Faculty & Staff

There are those rare moments when substance, subject matter and a personal story coalesce and create inspiration. John Ramstead’s is one such story. A native Minnesotan, John attended St. Thomas Military Academy where he developed a love for military history (especially WWII) and became immersed in ROTC. Graduating at the top of his class in high school, a theme repeated many times in his academic and professional life, John was accepted into the Naval Academy, but opted for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. At RPI, John studied electrical engineering. Again, John made Dean’s List and graduated RPI in the top of his class.

It was clear through his college career and young-adult life that John wanted to serve his country. John was the 1 in 10,000 to apply to the US Navy Flight School that got in. Like several other important milestones this changed John’s life. When he arrived at flight school surrounded by extraordinary competitive peers, his father made a suggestion. “Find the best, the ace of the base, and get to know him. Then ask him how he does it.” John followed his father’s advice and this approach helped John to go on to graduate #1 in his class and #1 in Naval Aviation Training Command allowing him to be the only graduate to get his choice of aircraft.

John went on to serve our country by flying combat sorties in the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm. Over the following few years, John became a flight instructor, teaching America’s “best + brightest” to fly as he did. Of 40 elite pilots, John was selected for one of two spots at TOPGUN, the most advanced, competitive and elite fighter pilot training program the world over. He continued his aviation career until it was cut short by a softball accident where he sustained nerve damage to his eye.

Things happen for a reason: John would go onto a highly successful career as an entrepreneur in the tech space, spending time at Focus Technology, Synera Systems in the data mining field and then EMC, focusing on their $1B and below client portfolio where he managed a $100 million P&L. Regular 70 to 80 hour a week work schedules were common. Long days away from family and other important things began to take their toll. John began to ask a lot of penetrating questions about what he was good at and re-evaluated how to accomplish those goals. Transitioning from tech into financial services and planning, John has held several senior positions at Bernstein Global Wealth Management and Financial Designs, where he was a respected colleague and major contributor to those firms’ success.

Then came the accident. In 2011, John was thrown several feet from a galloping horse, impacting a fence. His doctors have told him he is nothing less than a living miracle. Twenty surgeries, six titanium plates later, and the likelihood that he would not live, John is not only here, he is thriving. His thinking and analytical capacity is operating at the same advanced level as before, but the accident shifted something profound in John and his outlook.

A calling: John believes that his life has been spared so that he can pursue his life work – to give back to other leaders what has been given to him. Having been a successful, proven leader of men and women, whether as part of executive teams or as a combat veteran, John has a unique perspective on establishing a template for success that goes beyond achieving financial goals and the mission.

John’s perspective is unique in that it not only encompasses critical performance metrics, but also critical life aspects of balance, family, happiness, joy and laughter. John was born to lead. He has proven his valor and ability on the battlefield and in the boardroom. His aim is to apply those skills to other leaders struggling to find clarity and happiness in the pursuit of their own success, and enjoy those things that matter most.

Strategic thinking, leadership skills, development and execution – these form the framework for John’s approach. But John’s coaching style and methods go well beyond how to write and execute a brilliant plan. His message is about living life fully, making a lasting contribution, and understanding not only the how, but the why we are driven to achieve. He helps uncover these truths for his client-leaders and helps them to establish their own priorities to achieve what William James called “the life worth living.”

John has worked with hundreds of leaders in nine countries. His clients range from CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, to start up entrepreneurs and leadership teams of non-profits.

John has been interviewed on leadership, creating high performing teams and corporate coaching strategies multiple times on radio, TV, summits and podcasts. John is also a frequent speaker on these topics and was asked to speak at the Jim Collins, author of Good To Great, Finishing Great event this summer.