert & Former U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier; Founder of Self-Reliant Leadership; Author of "The Littlest Green Beret"

Denver, CO, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info
Author, Business Growth, Business Leadership, Corporate Culture, Disruptive Thinking, Executive Leadership, Human Resources, Leadership, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Podcast Host, Strategic Leadership, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Thought Leadership, Veterans
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Jan Rutherford Biography

Jan Rutherford is a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, executive coach, and keynote speaker whose experience as one of the military's youngest and smallest recruits informs his perspective on resilience and leadership development. Rutherford entered the military at age 17, weighing 114 pounds, earned the Army's Green Beret, and served three years as a medic, three years as an A-Team executive leader, and three years as a military intelligence officer. These formative experiences shaped his conviction that adversity, discipline, and self-reliance are essential components of effective leadership.

Rutherford founded Self-Reliant Leadership, a leadership development firm that provides executive workshops, custom programs, coaching, and wilderness expeditions. The organization focuses on helping executives and emerging leaders build resilience, self-reliance, and strategic thinking. His leadership philosophy draws from the discipline of Sparta, the self-awareness of Socrates, the courage of Aristotle, the self-reliance of Emerson, and the reflective seclusion of Thoreau. With more than 25 years of business experience, Rutherford has held executive roles in business development, marketing, sales, training, product management, and as a CEO.

Rutherford is the author of "The Littlest Green Beret: On Self-Reliant Leadership" and co-author of "Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader: How Grit and Disciplined Duty Forge Indomitable Teams." As a professional speaker, he presents self-reliant leadership principles to business leaders in the United States and Europe. Half the proceeds from his book are distributed to the Green Beret and Special Operations Warrior Foundations. "The Littlest Green Beret: On Self-Reliant Leadership" is included on the Heller Search recommended reading list for CIOs and IT professionals.

Rutherford was recognized as one of The Top 100 Leadership Speakers by Inc. and selected as a TEDx speaker for his talk, "Suffer Everything – Dare Everything: Why Difficulties Matter." For 15 years, he served as a senior instructor with the University of Colorado Denver Business School, teaching leadership to MBA students in the United States and Ireland. He is the co-host of "The Leadership Podcast" and has interviewed more than 400 thought leaders, including Simon Sinek, Dan Pink, and General Stanley McChrystal.

Rutherford's leadership development programs often include wilderness expeditions with executives and military veterans, providing opportunities for leaders to test their limits and develop confidence and capability. He serves as a Senior Advisory Council Member for the Colorado ESGR, a Department of Defense volunteer program, and as a mentor and advisory group member of the University of Colorado Denver Boots to Suits program. Through his work in leadership development, executive coaching, and wilderness expeditions, Rutherford emphasizes that grit, character, and self-reliance are defining traits of effective leaders.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/09/2026.

Jan Rutherford Speaking Topics

  • Crucibles of Leadership: Developing High-Performance Teams

    Leaders who personify grit have one thing in common

    • they’re backed by a team who share a common purpose and a trust to Get Stuff Done! If you’d like to see more Ownership, Accountability, and Alignment in your organization, then consider an inspiring keynote from Jan Rutherford to cultivate grit and amplify action.

    The desire to become leaders who are more self-aware, self-confident and self-reliant are why conference audiences around the world are drawn to Jan Rutherford’s message.

    Insights into what it takes to

    • Amplify personal responsibility and ownership by cultivating grit.
    • Conduct difficult and fierce conversations that result in greater collaboration and accountability
    • Boost team results by getting people to not only work with each other, but work for each other
    • Learn how slowing down to reflect actually speeds up organizational alignment and focus.

Jan Rutherford Videos

Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader With Jan Rutherford

Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader With Jan Rutherford

Jan Rutherford a former Green Beret business consultant and veteran leader has experienced a myriad of leadership styles throughout his ...

Being Right vs. Being Effective Choosing Your Battles Wisely

Being Right vs. Being Effective Choosing Your Battles Wisely

Dive into the nuanced difference between always being right and being effectively heard in the workplace with Jan Rutherford.

TEDx Suffer Everything - Dare Everything: Why Difficulties Matter

TEDx Suffer Everything - Dare Everything: Why Difficulties Matter

As a former Green Beret and successful business executive, Jan Rutherford knows the value of overcoming challenges to strengthen resilience. Jan’s...

See All Videos »

The Littlest Green Beret Self-Reliance Learned from Special Forces and Self Leadership Honed as a Business Executive
The Littlest Green Beret Self-Reliance Learned from Special Forces and Self Leadership Honed as a Business Executive
Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader: How Grit and Disciplined Duty Forge Indomitable Teams
Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader: How Grit and Disciplined Duty Forge Indomitable Teams
The Littlest Green Beret: On Self-Reliant Leadership
The Littlest Green Beret: On Self-Reliant Leadership

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  • What are the speaker fees for Jan Rutherford

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  • What topics does Jan Rutherford speak about?

    Jan Rutherford is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Business Growth, Business Leadership, Corporate Culture, Disruptive Thinking, Executive Leadership, Human Resources, Leadership, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Podcast Host, Strategic Leadership, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Thought Leadership, Veterans

  • Where does Jan Rutherford travel from?

    Jan Rutherford generally travels from Denver, CO, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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Jan Rutherford is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Crucibles of Leadership: Developing High-Performance Teams . The estimated speaking fee range to book Jan Rutherford for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Jan Rutherford generally travels from Denver, CO, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Patrick Lencioni, Libby Gill, Marc Koehler, Mohammad Anwar and Ed Hiner. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jan Rutherford for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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