Stephen H. Rhinesmith

"Rhinesmith began his career in 1972 as president and chief executive officer of American Field Service International Student Exchange Program (AFS), a position he held until 1982. He was then named president of Holland American Cruise Lines, and from 1986-87, President Reagan appointed him special ambassador to the Soviet Union. In this position, he worked to improve cultural, educational, and citizen contacts between the U.S. and Soviet Union as Reagan’s coordinator for U.S.-Soviet Exchanges. He was also the founding chairman of the Organizational Sociology Department at Moscow State University, which helped Russian students and managers develop the skills necessary to work in a democratic, free-market society." [1]

"Dr. Stephen H. Rhinesmith is one of the world’s leading experts on global leadership. His work focuses on how to navigate complexity, diversity and uncertainty in different economic and cultural environments, with a special focus on global trends that will require new leadership mindsets between now and 2030.

"Dr. Rhinesmith has published more than 30 articles on international affairs and his books, including Head, Heart, and Guts: How the World’s Best Companies Develop Complete Leaders and Leading in Times of Crisis (co-authors David Dotlich and Peter Cairo), are built on his experience as an executive, consultant, diplomat, author and lecturer.

"He has been a consultant to many Fortune 100 corporations on developing global leaders, including Samsung, Mitsubishi, Novartis, Ford, Bank of America, Merck, Avon, Burberry, Grupo Santander, and Saudi Aramco. His earlier book, A Manager’s Guide to Globalization, has been used in executive development programs to help managers gain a more global perspective in their work. He is currently a Director of the China Naisbitt Institute which is researching and reporting on China’s megatrends.

"Dr. Rhinesmith brings to his consulting practice 20 years of senior international executive experience, 15 of which were as CEO and President of AFS International Student Exchanges and President and COO of Holland America Cruise Line Inc.

"In addition to his private-sector experience Dr. Rhinesmith served for two years as President Reagan’s Coordinator for US-Soviet Exchanges. In this position, he held diplomatic rank of US Ambassador and was responsible for reinitiating cultural, educational, and citizen contacts between the United States and the Soviet Union. He was the founding Chairman of the Department of Organizational Sociology at Moscow State University which educates Russian students to develop the mindsets and skills necessary to work in an emerging free-market society. In recent years he has been a featured speaker at the Tianjin University for Finance and Economics, the Young Global Leaders Program at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Singapore Civil Service College Senior Executive Program, and the Leading for Results Program for Young Arab Leaders in the UAE.

"Dr. Rhinesmith is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York and has served as Chairman of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), the leading professional talent development association in the United States, with 75,000 members. He is the recipient of ASTD’s highest award given for lifetime contribution to the training and development profession.

"Dr. Rhinesmith received his BA from Wesleyan University in comparative European literature and philosophy and his MA and PhD in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, where he has been named a Distinguished Alumnus. He and his wife reside in Naples, Florida and Stowe, Vermont."

• Advisory board, International Foreign Policy Association

Resources and articles

Related Sourcewatch

• John Naisbitt [2] - wrote foreword to his book