Mohanbir Sawhney
AI & Innovation Authority | Kellogg Professor & Author of Return on AI | Pioneer in AI Executive Education | 35,000+ Executives Trained
Sydney Finkelstein
Steven Roth Professor of Management, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth | Bestselling Author of Superbosses & Why Smart Executives Fail | Authority on Leadership & Talent | Thinkers50-Ranked
Sydney Finkelstein is one of the world's leading authorities on leadership and talent, and the Dartmouth professor who identified the "superboss." A bestselling author of Superbosses and Why Smart Executives Fail and a Thinkers50-ranked thinker, he advises senior executives worldwide. On stage, he reveals with clarity and wit what the very best leaders do differently, and how any leader can master the flow of talent.
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Sydney Finkelstein biography
Sydney Finkelstein is one of the world’s leading authorities on leadership, talent, and why great bosses matter more than almost anything else in business. A bestselling author, Dartmouth professor, and adviser to senior executives worldwide, he is best known for identifying the “superboss”, the rare kind of leader who consistently produces extraordinary talent, and for decoding exactly how they do it.
Leadership speaker Sydney Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, where he also serves as Faculty Director of both the Tuck Executive Program and the Center for Leadership. His bestseller Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent, the product of a decade of research, was hailed by LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman as “the leadership guide for the Networked Age.” In it, he shows how iconic leaders as varied as Ralph Lauren, Alice Waters, and Lorne Michaels all shared a genius for spawning the best talent in their industries, and distills their approach into lessons any leader can use.
From Why Smart Executives Fail to the Superboss
Finkelstein first drew wide attention with Why Smart Executives Fail, a landmark study of the root causes of major business mistakes and the early warning signs that precede them. Across more than 25 books and some 100 articles, a body of work that has made him a Fellow of the Academy of Management and earned awards from McKinsey and A.T. Kearney, he has returned again and again to a central theme: that the best leaders behave like teachers, meeting their people regularly to pass on lessons in craft, professionalism, and life. A “top instructor” on Coursera, where his Strategic Leadership courses reach a global audience, and host of The Sydcast podcast, he has been ranked repeatedly among the Thinkers50 most influential management thinkers. He holds a PhD from Columbia University and degrees from the London School of Economics and Concordia University.
As a speaker, Sydney Finkelstein tailors every talk to his audience and delivers research-backed insight with clarity and wit. He speaks on becoming a superboss and mastering the flow of talent, leadership as teaching, why smart leaders make bad decisions and how to avoid them, and developing the next generation of talent. Audiences leave with a clear, practical understanding of what the very best leaders do differently, and how to put it to work in their own organizations.
Sydney Finkelstein Speaking Videos
Think Again: Why Good Leaders Make Bad Decisions and How to Keep it from Happening to You
Superbosses | Sidney Finkelstein | Talks at Google
Sydney Finkelstein Keynote Topics
Drawing on a decade of research, Finkelstein reveals the secret of "superbosses", leaders across industries who consistently produce extraordinary talent. He shows what they do differently in how they hire, inspire, and develop people, and gives audiences a practical playbook for becoming the kind of boss whose team members go on to remarkable success.
Based on his landmark study, Finkelstein examines why talented, experienced leaders and companies make catastrophic mistakes, and how to see them coming. He identifies the recurring patterns and early warning signs behind major business failures, giving leaders and investors a framework for spotting trouble early and building organizations that learn from mistakes rather than repeat them.
Finkelstein's research shows that the best leaders behave like teachers, meeting regularly with their people to pass on lessons in craft, professionalism, and life. In this talk he makes the case for the "teacher-leader" and offers concrete practices any manager can adopt to develop their team, build loyalty, and multiply their impact through the people they grow.
Why do good leaders make bad decisions? Drawing on his book Think Again, Finkelstein explores the neuroscience and psychology of flawed judgment, the misleading experiences, prejudgments, and attachments that distort even expert thinking, and gives leaders practical safeguards to challenge their own assumptions and make better, less biased decisions.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Sydney Finkelstein
Why Sydney Finkelstein?
Booking Sydney Finkelstein gives audiences one of the most respected and practical authorities on the two issues at the heart of every organization's success: leadership and talent. A Dartmouth professor, bestselling author, Academy of Management Fellow, and repeated Thinkers50 honoree, he has spent decades studying both what makes leaders exceptional and why they fail, and advising senior executives around the world. His concept of the "superboss" has reshaped how organizations think about developing people, and his talks are known for pairing serious research with genuine clarity and wit. He is an ideal speaker for events on leadership, talent, strategy, and decision-making. To bring Sydney Finkelstein to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Sydney Finkelstein?
Sydney Finkelstein is a Canadian academic, author, and leadership expert, and the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, where he also directs the Tuck Executive Program and the Center for Leadership. He is the author of more than 25 books, including the bestsellers Superbosses and Why Smart Executives Fail, a Fellow of the Academy of Management, and host of The Sydcast podcast. Ranked repeatedly among the Thinkers50 most influential management thinkers, he holds a PhD from Columbia University.
What is a "superboss"?
A "superboss" is a concept coined by Sydney Finkelstein in his book of the same name to describe an exceptional kind of leader who consistently produces extraordinary talent. Based on a decade of research into leaders across diverse fields, from Ralph Lauren in fashion to Alice Waters in food to Lorne Michaels in comedy, Finkelstein found that these leaders share distinctive practices in how they identify, motivate, coach, and unleash people. The result is that a remarkable share of their industry's top performers once worked for them, and their approach can be learned by any leader.
What topics does leadership speaker Sydney Finkelstein cover?
Sydney Finkelstein speaks on becoming a superboss and mastering the flow of talent, leadership as teaching, why smart executives fail, and making better decisions. His keynotes suit events on leadership, talent development, strategy, and decision-making, especially for organizations focused on growing and retaining top people. To book Sydney Finkelstein as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Sydney Finkelstein as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Sydney Finkelstein as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Sydney Finkelstein's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Sydney Finkelstein or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Sydney Finkelstein speaking fee?
Sydney Finkelstein speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Sydney Finkelstein to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Sydney Finkelstein.
How can I contact Sydney Finkelstein?
We only work with Sydney Finkelstein on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Sydney Finkelstein and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Sydney Finkelstein speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Sydney Finkelstein for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Sydney Finkelstein for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Sydney Finkelstein is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Sydney Finkelstein for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
