Dr. George A. Kohlrieser is a distinguished organizational and clinical psychologist, a world-renowned authority on high performance leadership, and a pioneer in applying hostage negotiation techniques to corporate and personal conflict resolution. As a Distinguished Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior at IMD Business School, he is committed to building commercial success on a bedrock of human values, showing leaders how to move beyond conflict to unleash potential.
His expertise is grounded in extraordinary real-world experience, having served as a police psychologist and hostage negotiator in high-stress situations globally, including in Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Croatia, during which time he was held hostage four times himself. This frontline work, along with his doctoral research on the cardiovascular recovery of law enforcement personnel, led to his deep conviction in the power of emotional bonding and social dialogue for high performance and self-mastery.
Kohlrieser successfully transitioned this crisis management expertise into the world of executive education and corporate leadership training. He is the Founder and Director of IMD’s flagship High Performance Leadership (HPL) Program and the award-winning Inspirational Leadership online program. His work draws on various scientific disciplines, including attachment theory, brain science, and social neuroscience, and is best known for the metaphor of a leader being "Hostage At The Table."
As a highly sought-after speaker, he regularly addresses the World Business Forum, the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations. His presentations for clients like Coca-Cola, IBM, and Roche focus on how high-performing leaders can use dialogue and negotiation techniques to unite diverse teams, build common goals, and turn losses into sources of inspiration. He equips leaders to influence effectively, communicate with adversarial stakeholders, and sustain high performance through self-regulation and emotional intelligence.
