Eric McNulty

Eric J. McNulty: Leading in High-Stakes Situations, Harvard Faculty, Published Author, and Acclaimed Speaker

Eric J. McNulty is an esteemed Associate Director and Program Faculty at the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative (NPLI) at Harvard University, as well as an Instructor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. With a focus on leading in high-stakes, high-stress situations, Eric teaches executive education programs at both Harvard and MIT, while also delivering graduate-level courses on leadership, negotiation, and conflict resolution at Harvard.

As a co-author of “You’re It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When it Matters Most” (PublicAffairs, 2019) and “Renegotiating Health Care: Resolving Conflict to Build Collaboration” (Jossey-Bass, 2011), Eric is a recognized expert in crisis management and healthcare leadership. He has also authored e-books such as “Your Critical First 10 Days as a Leader” (O’Reilly/Safari, 2015) and “Three Critical Shifts for the Evolving Leader” (O’Reilly, 2016).

Eric’s expertise extends beyond academia, as he serves as the principal author of the NPLI’s influential case studies on leadership decision making during major events like the Boston Marathon bombing response, superstorm Sandy, and the Deepwater Horizon response. Through extensive research and interviews with key leaders, Eric provides valuable insights into effective decision making and collaboration in challenging circumstances.

With an impressive publication record, Eric is a sought-after business author, speaker, and researcher. He has contributed multiple articles to esteemed publications such as the Harvard Business Review (HBR), strategy+business, and Sloan Management Review. His HBR cases have been widely used in curricula around the world, highlighting his ability to engage and educate audiences globally.

Eric has shared his expertise at conferences and events while developing content, leading trainings and workshops, and facilitating meetings for prominent organizations including Accenture, Coca-Cola, IBM, Microsoft, United States Secret Service, and many others. Due to the sensitive nature of some projects, confidentiality restrictions apply to his work with major organizations.

Prior to his illustrious career in academia, Eric held the position of Managing Director for Conferences at Harvard Business Publishing. He also garnered valuable experience in management and communications roles within the private sector. Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (with honors) from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Master of Arts in Leadership from Lesley University.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Eric actively engages in various leadership and conservation initiatives. He is a member of the Leadership Communications Council at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, the Advisory Council of Crisis Response Journal, and the Future Vision Committee at Disaster Recovery Institute International. Eric is passionately involved in holistic conservation efforts through his Elephant Wisdom Project and serves on the board of directors of Massachusetts for Elephants. He has also made notable contributions as a former board member of The Family Center (now The Parenting Journey) in Somerville, MA, and as a former member of the Executive Council at Boston PBS affiliate WGBH.

With his extensive knowledge, engaging speaking style, and diverse experiences, Eric J. McNulty is a highly respected authority on leadership in high-stakes scenarios, crisis management, negotiation, and conflict resolution.