Ken Blanchard (born May 6, 1939) is one of the most influential voices in leadership and management development of the past half century. An American author, business consultant, and motivational speaker, he has written or co-authored more than 70 books, with his landmark work The One Minute Manager — co-authored with Spencer Johnson in 1982 — selling over 15 million copies worldwide and becoming one of the best-selling business books of all time. Blanchard holds a PhD in education administration and leadership from Cornell University, where he also serves as a trustee emeritus.
In 1979, Blanchard co-founded The Ken Blanchard Companies (now known as Blanchard) alongside his wife Marjorie in San Diego, California. The firm has grown into an international management training and consulting organization, helping leaders and organizations worldwide develop their people and performance. Blanchard also co-developed Situational Leadership® theory with Dr. Paul Hersey — a practical, flexible framework for leadership style that remains one of the most widely taught management models in the world.
For Nightingale-Conant listeners, Ken Blanchard's programs offer direct access to decades of hard-won leadership wisdom. His audio programs distill the principles behind iconic works like Raving Fans, Gung Ho!, and Whale Done!, giving listeners actionable tools for building engaged teams, delivering exceptional customer experiences, and leading with both results and relationships in mind. Whether you're a first-time manager or a seasoned executive, Blanchard's approachable style and practical frameworks make complex leadership concepts immediately applicable on the job.
