Positive Organizations Consortium
Virtual Member Forum – Fall 2021
Speaker Bios

Day 1: November 16

Dave Ulrich

Rensis Likert Collegiate Professor of Business Administration, University of Michigan
Partner, RBL Group

Dave Ulrich is the Rensis Likert Professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan and a partner at the RBL Group (http://www.rbl.net) a consulting firm focused on helping organizations and leaders deliver value.  He has published over 200 articles and book chapters and over 30 books. He edited Human Resource Management 1990-1999, served on editorial board of 4 Journal and on the Board of Directors for Herman Miller (16 years), has spoken to large audiences in 90 countries; performed workshops for over half of the Fortune 200; coached successful business leaders, and is a Distinguished Fellow in the National Academy of Human Resources. He is known for continually learning, turning complex ideas into simple solutions, and creating real value to those he works with in three fields.

Organization.  With co-authors, he has influenced thinking about modern organizations (Reinventing the Organization) by empirically showing how organization delivers 4 times business results over talent (Victory Through Organization), defined organizations as bundles of capabilities (Organization Capability) and worked to delineate capabilities of talent management (Why of Work; Talent Accelerator), culture change (GE Workout), learning (Learning Organization Capability), and collaboration (Boundaryless Organization). 

Leadership.  With colleagues, he has also articulated the basics of effective leadership (Leadership Code and Results Based Leadership), connected leadership with customers (Leadership Brand), shown how leadership delivers market value (Why the Bottom Line Isn’t), shapes investor expectations with an ability to measure leadership (Leadership Capital Index), and synthesized ways to ensure that leadership aspirations turn into actions (Leadership Sustainability). 

Human Resources.  He and his colleagues have shaped the HR profession and he has been called the “father of modern HR” and “HR thought leader of the decade” by focusing on HR outcomes, governance, competencies, and practices (HR Champions; HR Value Added; HR Transformation; HR Competencies; HR Outside In).  He spearheaded a “gift” book on the future of HR (The Rise of HR) distributed to over 1,500,000 HR professionals), in which 70 thought leaders freely shared their insights.

Most recently, he posts new articles and insights each Tuesday on Linkedin (over 130).

To read more about Dave’s accolades, click here.

Day 2: November 17

C.J. Azubuine

Senior Manager, Exec Talent Solutions, Cisco

CJ Azubuine is the Director of Executive Talent Solutions at Cisco. In this role he leads the translation of Cisco’s strategy into thoughtful and impactful talent management plans and objectives that enable Cisco executives to continue positioning the company for growth and success. CJ joined Cisco in 2016 after completing his MBA at the Ross School of Business. While at Ross he was an active member of the Center for Positive Organizations as a +Lab Fellow. Prior to Ross, CJ held leadership roles at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Harvard Law School. A Boston native, he relocated to the Bay Area in 2018 and currently lives in Oakland, California.

Jennifer Janus

President, Pophouse

Jennifer Janus is the President of Pophouse. Pophouse is a Detroit-based commercial interior design studio focused on strategic, unconventional and human-centric design. Jennifer joined Pophouse in 2017 as the Chief Operating Officer and moved into her current role in 2018.  As President, Jennifer works to ensure that the whole team of designers, strategists and project mangers works together to develop creative, purposeful and research-based solutions to client needs. Prior to Pophouse, Jennifer led successful creative operations at Big Communications. Her background as a copywriter at Campbell-Ewald, Leo Burnett, and BBDO enable her to bring a creative approach to the business process.

Meredith Myers

Executive Director, Job Crafting LLC

Dr. Meredith Myers is the Executive Director of Job Crafting LLC, an organization that leverages leading science to help people enhance purpose and engagement at work while improving business results.

Dr. Myers also is a multi-award winning lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, where she has been faculty since 2009, and a Senior Fellow in the Center for Leadership & Change Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.  

For nearly two decades, Dr. Myers has been coaching international leaders working in corporations, nonprofits, government, and mission critical teams.  Key subject areas include: job crafting, leadership, positive organizational scholarship, and transforming conflict.

Dr. Myers holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Case Western Reserve University. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and a BA in International Studies from the College of Arts & Sciences.

Kevin Skinner

Manager of Corporate Learning and Development, Tucson Electric Power

Kevin Skinner is the Manager of Corporate Learning and Development for Tucson Electric Power. He has 15 years of experience in the fields of learning, coaching, and consulting. Prior to joining the corporate world, Kevin earned a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy and served as the senior leader of a spiritual community for many years. In his current role, Kevin is a champion for integrating and deepening positive leadership practices across TEP.

Meg Warren

Associate Professor of Management, Western Washington University

Dr. Meg Warren is an Associate Professor of Management at Western Washington University. She is a researcher, keynote speaker, and author with expertise in allyship and inclusiveness. Her award-winning research uses a positive psychology approach to study how individuals from relatively privileged groups can serve as allies to marginalized outgroups. Her work has been published in numerous journals and books, and covered by over 150 news and broadcast media outlets globally. She has held prestigious positions such as the Founding President of the Work & Organizations Division of the International Positive Psychology Association, Co-Founder of the Western Positive Psychology Association and Co-Editor of the International Journal of Wellbeing. To learn more, please visit: www.megwarren.com