James Killian

James H. Killian, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized expert on the topics of talent assessment, leadership development, organizational culture, employee experience (EX) and customer experience (CX). He has served as a strategic growth and global revenue leader for over 25 years in high-impact roles at industry leading firms such as Qualtrics, SAP, IBM and Hogan Assessment Systems. James has also led several startups and turnaround assignments to record growth and helped achieve 1 IPO and 5 business acquisitions at multiples.

As founder of The Customer-Driven Leader© management framework, and author of the upcoming book “Obsessed: Cultivating the Customer-Driven Leader,” Dr. Killian’s focus is on organizational health through leadership activation. His proprietary methodology focuses on core leadership teams, measuring and improving how they work together toward achieving business imperatives. From this assessment, he works with clients to expose gaps related to leadership, culture and team dynamics, allow for interventions and leader accountabilities toward factors such as people, systems, technologies, process and workflow in order to remove friction and derailing behaviors that impede businesses from exceeding their potential.

Throughout his career, James has advised leaders of the world’s best-known brands such as Amazon, Apple, Disney, Expedia Group, L-Brands, Meta, Netflix, Nike, Starbucks and Visa to diagnose and improve EX and CX programs, talent management and leadership development programs that lead to measurable, impactful and long-last business outcomes. Dr. Killian is professor practice in the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, and the author of over 50 published articles, conference presentations and book chapters. He also serves as Managing Partner and strategic advisor for several AI-powered startups and professional services firms. James is passionate about serving as a force multiplier to help leaders, teams, and businesses reach potential they never thought was possible. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a serious fitness fanatic, foodie and outdoor enthusiast.