James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner are award winning authors of bestselling The Leadership Challenge, which has sold over 1.8 million copies and have published seventeen books and over 50 training products published by Jossey-Bass and Pfeiffer. They are THE premier leadership experts working today. Both live in the San Francisco Bay area.

James M. Kouzes is the Dean’s Executive Professor of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University. A highly regarded leadership scholar and experienced executive, The Wall Street Journal has named Jim as one of the ten best executive educators in the U.S. In 2010 he was presented the Thought Leader Award by the Instructional Systems Association, and in 2006 he received the Golden Gavel, the highest honor awarded by Toastmasters International. Along with Barry Posner, Jim received the 2009 Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance Award from the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). Jim served as president, then CEO and chairman of the Tom Peters Company (1988-2000), and prior to that directed the Executive Development Center at Santa Clara University (1981-1987). He also founded and directed the Joint Center for Human Services Development at San Jose State University (1972-1980).

Barry Z. Posner, PhD is a Professor of Leadership at the Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University (located in the heart of Silicon Valley), where he served for 12 years as Dean of the School. At Santa Clara, he has received the President's Distinguished Faculty Award, the School's Extraordinary Faculty Award, and several other outstanding teaching and leadership honors. Barry is an internationally renowned scholar who has published more than 85 research and practitioner-oriented articles and he is currently on the editorial review boards of the International Journal of Servant-Leadership, Leadership and Organizational Development, and Leadership Review. Barry also serves on the Board of Directors for EMQ Family First. Barry has made presentations and conducted workshops across the U.S., and around the globe, from Canada, Mexico and Europe to the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.