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    BPI Expert Faculty

    John Sullivan

    Speaker, Advisor to Management, Author and Professor

    Best Practice Institute

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.Dr. Sullivan is an HR thought-leader and advisor specializing in high-impact talent management solutions for global corporations.
    • 2.He is a prolific author, with over 900 articles and 10 books on talent management and HR.
    • 3.Fast Company lauded him as the "Michael Jordan of Hiring," and Staffing.org called him "the father of HR metrics."
    • 4.His work focuses on actionable strategies that demonstrably improve business outcomes and drive results.

    About John

    Who is John Sullivan?

    Dr. John Sullivan is an internationally recognized HR thought-leader and strategic advisor based in Silicon Valley, specializing in delivering high-impact talent management solutions to large corporations globally. He is a prolific author, speaker, and professor affiliated with the Best Practice Institute (BPI), where he shares his expertise in transforming HR practices to drive business results. He has been lauded by Fast Company as the "Michael Jordan of Hiring" and by Staffing.org as "the father of HR metrics," underscoring his significant contributions to the field.

    What is John Sullivan known for?

    Dr. Sullivan is primarily known for his innovative and bold approach to strategic talent management. His work focuses on providing actionable insights and solutions that demonstrably impact business outcomes. He is an exceptionally prolific author, having written over 900 articles and 10 books on various aspects of talent management. Beyond his extensive writing, he has produced over a dozen white papers, conducted more than 50 webinars, delivered dozens of workshops, and been featured in over 35 videos, cementing his reputation as a leading voice in HR.

    His ideas and research have been featured in major business publications including the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, BusinessWeek, Fast Company, CFO, Inc., The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and the Financial Times. He has also been interviewed on prominent media outlets such as CNN, CBS and ABC nightly news, and NPR, highlighting the widespread recognition of his expertise.

    What is John Sullivan's background and experience?

    Dr. Sullivan's career spans decades as a speaker, advisor to management, author, and professor. He has excited audiences at over 300 corporations and organizations across 30 countries and six continents, sharing his insights on strategic HR and talent management. His focus has consistently been on practical, high-impact strategies that enable companies to develop and retain top talent, fostering innovation and productivity.

    His extensive body of work includes pioneering concepts in HR metrics, demonstrating the bottom-line business impact of recruiting, retention, and development initiatives. He is adept at guiding organizations through economic turbulence by emphasizing strategies that keep employees focused and productive, and he champions the critical role of HR in hiring innovators and game-changers who can drive corporate strategy.

    What topics does John Sullivan speak and write about?

    Dr. Sullivan's expertise covers a broad spectrum of critical HR and talent management topics. Key areas include strategic talent management, HR metrics, and the importance of hiring innovators and game changers. He also delves into the candidate experience, the evolving future of work, world-class onboarding and orientation for new hires and transfers, and the business case for career development within organizations.

    He frequently addresses how organizations can measure and prove the irrefutable business impact of recruiting, retention, and development programs. His insights extend to broader organizational development and change, learning and development, leadership development, employee engagement, assessments and evaluations, strategic planning, self-development, creativity and innovation, and coaching.

    How does John Sullivan contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    As a speaker, advisor to management, author, and professor, Dr. John Sullivan is a valuable affiliate of the Best Practice Institute (BPI). He regularly shares his profound knowledge and experience through BPI's platforms, including numerous webinars. His contributions help BPI members and the wider business community understand and implement cutting-edge HR and talent management strategies.

    His webinars and resources at BPI cover crucial topics such as improving time to productivity through effective onboarding, establishing the business case for career development, and HR's strategic role in identifying and attracting innovative talent. Through these engagements, Dr. Sullivan reinforces BPI's mission to provide best practices for organizational and leadership excellence, helping organizations navigate complex talent challenges and achieve sustained growth.

    Background & Perspective

    Background

    Dr. John Sullivan is an internationally recognized HR thought-leader, professor, and strategic advisor based in Silicon Valley. He has worked with over 300 corporations across 30 countries, advising management and sharing his insights on strategic HR. His focus is on delivering practical, high-impact talent strategies that help companies develop and retain top talent, foster innovation, and maintain productivity through economic changes.

    Areas of Expertise

    Dr. Sullivan's work covers a wide range of topics within human resources and organizational development. His key specialties include:

    • Strategic Talent Management
    • HR Metrics and Analytics
    • Hiring Innovators and Game-Changers
    • Employee Engagement and Productivity
    • Leadership and Career Development
    • Candidate Experience and Onboarding

    Notable Achievements

    His significant contributions to the field have earned him recognition as the "Michael Jordan of Hiring" by Fast Company and "the father of HR metrics" by Staffing.org. Dr. Sullivan is a prolific author with over 900 articles and 10 books. His research and ideas have been featured in major publications like The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and Fortune, and he has appeared on CNN, CBS, and ABC nightly news.

    Areas of Expertise

    Strategic Talent ManagementHR MetricsHiring InnovatorsOrganizational DevelopmentLeadership DevelopmentEmployee EngagementWorkforce ProductivityCareer Development

    Research Topics

    Human ResourcesTalent ManagementLeadershipOrganizational Development

    Profile last updated

    Frequently asked questions

    Best Practice Institute

    Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

    The Workplace Report

    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.