profile-photo

Jann Freed

Add to wishlist

Book Jann Freed

Jann Freed, PhD is a leadership development consultant and speaker organizations hire to improve employee engagement, navigate change management, or develop leaders at all ages and career stages. She is particularly interested in helping employees 50+ find meaning and purpose beyond their careers. She does this through the use of a concept she developed -- The Breadcrumb Legacy™ -- in which people create new meaning for themselves and others through small daily actions.

 

A partial list of her clients includes American Enterprise Group, Drake University, IMT Insurance, and UnityPoint Health. 

 

Dr. Jann is the author or co-author of five books. In her most recent book, Leading with Wisdom:  Sage Advice from 100 Experts, she interviews prominent leadership gurus such as Jim Autry, Marshall Goldsmith, Sally Helgeson, Dan Pink, and Margaret Wheatley. One of the book’s key insights: to be a powerful leader you must keep your ego in check. In other words, it’s hard to be a good leader if you’re not a good person. 

 

On her website, Dr. Jann blogs weekly about leading, living, and sage-ing or conscious aging.  She also has a monthly podcast series, Becoming a Sage, where she interviews top thought leaders in the field of conscious aging.

 

Dr. Jann is Professor of Business Management Emerita and the former Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Leadership and Character Development at Central College, Pella, Iowa. After 30 years of college teaching and administrative responsibilities, she left to become a senior consultant with the organizational development firm, the Genysys Group.

 

In addition, Dr. Jann is an adjunct professor for the University of Iowa. 

 

Community involvement is a priority. Dr. Jann is a Director for the Bank Iowa Board and a member of several community organizations, including the Planning and Zoning Commission for the city of Des Moines, Eat Greater Des Moines, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, Women United of United Way of Iowa, and Nexus Executive Women’s Alliance.  

 

Dr. Jann has been married for 30+ years and is proud of her three adult sons who are all employed and self-sufficient. 

Speaking Topics

From Making A Living To Making A Life

Are you living a fulfilled life or are you filling your life with busyness?


Research advocates how “making a life” is based on inner work that emphasizes purpose, relationships, and overall well-being. Making a life after work takes time and intentional thought in order to make wise and fulfilling decisions.


  • Conduct a “Purpose Checkup”
  • Understand the value of purpose and meaning for living a healthy life
  • Learn the value of Breadcrumb Legacy
  • Includes: Breadcrumb Legacy: How Great Leaders Live a Life Worth Remembering by Jann Freed

Create A Vision For Your Life

Do you have a vision for life beyond work?


It is hard to get excited about a “vacation,” if you don’t know where you are going. We are living in unnavigated territory with bonus years being added to our lives between 55-75. How do you want to lead your career and live your life? Without a plan, it is hard to allocate your precious resources.


Realize the exciting options available for this phase of life

Create a life vision to guide the allocation of resources

Understand legacy thinking as forward thinking

Draft a Breadcrumb Legacy statement

Includes: Breadcrumb Legacy: How Great Leaders Live a Life Worth Remembering by Jann Freed

Taking Care Of Career Well-Being

How well are you integrating work and life?


Life balance is an illusion, but life integration is a reality. In this 24/7 connected world, it is important for employees to design their lives for a healthy career well-being. This involves exploring aspects of wellness: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental.


  • Learn the components of career well-being
  • Differentiate between goals and dreams
  • Complete a life design assessment
  • Identify their WHY statement
  • Includes: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

Why Do Some Good Leaders Go Bad?

Have you ever worked for a bad leader?


Leaders are people who have influence over the lives of others (i.e. bosses, coaches, pastors, parents) and that influence can be positive or negative. Most people don’t wake up in the morning and say: “Today I am going to be a bad leader.” If you have ever been under the influence of a bad leader, this presentation is for you.


  • Learn why your ego is not your amigo
  • Realize the flip side of success
  • Learn how to control the ego and not let it control
  • Discover why soul is the real goal
  • Includes: Breadcrumb Legacy: How Great Leaders Live a Life Worth Remembering by Jann Freed

Jann Freed's Experiences

EXPERIENCE DETAILS

*
Virtual In-Person

Experience Details

Virtual In-Person

Payment Terms

+
=
I understand that submitting this firm offer form is a legally binding offer to contract with the talent on the terms above, should the talent accept them within 5 business days of when this form is submitted. I further agree to Engage's standard booking terms & conditions.

Testimonials

The most compelling message that Dr. Jann delivers is to think about what you want your legacy to be – not at your job but after your job. Over 70% of those team members who attended one of Dr. Jann’s...

Dr. Freed did an excellent job presenting at our AARP volunteer recognition ceremony on ‘Why Purpose is Powerful.’ Her presentation was insightful, and she wove in personal anecdotes making it enterta...

With gratitude and excitement, I recommend Dr. Jann Freed as a speaker. Jann gave the most inspiring message about becoming a sage, mentoring, and keeping relevance to senior careers at the Legacy Me...

Audio Player
00:00
00:00
X