Jim Morris

“I consider myself an educator. They say we teach that which we most need to learn. That is true for me.”

When I was in college, I discovered I was functionally illiterate as a result of a learning disability. This helped explain why I had such a hard time in school. Up until then, my learning difficulties were a source of shame and embarrassment.  I knew the frustration and anger of feeling like an “outsider” and being excluded because of something I had no control over. 

I started off my career as an educator working with kids of all ages and earned my stripes working in experiential and adventure-based learning programs.

I got tired of seeing kids being impacted by the decisions that were systemic, and I switched paths. Along the way I was lucky enough to gain firsthand experience in leading people and organizations at the Santa Fe Mountain Center, Outward Bound, Pecos River/Aon Consulting, one world learning, WMFDP |FDP Global, and Unstoppable Performance Leaders.

I’ve also been an adjunct faculty at Duke Leadership and Training Associates, Virginia Tech, The Executive Forum, and The American Leadership Forum.

Writing and talking about leadership and culture is one of my passions. I’ve published two books and hundreds of blogs and have delivered almost as many keynotes on leading across difference and the importance of character-based leadership.

My first book in 2007 was titled The Five Insights of Enduring Leaders, and my second book was a best-seller, Gaslights and Dog Whistles – Standing Up for Facts Over Fiction in a Fearful and Divided World, released in August of 2022. 

I love to travel and adventure. I have paddled, hiked, climbed, cycled, skied, and stumbled around the world with my wife, kids, and friends, with more adventures yet to come.