David Ulrich

Widely seen as the father of HR.

RANKED THINKER

#27 (2015), #30 (2013), #23 (2011).

SHORTLISTED

Shortlisted For the Thinkers50 2015 Breakthrough Idea Award

FAST FACT

Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Institute of Management Studies.

Ideas

Known for turning complex ideas into simple solutions, in Reinventing the Organization (2019), Ulrich and co-author Arthur Yeung provide a practical six-step framework for an organization to deliver radically greater value in fast-moving markets. In Victory Through Organization (2017), he provides a refreshing alternative to the aggressive hiring of talent, showing that by creating dynamic systems that leverage talent through the whole organization, you can create a unified whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. 

With his co-authors, Ulrich has also articulated the basics of effective leadership, connected leadership with customers, shown how leadership delivers market value, shapes investor expectations with an ability to measure leadership, and synthesized ways to ensure that leadership aspirations turn into actions.

Bio

Rensis Likert professor at the Stephen M Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a partner in the RBL Group consultancy firm, Ulrich has a prodigious output of HR, leadership, and organization-related publications. These include more than 200 articles and over 30 books. He edited Human Resource Management from 1990 to 1999, served on the editorial board of 4 Journal, and on the board of directors for Herman Miller for 16 years. He has spoken to large audiences in 90 countries, performed workshops for over half of the Fortune 200, coached successful business leaders, and is a distinguished fellow in the National Academy of Human Resources.

Content

Human Resource Champions (1996); Results-based Leadership (with John Zenger and Norm Smallwood, 1999); The GE Workout (with Steve Kerr and Ron Ashkenas); The HR Value Proposition (with Wayne Brockbank, 2005); Leadership Brand (with Norm Smallwood, 2007);The Leadership Code (with Norm Smallwood and Kate Sweetman, 2008); HR Competencies (with Dani Johnson, Wayne Brockbank, Kurt Sandholtz, and Jon Younger); HR Transformation (2009); The Why of Work (with Marshall Goldsmith and Wendy Ulrich, 2010), Leadership in Asia (2010); HR from the Outside In (with Jon Younger, Wayne Brockbank, and Mike Ulrich, 2012); Leadership Sustainability  (2013); Victory Through Organization with David Kryscynski, Wayne Brockbank, and Mike Ulrich, 2017); The Leadership Capital Index (2015); Reinventing the Organization (with Arthur Yeoung, 2019).

NATIONALITY: American

Media picks

Verdict

“A huge influence on modern organizations, Ulrich is responsible for shaping HR into the profession it is today.”

Stuart Crainer & Des Dearlove, Thinkers50

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with the latest and greatest ideas in business, management, and thought leadership.

*mandatory field

Thinkers50 will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide news, updates, and marketing. Please confirm that you agree to have us contact you by clicking below:


You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at . We will treat your information with respect. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Privacy Policy Update

Thinkers50 Limited has updated its Privacy Policy on 28 March 2024 with several amendments and additions to the previous version, to fully incorporate to the text information required by current applicable date protection regulation. Processing of the personal data of Thinkers50’s customers, potential customers and other stakeholders has not been changed essentially, but the texts have been clarified and amended to give more detailed information of the processing activities.

Thinkers50 Awards Gala 2023

Join us in celebration of the best in business and management thinking.