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Home › Solutions › Leadership Development › Remembering Jack Zenger—The Leader Behind the Research

podcast episode

188

Remembering Jack Zenger—The Leader Behind the Research

20

minute listen

Episode Description

For more than two decades, Dr. Jack Zenger helped reshape the way the world thinks about leadership. As co-founder and CEO of Zenger Folkman, bestselling author, researcher, and one of the original hosts of The 90th Percentile, Jack devoted his life to answering one question: What makes leaders truly extraordinary?

In this special episode, we remember Jack not only as a pioneer in leadership development, but as a mentor, business partner, and friend.

Joe Folkman joins BreAnne Okoren to reflect on Jack’s remarkable life, the groundbreaking research they built together, and the leadership principles Jack didn’t just teach—he lived every day. Through personal stories and timeless insights, they explore why Jack believed extraordinary leadership is learnable, how his optimism shaped everyone around him, and the legacy he leaves for leaders everywhere.

Whether you’ve followed Jack’s work for years or are discovering it for the first time, this conversation is a celebration of a life dedicated to helping others become the very best version of themselves.

 Zenger Folkman’s new development experience, Extraordinary You, is designed to help individual contributors build strengths, increase self-awareness, and accelerate growth at every stage of their career.

Key Learnings

1. Extraordinary leadership is learned—not inherited.

One of Jack’s greatest contributions to leadership development was proving that extraordinary leadership isn’t reserved for a select few. Through research and practice, anyone can develop the behaviors that make leaders exceptional.

2. Great leaders build on strengths while helping others grow.

Jack challenged the traditional approach of fixing weaknesses. His research showed that leaders become extraordinary by developing profound strengths and using them to elevate the people around them.

3. Leadership begins with believing in people’s potential.

Jack’s optimism wasn’t just part of his personality—it was central to his philosophy. He believed people can change, want to change, and are capable of becoming far more than they imagine.

4. Research matters—but living the principles matters even more.

Jack earned global respect because he practiced what he taught. His humility, listening, coaching, generosity, and integrity made him a living example of the leadership principles he spent a lifetime researching.

5. The greatest legacy of a leader is the people they develop.

Books, articles, and research create influence, but Jack measured success by the lives he helped change. His enduring legacy lives on through the countless leaders he coached, mentored, inspired, and believed in.

Webinar

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:39 — 17.1MB)

Cover of a report with a large blue '90' and the title '90th Percentile Leadership: Insights. Backed by Data,' and the Zenger Folkmann logo in the top-left corner.

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