Meet Rich McLafferty

Please tell us about your current line of work and how you got started in it. Please include any awards or upcoming projects.

I work at the intersection of leadership, learning, and human transformation. My focus is on designing and facilitating interactive workshops, building organization-wide leadership development programs, and helping teams align around a shared vision. I also coach and mentor leaders at all levels and consult on learning and development strategy—particularly when organizations are looking to build leadership capacity from the inside out.

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Right now, I’m in the final stages of writing a book titled The Art of Right-Brained Leadership. It’s a guide for leaders who want to tap into creativity, empathy, intuition, and imagination—not just logic and analysis. The book blends research, stories, and interactive exercises to help leaders navigate complexity in bold, human-centered ways. It’s a passion project born from years of client work, executive coaching, and my own lived leadership experiences.

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As for how I got started—I've always been fascinated by people: how we grow, how we change, and how we lead. I began my career in learning and development in the airline industry, eventually moving into leadership and organizational consulting. I’ve never looked back. Over the years, I’ve been recognized for innovation in leadership development and have had the honor of working with leaders across the nonprofit, public, and corporate sectors.

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Do you have any mentors or sources of inspiration?

Absolutely. I’ve been lucky to learn from some brilliant facilitators, thinkers, and changemakers throughout my career. Some of the most impactful mentors weren’t the highest-ranking people in the room—they were the ones who modeled authenticity, humility, and the courage to challenge the status quo.

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I also draw inspiration from authors and unconventional thinkers. Jill Bolte Taylor’s My Stroke of Insight fundamentally reshaped the way I think about the brain—especially the connection between right-brain function, empathy, and leadership. I’m also inspired by creative disruptors like Plato and Herb Kelleher, the former CEO of Southwest Airlines. Both remind me of the power of bold vision and original thinking in leadership.

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What parts of your work do you enjoy most? Why?

I love watching people and organizations succeed—on their terms. Being part of that journey, whether through a single breakthrough moment or ongoing support, is incredibly meaningful.

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What energizes me most is facilitating workshops where leaders have genuine “aha” moments—when something shifts, and they begin to see their teams, their roles, or even themselves in a new light. Coaching and mentoring, especially with emerging leaders still discovering their voice and leadership identity, is also deeply fulfilling.

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Another aspect of my work that I’m passionate about is helping organizations align around a shared vision. I often say: If an organization doesn’t know where it’s headed, it will never get “there.” I believe learning should be human, messy, engaging, transformational—and yes, fun. That belief shapes everything I do, from workshop design to strategic consulting to one-on-one coaching.

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What are your favorite things to do when you have free time?

When I’m not working, I try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. In the winter, I help run a ski and snowboard school at Palisades Tahoe in Lake Tahoe. In the summer, I love hiking, biking, or simply taking long walks to reflect and think.

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Travel is also a big part of my life—I’m a former flight attendant and have had the chance to explore much of the world, which has shaped my perspective on leadership and culture. I love to write—not just professionally, but through journaling and idea capturing—and I’m always reading. Whether it’s a leadership book, memoir, or something totally unexpected, I’m constantly looking for new ways to stretch my thinking.

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Are there any dream projects you’d like to pursue?

One of my dreams is to bring The Art of Right-Brained Leadership off the page and into the world—as a movement, a series of immersive workshops, or even a retreat space where people can unlearn outdated leadership habits and rebuild more creative, human-centered ones.

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I’m also especially interested in working more with public service leaders—those in cities, counties, and nonprofits—who are often leading in the most complex and high-stakes environments. Designing a long-term, organization-wide leadership development journey for a mission-driven team is my dream project. That’s where deep, lasting transformation happens.

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How can we learn more about you?

You can learn more about my work and upcoming book at rightbrainedleadership.com, which is currently under construction. In the meantime, I’m always open to meaningful conversations, collaboration, or simply exchanging ideas with people and organizations who are rethinking what leadership can be.