Gerard Seijts
Professor, Organizational Behaviour
Expertise: Leadership, Leader Character, Organizational Change, Teams, Performance Management, Crisis Management

Gerard Seijts received a PhD from the University of Toronto in 1998. Prior to joining the Ivey Business School in 2000, he was a faculty member at the I.H. Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba. Gerard teaches on several degree programs and has taught EMBA, MBA, and undergraduate courses in leadership, leading change, organizational behaviour, and performance management.
Gerard has worked with many organizations in an executive education capacity, including Aecon, AstraZeneca, Deloitte, EY Canada, Hilti, Intact Financial Corporation, J.D. Irving Limited, Maple Leaf Foods, Navigator, OMERS, the City of Toronto, the City of Calgary, and Magellan Aerospace. He has also worked with government and government agencies in Canada, Hong Kong, Europe, and Africa on issues such as leadership and change.
Gerard has written cases on topics including – but not limited to – leadership, leading change, organizational turnarounds, crisis management, organizational culture and alignment, teams and managing conflict in teams. Recently, Gerard authored or co-authored four books: Leadership on Trial: A Manifesto for Leadership Development; Good Leaders Learn: Lessons from Lifetimes of Leadership; Developing Leadership Character; and Leadership in Practice: Theory and Cases in Leadership Character.
Programs
QuantumShift for Entrepreneurs
Drive growth and inspire results with a purpose-built learning experience for Entrepreneurs. In partnership with KPMG Private Enterprise, QuantumShift™ accelerates your effectiveness as a business leader.
Grow value and promote excellence in non-profit organizations. In partnership with KPMG, CommunityShift™ connects Canada's top not-for-profit leaders through deep experiential learning.
To Be Announced
London, Ontario, Canada
QuantumShift Senior Executive Program
Think strategically, inspire change.
Elevate your strategic impact as a senior leader. In partnership with KPMG Private Enterprise™, the QuantumShift™ Senior Executive Program offers a transformative learning experience for executives in QuantumShift Led Companies.
Starts October 22, 2023
London, Ontario, Canada
Ivey LIFT Advanced Coaching Certification
Join a community of Canada’s most advanced executive and leadership coaches. Learn to guide executives and transform executive teams in the dynamic business arenas of tomorrow.
To Be Announced
London, Ontario, Canada
Articles
May 25th, 2022
Our Global Future: What leaders can learn from defining moments
Our panel discusses key leadership lessons from the war in Ukraine and offers takeaways for all leaders on the importance of character in defining moments.
Read StoryJuly 3rd, 2020
Zabeen Hirji: Is the future of work a workplace for everyone?
Zabeen Hirji, Executive Advisor at Deloitte Canada and former CHRO at RBC, explores ways that leaders can support a healthy future of work in their organizations.
Read StoryMay 27th, 2020
Organizational well-being: the power of leader character during times of crisis
In this complimentary livestream, we discussed the important role leader character plays in times of crisis, the power of character in business and sports, the importance of character to well-being in organizations, and the role character can play in business model reinvention.
Read StoryMay 15th, 2020
Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington on learning from shared experience
Ivey Professor Gerard Seijts leads a conversation with Neil Netherington, EMBA '13 and CEO of the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto. Neil gives insights on the mission and challenges his organization faces amidst the pandemic crisis.
Read StoryApril 29th, 2020
CAMH CEO Dr. Catherine Zahn: How leaders can be strong by asking for help
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health CEO and President Dr. Catherine Zahn explores some of the ways we can each be more mindful of our complete health during crisis.
Read StoryApril 25th, 2020
Professor Gerard Seijts interviews Rahul Bhardwaj, President and CEO of the Institute of Corporate Directors. Rahul, Gerard, and Mark Healy discuss Canada's natural business advantages during a crisis and the importance of trust in leadership.
Read StoryApril 13th, 2020
President & CEO of the Business Council of Canada Goldy Hyder talks crisis alignment between Canadian business, the social sector, healthcare, and government.
Read StoryApril 12th, 2020
Canadian Chamber of Commerce CEO Perrin Beatty on the effects of crisis for leaders and business
Watch a live recorded podcast interview with Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Perrin chats with Ivey Professor Gerard Seijts on the importance of character in leadership during crisis.
Read Story