Dr. Cheng Zhu is the CEO of Humor Leadership Consulting, a New York based consulting firm that provides executive coaching, consulting and training on leadership development, organizational innovation, change management, negotiation, conflict resolution, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) strategies.
An expert in the design, delivery, and evaluation of leadership development solutions for Fortune 500 companies, governments, and non-profits, Dr. Zhu has designed and taught executive education programs for managers and executives from more than 50 countries. Examples include Eisenhower Fellowships' first Global Leadership Development Program and Women’s Leadership Development Program under the guidance of then-Chairman General Colin L. Powell.
Dr. Zhu’s book chapter was published in The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Leadership Handbook, featuring a who’s who of leadership gurus. Her articles appeared in Forbes and The Leadership Quarterly Journal and were translated into multiple languages. As a Fellow of Disruptor Foundation, Dr. Zhu helps leaders build innovative organizational cultures and develop adaptive growth strategies based on the seminal work of Dr. Clayton Christensen, the world’s foremost authority on disruptive innovation.
Previously Dr. Zhu conducted research at the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Center for Public Leadership, and worked as faculty at the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences and at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL). She was the first Asian to be elected President of the Harvard Graduate Student Government, and received the Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching and the Harvard Provost’s Outstanding Service Award.
With an Improv certificate from New York’s top comedy school Upright Citizens Brigade, she frequently helps organizations embrace laughter and use humor to build high-performing workplaces. She recently guest-starred in truTV's hit comedy series "Impractical Jokers." Dr. Zhu is also certified in a number of 360-degree learning solutions, psychological assessments, simulations, and coaching for board effectiveness, executive team development, succession planning, on-boarding, and organizational transformation.
She lives in Manhattan, New York, and holds a B.A. from Beijing University and a Masters and Doctorate from Harvard University.
Overview of Innovation Leadership Development
Highly tailored to your unique leadership needs and innovation challenges, we design and deliver evidence-based learning solutions that can accelerate your personal and professional transformation. Whether you are taking on new leadership responsibilities or striving to get unstuck in personal or professional lives, you will:
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clarify your values and gain insights into personal leadership power and organizational dynamics
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create an innovative vision that capitalizes on your strengths
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develop effective leadership skills for tackling individual and organizational challenges
Differentiators
1. Transdisciplinary Approaches Based on Cutting-Edge Research
We apply transdisciplinary approaches from the fields of human development, cognitive psychology, behavioral science, neuroscience, health education, and the performing arts to help you identify your best growth strategies. You will discover your new strengths and implement innovative solutions for transformational growth.
2. Focus on Emerging Leadership Needs
We focus on emerging needs in leadership such as women leadership, millennial leadership, global leadership, and diversity, inclusion, and multicultural leadership. Our learning solutions and experiential activities are constantly updated to address the most pressing challenges facing our clients.
3. Integrate the Arts into Leadership and Innovation Initiatives
Leveraging the tenets of theater and improv comedy training, we incorporate arts-based exercises to develop critical leadership and innovation competencies. You will hone important social-emotional skills for greater leadership effectiveness.
Speaking
Topic areas:
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Leading Change: Accelerating Personal and Organizational Transformation
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Inclusive Leadership: Unleashing the Power of Organizational Innovation through Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Learning Initiatives
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Digital Leadership: Leading in the Digital Age and Transforming Your Leadership for the Future
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CEO Leadership: Strategic Decision Making and Leadership Legacy
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Negotiation Strategies and Conflict Resolution: Mastering the Art and Science of Negotiation for Leaders and Teams (Example: Talk on "The Psychology of Negotiation" at New York City Bar Association)
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Global Leadership: Best Practices and Future Trends in Leading Across Cultures
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Improv for Leadership Presence and Organizational Ambidexterity: Getting Team Members to "Yes, and"
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Women Leadership: Leading Differently with Courage and Strategy
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Innovation Leadership: Design Thinking as a Strategy for Adaptive Leadership
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Leading Effectively in China and the U.S.: Ideals and Practice
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Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging: Inclusive Leadership Development
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Leading Multicultural / Cross-Functional Teams: Challenges and Opportunities
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Managing Stress and Renewing Energy at Workplace and in Life
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Effective Leadership Communication: The Art and Science of Giving and Receiving Feedback
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Millennial Leadership: Generational Differences in Leadership Styles
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Youth Leadership: Clarifying Identity and Purpose
Training
Virtually Empowered: Unleashing the Power of Virtual Training
1. Executive one-on-one coaching
Helps you clarify your leadership vision and create an action plan to build resiliency and enhance leadership effectiveness.
It is designed for professionals at various leadership levels:
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Individual contributors
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Managers
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Managers of managers
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Heads of divisions
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CEOs / C-level executives
2. Customized programs for corporations and government agencies
Help you understand your organizational challenges and priorities and address the specific leadership needs of your teams and organizations.
They are designed for corporate teams from various industries. Program length can vary from two hours, half day, one day, two days, three days, to one week or longer.
Consulting
Helps you design and implement strategic change initiatives, build adaptive capacities, and create an organizational culture that sustains lasting changes.
1. Strategic Planning and Consulting for Executive Teams
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Engage in discovery conversations to identify challenges and potential areas for growth and development
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Diagnose contextual and organizational dynamics
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Facilitate strategy sessions for executive teams to clarify organizational vision
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Conduct in-depth policy and practice analysis in your industry
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Develop strategic initiatives and engage stakeholders to support organizational transformation and growth effectively
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Measure the progress of strategic execution and conduct impact assessments
2. Innovation Consulting for Organizations
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Identify and build adaptive capacities for organizations, by leveraging a variety of methodologies in change management
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Develop and execute organization-wide innovation projects to scale and profit
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Create an innovative and inclusive organizational culture that enables people to thrive and bring their most creative selves to work
