Professor, Executive Coach, and Speaker Focused on Leadership Style and Behaviors

 

Current Roles

Dr. Suzanne J. Peterson is currently a leadership consultant for CRA Inc., an elite executive coaching firm headquartered in Philadelphia, PA.

In addition to her role in industry, Dr. Peterson is also a Professor of Management for at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business where she teaches MBA courses in organizational behavior, leadership, and negotiations.

Synopsis

Dr. Peterson is an expert in the development of leadership behaviors that characterize extraordinary senior leaders. She specializes in executive coaching and team-based coaching with a focus on leadership style, effective communication, strategic influence, and relationship building as critical building blocks to leadership success.

Her work has appeared in top business and psychology journals and she has presented her leadership ideas to a variety of audiences worldwide. Before entering academia and joining CRA, she worked as a change management consultant for Accenture in Kansas City, MO.

Clients

Dr. Peterson has advised senior leaders in firms such as Merrill Lynch, McDonalds, Microsoft, Avnet, and Schlumberger, among others. She has also worked with senior partners in numerous law firms.  In her role as advisor, some of Dr. Peterson’s work consists of assisting leaders in building a strong personal brand, developing executive presence building and sustaining relationships, strategic communication, personal productivity, and developing solutions to diversity challenges.

Practice Areas

In the area of Leadership Development, Dr. Peterson focuses on individual, and team coaching.  Leadership presence and polish, relationship management and effective leadership communication are the major elements for one on one coaching.  Team coaching brings an affordable method for developing leaders reporting to the most senior executives.

Speaking

Dr. Peterson is a highly requested speaker amongst her clients for her expertise in leadership and communication.  She speaks primarily to senior audiences whereby she offers advice on how to lead more effectively across a variety of stakeholder groups.  In addition, Dr. Peterson is often requested to speak at large scale conventions, conferences, and symposiums nationwide.  She receives high marks from her audiences for her ability to deliver solid content in a succinct and practical, yet engaging and passionate manner.  Her popularity results in her clients requesting her time and time again.

DR. SUZANNE J. PETERSON

Dr. Suzanne Peterson

COMPETENCIES

  • Executive, board and team-based  coaching
  • Communications and messaging for strategic alignment around initiatives, significant events and/ or crises
  • Strategic planning facilitation
  • Diversity Management
  • Accountability audits
  • Keynote speaker, author and educator

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • CEO positive psychological traits, transformational leadership, and firm performance in high technology start-up and established firms.  With F. Walumbwa, K. Byron & J. Myrowitz. Journal of Management. (2008)
  • Authentic Leadership: Development and Analysis of a Multidimensional Theory-based Measure. With F. Walumbwa, B. Avolio, W. Gardner & T. Wernsing.  Journal of Management.  (2008)
  • The Impact of financial and non-financial incentives on business unit outcomes over time.  With F. Luthans. Journal of Applied Psychology. (2006)
  • 360-degree feedback with systematic coaching:  Empirical analysis suggests a winning combination.  With F. Luthans. Human Resource Management Journal. (2003)

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D.  University of Nebraska - Organizational Behavior 2001
  • M.B.A.  University of Nebraska - Management 1997
  • B.A.  University of Southern California - Psychology 1995

Affiliations

  • Academy of Management
  • American Psychological Association
  • Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology