As consultant, psychologist, and educator, for nearly three decades, my teaching in leadership and interpersonal communication has touched and influenced an internationally diverse group of leaders and managers. At the GSB I am honored to be an instructor of OB 374, which enables me to participate in training future world leaders. OB 374, affectionately called “Touchy-Feely” by the GSB community, is about teaching students methods for improving their “human skills,” which research on leadership indicates is a necessity for effective leadership. I hold a firm belief that we learn best by doing and in OB 374 students DO, by engaging in their own learning.

Richard P. Francisco, who for nearly three decades has been an independent consultant, psychologist and educator, is currently a licensed psychologist practicing in clinical, counseling, and organizational psychology. He is an instructor at San Jose State University and also a lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Additionally, he has been on the faculties of two other universities: the University of Oregon and John F. Kennedy University.

As a professor and instructor, Dr. Francisco has taught courses for graduate and undergraduate students in interpersonal dynamics; communications; applied and basic psychology, race relations and issues of diversity; educational leadership; and organization development. He has also served on and chaired numerous campus-wide faculty committees, including “oversight” and presidential advisory committees such as the faculty committee governing intercollegiate athletics.

His research activities have always been centered on African American (Black) males: assisting that population, particular those of lower socioeconomic status, to grow and develop interpersonally in order to realize their full human potential. Additionally, his private practice in individual psychology has always been exclusively dedicated to assisting African American males with their emotional issues.

Dr. Francisco’s professional affiliations include membership in the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Association of Black Psychologists, and the National Training Laboratories Institute for Applied Behavioral Sciences (NTL). He has also been on editorial boards of refereed journals and he served on the NTL Board of Directors (1997– 2004). It should be noted that NTL is one of the leading organizations in the world for providing training and consultation in areas of leadership training, change management, and organization development.