Jim Brown
Author, advisor, and speaker on organizational health.
For more than thirty years, Jim Brown has worked alongside CEOs, executive teams, and boards—helping capable leaders see what's actually happening inside their companies, and do something about it.
Friendly, perceptive, and disarmingly direct, Jim is known for cutting through complexity and naming what's really going on in a room. The conviction underneath his work is simple—when a company is healthy, people do their best work, trust compounds, and the mission moves.
When it isn't, no strategy survives contact with the culture. He's put that thinking into two bestselling books, a growing body of talks and conversations, and the firm he founded to do the work itself.
Two bestsellers for the modern leader.
The Imperfect CEO
Jim Brown’s 2026 leadership fable about organizational health for CEOs and executive teams introduced the Ascent Model and instantly became a USA Today Bestseller.
The Imperfect Board Member
This bestseller and trusted resource (now rereleased as a 20th Anniversary Special Edition) guides boards towards the seven disciplines of governance excellence.
Keynotes by Jim Brown
Whether it's a conference keynote, a board retreat, or a leadership offsite, Jim's talks give leaders language for what they've been living with and a clear next step to act on. His most-requested topics draw directly from the books and three decades of work inside real companies.
Popular Keynote Topics
Healthy Enough
"Healthy enough" is not the same as "healthy". Jim introduces four risks and how they can compromise companies who believe they're "doing fine". For each risk, there's a way forward.
The Imperfect Leader
The leaders people trust most have stopped pretending to be perfect. Jim shows how owning your gaps builds a team that tells you the truth. Every leader leaves with one place to start.
Board Culture
Good governance on paper can still produce a struggling board. Jim shows how the way directors treat each other and their CEO shapes every decision. Small changes in the room go a long way.
Watch, listen, and read.
Watch or listen to podcasts where Jim Brown has been a guest. You can start with the one above or choose one from the Podcasts page.
Uncover Your Company’s Risks
The Executive Experience is where every engagement begins. It’s a video series you can explore at your own pace and in the order that makes sense to you to gain an honest, specific read on what’s really driving what you’re experiencing.