Jim Kouzes

Bestselling Author & Leadership Scholar; Fellow of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University; Former Dean’s Executive Fellow of Leadership at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University

Orinda, CA, USA
Live Event: $30,000 - $50,000 Virtual Event: $10,000 - $20,000 More Fee Info
Author, Business, Business Leadership, Corporate Culture, Ethics & Integrity, Executive Leadership, Family & Parenting, Human Resources, Leadership
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Jim Kouzes Biography

Jim Kouzes is a bestselling author, an award-winning speaker and, according to the Wall Street Journal, one of the ten best executive educators in the United States. Kouzes has been thinking about leadership ever since he was one of only a dozen Eagle Scouts selected to serve in John F. Kennedy’s honor guard when Kennedy was inaugurated President of the United States. Kennedy’s inaugural call to action, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,” inspired Kouzes to join the Peace Corps, and he taught school in Turkey for two years. That experience made him realize that he wanted a career that offered two things: the chance to teach and the opportunity to serve. It was in his first job back in the U.S., where Kouzes trained Community Action Agency managers, that he found his calling. Kouzes has devoted his life to leadership development ever since.

Kouzes is the Dean’s Executive Fellow of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, and he lectures on leadership around the world to corporations, governments, educational institutions, and nonprofits. His professional speaking and executive development focus on the original research he and coauthor, Barry Posner, have conducted. They are best known for their seminal work, "The Leadership Challenge," first published in 1987. Now in its seventh edition, "The Leadership Challenge" has sold over 2.5 million copies and has received numerous awards, including selection as one of the 100 best business books of all time by 800-CEO-READ. Kouzes has coauthored over thirty other publications, including "Credibility," "The Student Leadership Challenge," "The Truth About Leadership," "Making Extraordinary Things Happen in Asia," "Encouraging the Heart," "A Leader’s Legacy," "Learning Leadership," and "Stop Selling & Start Leading" (with Deb Calvert). Over 700 academic studies have been based on their model, The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®.

Kouzes also co-developed the widely used and highly acclaimed Leadership Practices Inventory® (LPI), a 360-degree questionnaire assessing leader behavior. Over 500,000 leaders and 3 million observers have completed the LPI. It has been called "the most reliable, up-to-date leadership instrument available today."

Kouzes is the recipient of the Thought Leadership Award from the Instructional Systems Association, listed as one of HR Magazine’s Most Influential International Thinkers, named one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior by Trust Across America and honored as one of its Lifetime Achievement recipients, selected by the Association of Corporate Executive Coaches as an International Executive Coach Thought Leader of Distinction, and presented with the Golden Gavel by Toastmasters International. He and his coauthor are also the recipients of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance Award. He serves on the advisory boards of the School of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Positive Coaching Alliance, Executive Development Associates, and InnerWill.

In addition to his research and writing, Kouzes is an experienced executive. He served as president, then CEO and chairman of the Tom Peters Company (TPC) from 1988 until 2000. Prior to his tenure at TPC he directed the Executive Development Center at Santa Clara University from 1981 through 1987. He also founded the Joint Center for Human Services Development at San Jose State University, which he directed from 1972 until 1980.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/13/2026.

Jim Kouzes Speaking Topics

  • The Truth About Leadership: The No-Fads, Heart-of-the- Matter Facts You Need to Know

    Based on thirty years of original research, Jim Kouzes explores the fundamental, enduring truths about leadership that hold constant regardless of context or circumstance. These time-tested truths reveal what leaders must know and the questions they must be prepared to answer if they are going to have a sustainable impact on their constituents and organizations. In this session, you’ll learn what the ten truths are and how you can apply them to your work as a leader.

  • The Leadership Challenge: The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®

    Since 1983, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner have been researching leadership. They’ve examined real-life cases and analyzed 360-degree assessments from hundreds of thousands of leaders and over two million observers. From their analyses of the data they’ve found that there are Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® that leaders demonstrate when performing at their best. Exemplary leaders Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. In this session, you will learn what leaders actually do to exhibit these practices and how you can apply them to your daily work.

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Jim Kouzes Videos

Jim Kouzes - P3 with Preston Poore

Jim Kouzes - P3 with Preston Poore

Why Leadership is Hard and How to Win at It

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The Radical Promise: Mastering The Art of Doing What You Say You Will Do
The Radical Promise: Mastering The Art of Doing What You Say You Will Do
The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations
The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations
The Truth about Leadership: The No-fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts You Need to Know
The Truth about Leadership: The No-fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts You Need to Know
The Student Leadership Challenge: Five Practices for Exemplary Leaders
The Student Leadership Challenge: Five Practices for Exemplary Leaders

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  • What are the speaker fees for Jim Kouzes

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  • What topics does Jim Kouzes speak about?

    Jim Kouzes is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Business, Business Leadership, Corporate Culture, Ethics & Integrity, Executive Leadership, Family & Parenting, Human Resources, Leadership

  • Where does Jim Kouzes travel from?

    Jim Kouzes generally travels from Orinda, CA, 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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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Jim Kouzes for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jim Kouzes for your next private or corporate function.

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Jim Kouzes is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The Truth About Leadership: The No-Fads, Heart-of-the- Matter Facts You Need to Know, The Leadership Challenge: The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®, The Credible Leader: How to Strengthen and Sustain Authenticity and Integrity, Encouraging the Heart: A Guide to Rewarding and Recognizing Others, Leadership is Everyone's Business and A Leader's Legacy: Affirming the Difference You Want to Make in the World. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jim Kouzes for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Jim Kouzes generally travels from Orinda, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Nitin Nohria, Patrick Lencioni, Joseph Grenny, Adrian Gostick and Rolfe Carawan. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jim Kouzes for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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