John Burrows
Social Capital, Leadership, and Negotiation Expert; Senior Lecturer, University of Chicago; Associate Fellow, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford; Co-Author, Social Capital at Work: Building the Hidden Asset that Drives Trust, Engagement, and Performance
A globally recognized educator and speaker, John Burrows brings uncommon clarity to how leaders build trust, influence, and results—especially in high-stakes negotiations and complex organizations. With experience teaching leaders on five continents, he delivers practical, high-impact insights on social capital, decision-making, and leadership in uncertain times.
Under $25,000
Dr. John Burrows is a globally respected expert in social capital, leadership, and negotiation. He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago and an Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. His clients span the public and private sectors, from Fortune 500 firms to global healthcare systems and sovereign governments.
Dr. Burrows's teaching and advisory work draws from his deep experience in executive education, where he leads programs for KPMG, eBay, CVS Aetna, Capgemini, and U.S. military leadership academies. His international teaching footprint spans Hong Kong, Riyadh, Düsseldorf, and London, reaching students and leaders from over 70 countries.
Equally at home in boardrooms and classrooms, Dr. Burrows combines sharp analytical thinking with a gift for storytelling, making his sessions both rigorous and memorable. He is co-author, with Seth Rachlin, of Social Capital at Work: Building the Hidden Asset that Drives Trust, Engagement, and Performance (Simon & Schuster, November 10, 2026), which shows leaders how to build the trust, relationships, and networks that make organizations work in an age of hybrid teams and AI.
Featured Videos
John Burrows
Strategic Connections: Short-Term Negotiation Tactics
John Burrows’s Speech Topics
Social Capital at Work: The Hidden Asset That Makes Organizations Work
Organizations invest heavily in strategy, talent, and technology, yet results often fall short because leaders overlook the asset that makes those investments pay off: the trust, relationships, and networks through which work actually gets done. Drawing on his new book, John Burrows shows why performance belongs to systems rather than stars, why connection no longer maintains itself in hybrid and AI-enabled workplaces, and how leaders can build it deliberately.
Audiences learn how to:
- See the real organization behind the org chart, and identify the people and relationships that hold it together.
- Make the business case for social capital as a measurable driver of engagement, retention, and performance.
- Apply the book's eight practical plays to build trust and strengthen collaboration across teams, functions, and silos.
When AI Joins the Team: Human Connection in the Intelligent Workplace
In an era defined by hybrid teams, digital communications, and accelerating AI, traditional social bonds are fraying. Loneliness is rising. Collaboration feels harder. Many organizations are managing workflows while neglecting the connective tissue that makes work function.
John Burrows will show you how to:
- Identify signs of disconnection in ourselves, our teams, and our organizations, and create the business case for social capital.
- Learn and practice eight practical plays to build trust, improve engagement, and drive productivity.
- Rewire workplace technology as a force multiplier for collaboration, innovation, and performance.
The Power of Perspective: Leading and Negotiating in a World of Uncertainty”
In an era defined by rapid change, competing interests, and complex global challenges, effective leadership and negotiation are no longer about dominance or persuasion—they are about understanding, empathy, and adaptability. In this compelling keynote, Professor John Burrows of the University of Chicago explores how leaders can build trust, foster collaboration, and create value through strategic negotiation.
Drawing on decades of research and real-world experience, Professor Burrows will reveal the psychological and behavioral dynamics that shape decision-making, influence, and conflict resolution. Attendees will learn how to:
- Reframe negotiation from a zero-sum contest into a joint problem-solving opportunity
- Cultivate emotional intelligence and perspective-taking as core leadership skills
- Navigate high-stakes discussions with clarity, integrity, and confidence
- Lead teams through uncertainty by balancing assertiveness with empathy
Blending academic rigor with practical insight, this session equips executives, policymakers, and emerging leaders alike with tools to lead and negotiate more effectively in today’s interconnected world.
Works by John Burrows
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