Guru Profile
John P. Kotter
Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Leadership, Emeritus

John P. Kotter is internationally known and widely regarded as the foremost speaker on the topics of Leadership and Change. His is the premier voice on how the best organizations actually achieve successful transformations. The Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Leadership, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School and a graduate of MIT and Harvard, Kotter’s vast experience and knowledge on successful change and leadership have been proven time and again. Most recently Kotter was involved in the creation and co-founding of Kotter International, a leadership organization that helps Global 5000 company leaders develop the practical skills and implementation methodologies required to lead change in a complex, large-scale business environment.

Kotter has authored 18 books, twelve of them bestsellers. His works have been printed in over 150 foreign language editions and total sales exceed three million copies. His latest book, Buy-In, focuses on the problems associated with getting others engaged and committed to good ideas and provides solutions for dealing with attacks on your good ideas. His books are in the top 1% of sales on Amazon.com.

John Kotter’s articles in The Harvard Business Review over the past twenty years have sold more reprints than any of the hundreds of distinguished authors who have written for that publication during the same time period. Kotter has been on the Harvard Business School faculty since 1972. In 1980, at the age of 33, he was given tenure and a full professorship, making him one of the youngest people in the history of the University to be so honored.

Professor Kotter is the 2009 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by ASTD (American Society for Training & Development). This award was presented in recognition of his extensive body of work and the significant impact he has had on learning and performance in organizations.