John Hildebrand

About John Hildebrand

I help people leaders in mission-driven organizations move through change and disruption with the clarity and confidence that comes from finally having a trusted thought partner in their corner. I work with CHROs, CPOs, and VPs of People and Culture at nonprofits, NGOs, and mission-driven institutions. My clients are excellent at their work and care deeply about their people and the mission. What they\'re missing is someone in their corner who will be honest with them, help them more clearly see what they already have, and stay with them through the hard parts. My approach is rooted in Appreciative Inquiry and strengths-based practice. We don\'t start with what\'s broken. We start with what\'s working and build from there. I work with leaders through 1:1 coaching engagements, team and organization-wide facilitation, and clarity mapping sessions for those who need a clear path before they\'re ready to commit to something longer. I also teach at Rockhurst University\'s Helzberg School of Management and host Rethinking Change, a LinkedIn Live series exploring how people leaders navigate organizational disruption. If you\'re a senior people leader at a nonprofit, NGO, or mission-driven institution, I want to know what you\'re navigating. Send me a message or schedule a Discovery Call through my website.

Experience

1. Adjunct Professor

   Rockhurst University

   Jan 2026 — Present · Kansas City, MO, US

   Develop and instruct leadership development courses for undergraduate, EMBA, and certificate programs.

Education

• Universidad de Costa Rica UCR

  Study Abroad Semester, Spanish

  2008 — 2008

• Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University

  Master of Science - MS, Positive Organization Development and Change

• University of Oklahoma

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), International/Global Studies

  2005 — 2009