"Collaborate on anything that is important. No single person can know enough to make decision in a global interconnected world. I almost always works with a team; I almost never work alone. But, when it comes to take the heat for a decision that didn't work out, that's when a leader needs to step up, that's when a leader does have to go it alone. Not because of any false sense of bravado, but because it's the truth. Every team needs to have someone who's going to make the decision and be accountable for that decision. And that clarity actually makes the team work better." -- Jim Keane
Why should you develop leadership for a team?
Jim Keane is president of the Steelcase Group, which is part of Steelcase Inc, the global leader in the office furniture industry.
In this role since Oct. 2006, Jim oversees the sales, marketing and product development activities of the Steelcase, Turnstone, PolyVision, and Details brands in North America and EMEA, (Europe, the Middle East and Africa).
Jim was senior vice president and chief financial officer of Steelcase Inc. from 2001 through 2006. Previously, Jim has also led corporate strategy, IT, Steelcase Design Partnership, and research and development since joining the company in 1997.
Prior to joining Steelcase, Jim was a consultant with McKinsey and Company for five years and held positions with Peat Marwick Mitchell and Co., Motorola Inc., and Cloud Corporation.
He serves on the boards of IDEO and Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (BIFMA), the board of trustees of Grand Valley University Foundation, the international strategic advisory council of International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers, and the executive board of Design Futures Council.
Jim earned a bachelor of science degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois, and a master's in management degree from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Jim lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife Amy and three children.