Meet John
Empathy expert, professional historian, former rockstar, jiu-jitsu practitioner, husband and dad who never embarrasses his kids
I am a military history professor-turned-corporate strategist, armed with a PhD and a passion for unlocking the secrets of the past. As I ventured into business, I realized that my expertise in military history was the key to solving complex challenges across various functions - from strategy and operations to change management and innovation.
But there was one thread that bound them all together: empathy. It fascinated me how the power of empathy, buried within the annals of history, could shape the present and future of business. So I embarked on a mission to share this knowledge through captivating keynotes.
My book, Defend and Befriend, chronicles the greatest, yet unknown story of empathy in world history. It tracks a small group of U.S. Marines in the Vietnam War who leveraged the power of empathy to build a sustainable trust in the most unlikely of places. The marines, unbeknownst to them, actually laid the foundation for a unique empathy framework that companies today can use to build trust with customers and employees. After studying this group of marines for more than a decade, I have applied this empathy framework in the corporate world, which has yielded impressive business returns.
Fresh Perspective on Trust
I have spent my entire corporate career using the skills and knowledge from my military history Ph.D. to solve business problems. I provide a unique keynote experience that shows how you can leverage unique stories from history to build sustainable trust with your customers. The audience will leave my keynote with a fresh new perspective and approach, rooted in history, on how to build trust with customers.
The Marines playbook for empathy.
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I published a book on how a small group of U.S. Marines leveraged the power of empathy, in the middle of a war, to build sustainable trust in the most unlikely of places. The marines, unbeknownst to them, actually built the foundation for a business playbook on how to empathize and solidify trust with customers. After studying this group of marines for more than a decade, I have constantly applied their playbook for empathy in the corporate world, which has yielded impressive business returns.
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As I realized the connection between my history PhD and my business career, I wanted to share the empathy lessons with the rest of the world. Whether I am presenting in front of 10 people or 10,000, I am addicted to the excitement of transferring this knowledge to audiences. There is no better feeling than experiencing the “light bulb” moment when audiences make that connection between history and business. This is why I decided to give keynote presentations that combined my business experience with my passions for history and teaching.
With my history integration, I offer a unique perspective on business that you will not find anywhere else.
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When I am not preparing for or giving a keynote, I am hanging out with my wife, Rachel, and our two daughters, Charlee and Olive. You also might find me playing the guitar, working out, watching college football, or training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu wherever and whenever I can.
How John Can Help
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Speaking
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Workshops
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Books