Stewart Friedman

Creator of the concept of Total Leadership, and is an expert of work/life integration and organisational behaviour

Thinkers50 Speaker

Stew Friedman created the concept of Total Leadership which transformed the culture at Ford and has been proven across numerous companies to bring better results for business. His ideas, which were developed at the Wharton School of Business, have been championed by the White House at President Obama’s summit on flexible working.

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What Stewart Friedman's clients say

Here is some of the feedback from audiences and clients who have worked with Stewart.

"In the future, being a leader will require new ways to integrate work with the rest of ones life, resulting in more effective leadership and a more fulfilling life. Total Leadership points the way."

Robert Reich,

Professor and former U.S. Secretary of Labour,

University of California at Berkley

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Languages:

English

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Stewart Friedman's 2025 biography

About Stewart Friedman

Stew Freidman has dedicated his career to the study of leadership, work/life integration and organizational behaviour. He earned a doctorate from the University of Michigan, and has spent time in the corporate sector. His best selling and award winning book, “Total Leadership”, grew out of an innovative programme he developed during the 2 years he spent at The Ford Motor Company in the late 90s where he transformed the company’s culture. He looks for four-way wins by encouraging students to integrate work, home, community and is highly critical of the concept of balance because it suggests that something has to go.

Career

As well as sharing his ideas with the U.S government, Stew Friedman has consulted with a wide range of organizations and executives, including Jack Welch, Vice President Al Gore, the United Nations, the U.S. Department of Labour, and the U.S. Army. His ideas have worked successfully in the United States, Europe, Central America, South America, and Canada increasing productivity by decreasing stress, turnover and absenteeism.

He serves on many advisory boards and conducts leadership workshops around the world. He was ranked number 45 in the Thinkers 50 list of top business minds and was chosen by Working Mother as one of Americas 25 Most Influential Men. He regularly appears in the business media.

Friedman is the author or co-author of numerous publications on work/life integration, leadership, and the dynamics of change and is the founding director of the Wharton Leadership Program and Wharton’s Work/Life Integration Project.

Current/Past Roles & Positions

Author and creator of ‘Total leadership’
Professor of Management at the Wharton School of Business
Director of Leadership Development at Ford
Ranked among the top 50 business thinkers by Thinkers 50 2011