Jonathan is Emeritus Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter and a founding director of Pelumbra. He works with organisations and leaders navigating complexity and systemic transformation—often in conditions of uncertainty, urgency, or deep change. His experience spans public health, global business, humanitarian leadership, and higher education.

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Jonathan has held visiting professorships at institutions including Renmin University (China), INSEAD (France), and Copenhagen Business School, and is a Fellow of the Singapore Civil Service College and the Leadership Trust. His career began in anthropology and mediation, and evolved through strategic leadership education and critical management studies. He co-developed the One Planet MBA and co-founded CoachingOurselves with Henry Mintzberg.

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Selected Publications & Projects

Books

• Exploring Leadership (with Bolden & Hawkins)
  Oxford University Press – 2nd Edition

• Sustainable Business: A One Planet Approach (with Jeanrenaud & Jeanrenaud)
  Wiley – In partnership with WWF

• Sustainable Champions: How International Companies Are Changing Business in China
  Download Casebook

 

Film & Media

• The Aesthetics of Power – Coaching Ourselves

• Mindsets for Managers – with Henry Mintzberg

• CoachingOurselves with 5 Mindsets

 

Work with Purpose

Jonathan’s work often brings critical, poetic and philosophical perspectives to practical leadership questions—through research, teaching, and consulting. Recent projects include:

• Responsible Leadership with the Forward Institute

• Leadership & health system reform in Southern Africa

• Coaching-based development for middle managers

• Climate collapse and organisational ethics

• Philosophy and leadership practice (e.g., Leading Quietly, What Napoleon Can Teach Us About Power)

Read Selected Essays & Reflections ›

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Areas of Expertise

• Leadership development & systems change

• Organisational ethics & decision-making

• Coaching & experiential learning

• Sustainability in global business

• Cross-cultural leadership

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“He showed me a different take on leadership… a leader is not someone who tells others what to do, but who puts others in the position to make choices.”- Participant, Nudge Global Leadership Challenge

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“Life is about taking the right decisions. He gave insight into the emotional and logical parts of decision-making—really inspiring and useful.”– Leadership Programme Attendee