Gretchen Vogelgesang Lester
Gretchen was interested in leadership from a young age, telling people at the age of 13 that she would be the boss. After trying out executive search, banking, and consulting, she decided becoming a professor was more her speed. Along the way, she has lived in Chicago, Lincoln, New York, Washington, D.C., and now is located south of San Jose, CA. She currently teaches as part of the management curriculum at San Jose State University and has done some executive coaching in the MBA program. She finds it fascinating to help others reach their maximum potential.
Official Bio: Gretchen Vogelgesang Lester is an Associate Professor at San Jose State University. She teaches the capstone strategic management course, as well as the applied organizational behavior course located in Silicon Valley. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and her MBA from DePaul University. Her research encompasses leadership development, leader identity, and communication between leaders and followers. She has published in such journals as The Leadership Quarterly, Organizational Dynamics, the Academy of Management Learning and Education, the Journal of Leadership and Organization Studies, the Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, and Human Resource Development Review. She also has presented her work at the Academy of Management Conferences and serves as a reviewer for a number of leadership journals. Prior to academia, Dr. Vogelgesang Lester worked in the financial industry as a wealth management trust officer. She has also worked with such organizations at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Science Foundation as a human capital consultant.
Gretchen was interested in leadership from a young age, telling people at the age of 13 that she would be the boss. After trying out executive search, banking, and consulting, she decided becoming a professor was more her speed. Along the way, she has lived in Chicago, Lincoln, New York, Washington, D.C., and now is located south of San Jose, CA. She currently teaches as part of the management curriculum at San Jose State University and has done some executive coaching in the MBA program. She finds it fascinating to help others reach their maximum potential.
Official Bio: Gretchen Vogelgesang Lester is an Associate Professor at San Jose State University. She teaches the capstone strategic management course, as well as the applied organizational behavior course located in Silicon Valley. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and her MBA from DePaul University. Her research encompasses leadership development, leader identity, and communication between leaders and followers. She has published in such journals as The Leadership Quarterly, Organizational Dynamics, the Academy of Management Learning and Education, the Journal of Leadership and Organization Studies, the Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, and Human Resource Development Review. She also has presented her work at the Academy of Management Conferences and serves as a reviewer for a number of leadership journals. Prior to academia, Dr. Vogelgesang Lester worked in the financial industry as a wealth management trust officer. She has also worked with such organizations at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Science Foundation as a human capital consultant.