Jim Finkelstein

Lecturer, Sonoma Executive MBA

jim_finkelstein
Jim Finkelstein
Education
  • The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania) - M.B.A. in Organization Behavior and Development
  • Trinity College (Hartford, CT) - B.A. in Psychology and Economics
Academic Interests
  • People strategy
  • Strategic planning
  • Training, coaching and mentoring
  • Organizational design and culture
  • Talent management and development
  • Succession planning
  • Total compensation and rewards to ensure the ability to attract, retain and motivate employees
  • Performance management and assessment (individual, 360, peer to peer, manager to employee)
  • Employee purpose, fulfillment, and engagement
  • Change readiness, management, and sustainability
  • Communications and action planning
About

Jim is a student and leader of people in business. With over 40 years of consulting and corporate experience, he understands the convergence of environment, culture, development, and rewards in order to improve business performance through people. He has specialized in business and people strategy, motivation and reward, executive, employee and sales compensation, and organizational assessment, development, communications, and transformation. He has applied his competencies in all areas that impact people at work – from why they show up to why they stay. He has worked for diverse industries – from health care to high tech. He has built programs and provided services to Boards of Directors, senior executives, management, and employees.

He notes, “Throughout my career, I have been called everything from a visionary to a contrarian. I continue to believe that businesses and organizations need to think ‘off the edge of the paper’ in order to assure themselves of the most favorable solutions and outcomes. I also believe that determining the unique right practices for each situation is preferred to “flocking like sheep to the slaughter” by following perceived best practices. In fact, they are, at best, “interesting practices”. What works for one organization may not work for another!”

Jim’s experience has included being a Partner in a Big Five firm, a CEO of a professional services firm, a corporate executive for Fortune 500 companies, and an entrepreneur with his current company, FutureSense®, LLC. He has experienced business from every possible angle and through every possible change.

Selected Publications & Presentations

Books:

  • Finkelstein, J. (October 2011). FUSE: Making Sense of the New Cogenerational Workplace®. Greenleaf Book Group.

Articles:

Honors:

  • YMCA of San Francisco, Humanitarian of the Year, 1997