Bringing Leadership 4.0 to Your Industry

Real Conversations. Practical Solutions. Strategic Impact 

As countries and industries advance ambitious strategies to cope with technology, leadership must evolve just as fast.  John Grisby—recognised Professor of Practice (Leadership) and Leadership Transformation Partner, and global thought leader —has been at the the forefront of that evolution since 2010.

John doesn’t give keynote speeches. He facilitates strategic thinking. With a 25+ year global track record (UK, US, EMEA), he creates immersive, interactive leadership experiences that help executive teams lead through complexity, change, and transformation. His Leadership 4.0 methodology is already delivering measurable results across sectors—from energy and government to finance, sports, and technology.

 Why Now?

 Leaders are navigating:

• Digital transformation 

• Workforce upskilling 

• Organizational agility 

• Private sector expansion

John offers strategic clarity and system-level insight that align perfectly with Saudi Arabia’s transformation agenda—translating vision into execution through facilitated dialogue and applied frameworks.

From Academic Insight to Industry Execution

• Current roles: Managing Partner at Grey Matter Global, Professor of Practice in Leadership (UK), and Global Course Creator (Udemy)

• Global clients: Petroleum Development Oman, Federal Inland Revenue (Nigeria), NHS, British Gas, Sky Media, Tential (USA)

• Expertise areas: Leadership transformation, change management, organizational agility, problem-solving under complexity

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Speaking Topics of High-Impact Executive Engagements

Featured In and Recognized By 

Format Options

• Executive Summits & Corporate Retreats
• Strategic Roundtables & Masterclasses
• Leadership Development Conferences
• Government and NGO Advisory Sessions
• Board-Level Facilitation

Book John for

• CEO retreats & board-level strategy sessions
• Vision 2030 transformation events
• Government change leadership programs
• Industry-specific leadership conferences
• Hybrid/facilitated leadership labs

John Grisby

Meet Your Professor of Practice (Leadership)

John Grisby is a Professor of Practice in Leadership, industry consultant, and author with a proven track record of helping leaders transform their roles, organizations, and sectors. As a specialized Leadership Transformation Partner, he accelerates leadership capacity development and drives change and transformation from strategy to execution within the complex and evolving environments of Industry 4.0.

With over 25 years of experience in human performance and leadership development, John’s expertise spans multiple disciplines. His background includes:

• Executive Coaching in Performance (EMCC Coaching Senior Practitioner)
• Cross-Cultural Organizations (Maastricht University)
• Organizational Change Strategy (Adizes Institute)
• Leadership Mindset Systems & Structures (Dr. Don Beck, Spiral Dynamics)
• Professor of Practice in Leadership (UBBS) 

John holds an MA in Global Communications and is recognized as an HE Fellow, CMBE, and CMgr MCMI.

His global experience includes working with leaders from family-owned businesses, mid-sized enterprises, and corporate organizations across diverse sectors. Having lived and worked in Europe, the USA, Africa, South America, and the Middle East, John brings a unique, international perspective. He is also tri-lingual, fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian.

Research | Publications | Thought Leadership

Expert in Leadership for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

John’s work centers on redefining leadership for Industry 4.0—exploring how leaders must shift mindsets, build internal capability, and lead sustainably through complexity and innovation.

Research Focus Keywords:

• Systems thinking in leadership

• Change management frameworks

• Strategic decision-making in volatile environments

• Organizational lifecycle and transformation capacity

Notable Publications

• Leadership 4.0 Book Series (Michale Terrance Publishing)

• Middle East Leadership Mindsets – HR Revolution 

• Leadership in Corporate Finance – Credit Strategy 

• The Fall of the European Super League – World Football Summit

What Clients Say 

“John transformed our strategy by diagnosing business challenges and introducing key principles of business change. We uncovered over 100 symptoms and 13 root causes hindering growth. With John’s guidance, we prioritized critical areas such as role clarity and reducing M&A conflicts. As a result, we have successfully regained our strategic vision.”

“Using the ALPHA framework, we identified around 30 symptoms and three major root causes affecting our sales and marketing performance. This approach reduced internal conflicts and enabled us to focus on high-value opportunities. Our teams now leverage the Fast Track Problem Solving Framework to stay proactive and avoid recurring challenges.”

“John’s unique expertise and extensive experience helped our senior leadership team refine their skills and strategic focus. His ability to clarify both business and personal objectives—often lost in the daily grind—brought greater alignment, focus, and more satisfying results.”

“John’s methodology reshaped how our business operates. He empowered our senior management team to diagnose problems, uncover 20 symptoms and five root causes, and implement meaningful change. With the Fast Track Problem Solving process now in place, we are more aligned and future-ready.”

“He is a globally recognized leader in business leadership with decades of experience. I highly recommend his services to individuals, businesses, governing bodies, and anyone looking to advance their career in sports leadership.”

“Professor Grisby’s expertise in helping leaders transition in Industry 4.0 offers invaluable, practical insights. His approach is essential for those looking to adopt and leverage digital-first leadership strategies.”

“John seamlessly blends academic rigor with real-world industry experience, providing clear solutions to our leadership challenges.”

“With John’s guidance, we estimated saving between six and eight months in our strategic implementation process.”