Jim Detert

About Jim Detert

I believe systemic change starts with individual behavior and have therefore spent two decades developing science-based approaches to help people learn, practice, and master skills for succeeding in high-stress, emotionally-charged situations. My work centers on leadership, workplace courage, psychological safety, and ethics. My passion and expertise lie in helping people develop the courage and competence to speak up and lead change.I hold the John L. Colley Chaired Professorship at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. I\'ve spent 20+ years working at the intersection of academia and real-world leadership development. I’ve taught at Cornell, Penn State, and UVA. I also consult and lead executive education programs across sectors, including corporate, nonprofit, education, and government. Career Highlights and Expertise: Author of the book Choosing Courage: The Everyday Guide to Being Brave at Work (Harvard Business Review Press) Creator of unique non-degree leadership development programs (executive education, corporate custom programs), skill-development approaches (The SUCCESS Method), and specific tools (The Courage Ladder) Founder and Academic Director of the Experiential Leadership Development Lab at Darden School of Business Publish regularly in MIT Sloan Management Review (where I serve on the Advisory Board) and Harvard Business Review; have work commonly featured by NPR, Forbes, Thinkers50, Washington Post, etc. Recipient of multiple teaching and curriculum design awards for programs (MBA, Executive MBA) at Cornell and UVA Darden Recipient of multiple research awards for academic research published in leading management journals

Experience

1. Academic Advisor

   Higher Ambition Leadership Alliance

   Jan 2021 — Present

Education

• UMN Carlson School of Management

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Strategic Management and Organization

  1996

• Harvard Business School

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Organizational Behavior

  2003

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

  Bachelor’s Degree, Management

  1993

• Nanzan University

  Intensive Study of Japanese Language, Literature, and History

  1991 — 1991

• Harvard University

  Master’s Degree, Sociology

  2001

Skills

• Strategy
• Higher Education
• Program Management
• Strategic Planning
• Public Speaking
• Teaching
• Management
• Team Building
• Business Strategy
• Data Analysis
• Project Management
• Research
• Change Management
• Nonprofits
• Leadership
• Management Consulting