Dr. John E. Katsos is an internationally recognized scholar, speaker, and advisor on ethical business strategy, conflict management, and corporate responsibility. He is a Researcher at University College Cork (Cork University Business School), Professor of Management, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship at the American University of Sharjah, and Editor-in-Chief of Society and Business Review. ... Read more
Dr. John E. Katsos is an award-winning speaker, business professor, and crisis strategist who helps leaders navigate complexity with ethics, resilience, and purpose. A globally recognized voice in ethical leadership and corporate responsibility, Dr. Katsos was twice nominated (in 2024 and 2025) for the Nobel Peace Prize for his research on how businesses can promote peace in crisis and conflict zones. His work has been cited in UN General Assembly reports, ILO investigations, and featured in Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, Washington Post, Journal of Management Studies, and Journal of Business Ethics.
He is a Professor of Management, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship at the American University of Sharjah (UAE), a Visiting Researcher at Cork University Business School (Ireland), and Editor-in-Chief of Society and Business Review. Dr. Katsos has published over 40 academic and practitioner pieces based on field research in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Ukraine, and beyond. He co-developed the influential “buffer condition” theory with John Forrer, demonstrating how businesses can have the greatest peacebuilding impact 6–10 years after conflict ends.
His book, Ethical Leadership in Conflict and Crisis (Cambridge University Press – Elements Series), is the most downloaded leadership book in the series’ history. His most recent book, CRISIS: A Global Case Primer (BridgeBuilders Press), offers practical insights for executives managing extreme disruption and is a Financial Times “must read” for summer 2025.
In addition to keynotes and executive training for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies worldwide, Dr. Katsos chairs the United Nations PRME Business and Peace Working Group and serves on the boards of two social enterprises. He holds a PhD in Management from Queen’s University Belfast, a JD and MBA from George Washington University, and a BA in Religion from Haverford College.