Tommy Spaulding

Tommy Spaulding is president of the Spaulding Companies LLC, a national leadership development, consulting, coaching, and speaking organization. Spaulding rose to become the youngest president and CEO of the world-renowned leadership organization, Up with People (2005-2008). In 2000, Tommy Spaulding founded Leader’s Challenge, which grew to become the largest high school civic and leadership program in the state of Colorado. He is also the founder & president of the Spaulding Leadership Institute, a non-profit leadership development organization which runs National Leadership Academy, a national high school summer leadership academy, as well as Kid’s Challenge, Global Challenge and Colorado Close-Up. Previously, Spaulding was the Business Partner Sales Manager at IBM/Lotus Development and a member of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program.

Spaulding has addressed hundreds of corporations, associations, and organizations globally. His first book, "It’s Not Just Who You Know: Transform Your Life and Your Organization by Turning Colleagues and Contacts into Lasting, Genuine Relationships," reached #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and is also a Wall Street Journal and USA Today national bestseller. His second book, "The Heart-Led Leader: How Living and Leading from the Heart will Change Your Organization and Your Life," is both a New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal national bestseller and was recognized as a Top 100 Business Book of 2015 by INC.com. His latest work, "The Gift of Influence: Creating Life-Changing and Lasting Impact in Your Everyday Interactions," achieved the #3 spot on the Wall Street Journal national bestseller list.

Spaulding holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from East Carolina University (1992), an MBA from Bond University in Australia (1998), where he was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, and an MA in Non-Profit Management from Regis University (2005). He has been honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award from East Carolina University and received an honorary Ph.D. in Humanities from the Art Institute of Colorado. Recognized by Meetings & Conventions Magazine as one of the 100 MOST FAVORITE SPEAKERS in the nation, Spaulding's keynote addresses emphasize the importance of heart-led leadership and building authentic relationships for personal and professional success. He currently resides in Denver, CO with his wife and children.