After a 30-year career at Central College, Jann Freed, PhD, is professor emerita of business management and the former Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Leadership and Character Development.
Currently, Dr. Jann is a leadership development consultant who helps engage employees, develop leaders, and help people find meaning on a daily basis. She does this through leadership coaching, corporate workshops, and speaking. Jann’s focus is helping individuals and organizations get from where they are to where they want to be at every age and stage of life.
Jann is the author of several books and articles about continuous improvement in leadership and life. Her book Leading with Wisdom: Sage Advice from 100 Experts is based on more than 100 interviews with some of the top thought leaders in the field. Jann’s latest book, Breadcrumb Legacy: How Great Leaders Live a Life Worth Remembering, is based on interviews and describes how to live a life that matters on a daily basis—a concept she calls breadcrumb legacy™. She also writes a column in Training Magazine called “Leading Edge” and occasionally writes a guest column for the Business Record and DSM Magazine. As an adjunct professor for The University of Iowa, she teaches a graduate leadership course.
As a certified Sage-ing Leader through Sage-ing International (sage-ing.org), Jann hosts a monthly podcast Becoming a Sage where she interviews thought leaders about wisdom in work and in life. Jann was a TEDxDes Moines speaker—“Embracing Death: Seeing Life Through a Different Lens.” She also gave a virtual talk at TEDxBergen Community College—“Becoming a Nobody.”
Community leadership is a priority. She is a director on the Bank Iowa Board, on the Mind and Spirit Counseling Center Board (MSCC), and the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation. Over the years, Jann has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the city of Des Moines, Chrysalis Foundation, Planned Parenthood Advocate Board, Nexus Women’s Executive Alliance, and YWRC. She has actively been involved in the leadership of several fundraising campaigns such as the Lauridsen Skatepark, Planned Parenthood, A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS), MSCC, and The Varsity Theater.
For more information about Dr. Jann and resources, please refer to her website: www.jannfreed.com