John Kotter American economist Country: USA

Biography of John Kotter

John Kotter, born in 1947, is an American economist and renowned author known for his expertise in leadership and change. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in technical disciplines. A few years later, in 1970, he obtained a master's degree in the same field. Kotter furthered his education at Harvard Business School, where he received a Doctor of Business Administration degree in 1972.

After completing his studies, Kotter began teaching at Harvard Business School and quickly rose to become one of the youngest professors in the history of the institution, achieving this title in 1980. Throughout his career, Kotter has gained international recognition for his extensive body of work, including the publication of 15 books, 12 of which have become global bestsellers.

His most acclaimed book, "Leading Change," introduced an eight-step algorithm for transforming organizations. In 2001, Kotter was hailed as the "first guru of leadership and change" by Bloomberg Businessweek. His books have been translated into over 70 languages and have garnered praise from economists worldwide.

Kotter's notable works include "Our Iceberg is Melting," "The Heart of Change," "Corporate Culture and Performance," "A Force for Change," and "The General Managers." Additionally, he has created two thematic videos, "Leadership" in 1981 and "Corporate Culture" in 1998.

Kotter has been the recipient of numerous awards throughout his career, including the Exxon Award for Innovation in Graduate Business School Curriculum Design and the Johnson, Smith, and Knisely Award for New Perspectives in Business Leadership.

Currently, John Kotter resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his wife Nancy Dearman and their children.