ABOUT DAN


Dan Mulhern is a gifted writer and inspirational speaker. He is a nationally recognized thought-leader on emerging topics affecting everyday leaders — from soccer moms and stay-at-home dads to CEOs and elected officials in the highest halls of power. His broad appeal has motivated a wide and diverse following that transcends age, occupation and gender.

Dan’s own leadership journey started as the oldest son in a family of seven children. His early years were marked by academic success and the awakening of a spiritual side. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in religion from Yale, Dan taught high school in Florida and was a community organizer and social worker in New Orleans. From there he went on to earn his law degree from Harvard Law School. He applied his knowledge to public service with a special interest in children’s programs and services to the poor.

A lifelong student of leadership Dan created his own leadership consulting practice in Detroit and garnered an impressive client list of Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, non-profit organizations and everyday people who simply wanted to find the leader within. In 2000, he began writing and distributing “Reading for Leading,” a weekly motivational message on leadership, which now has 12,000 subscribers.

When his wife, Jennifer Granholm became the Governor of Michigan, Dan formally returned to the world of public service. As Michigan’s first, “First Gentleman,” Dan Mulhern leads an impressive army of volunteers in services ranging from mentoring to marathon running. He has dedicated himself to making the state government a “great place to do great work,” and has brought a wave of innovation in leadership development there. In 2006 he was chosen by his peers to chair the spouses’ Leadership Council of the National Governors Association.

Dan’s new book, Everyday Leadership: Getting Results in Business, Politics and Life, poignantly tells the everyday stories and illuminates the leadership lessons that help everyday people achieve great results by leading with their best selves. Dan and Governor Granholm reside in Lansing, Michigan, with their children Kate, Cece and Jack and their dog Mackinac.

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