About John Austin

John Austin, PhD

Leadership Educator & Decision-Making Expert

John Austin is a leadership educator and decision-making expert known for helping individuals and organizations build capability and confidence in uncertain environments. He serves as the dean of the Honors College and the P.D. Merrill Endowed Chair of Business at the University of New England, where his work sits at the intersection of management, psychology, and foresight. For more than two decades, he has supported leaders in industries where change is constant and the future is often unexpected.

A former professor of management at Penn State University, John left academia to launch a company—an experience that shaped his lifelong interest in how people adapt, learn, and make decisions when the path ahead is unclear. After selling the company, he served as a principal at Decision Strategies International, a global firm recognized for its pioneering work in scenario planning.

In 2020, he returned to higher education to build and lead new academic initiatives at UNE, including launching both the College of Business and the Honors College. Today, he combines academic leadership with active teaching in executive education programs at the Wharton School, Penn State, Duke Corporate Education, and Georgetown University.

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Education & Credentials

PhD in Organization Studies — Boston College

BA in Economics — Johns Hopkins University

John's research has earned five Best Paper Awards and has been cited more than 2,700 times. His writing has appeared in Fast Company, Chief Executive, Inc., and HR Magazine. Earlier in his career, he was recognized with a Best Business Blog award.

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Books

Certain About Uncertainty: Build Resilience, Gain Confidence, and Thrive in a Chaotic World (Coming Spring 2026) — A practical guide to developing uncertainty intelligence for mid-career professionals navigating rapid change.

Unquestioned Brilliance: Navigating a Fundamental Leadership Trap — An exploration of how leaders can avoid the common pitfalls that come with expertise and success.

Current & Past Affiliations

University of New England — Dean of the Honors College; P.D. Merrill Endowed Chair of Business

Fielding Graduate University — Former Faculty & Faculty Chair

Decision Strategies International — Former Principal

Penn State University — Former Faculty

University of Washington — Former Faculty

Active Executive Education Affiliations

Wharton School of Business, Penn State University Smeal College of Business, Duke Corporate Education, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

Prior Executive Education Affiliations

University of North Carolina, Thunderbird School of Global Management

Beyond Work

John lives on Peaks Island in Maine with his wife of 30 years and their rescue dog, Lucy. When he's not teaching or writing, he's likely running in the fog, hiking coastal trails, or kayaking in Casco Bay.

Living on an island off the coast of Maine has shaped John's perspective on uncertainty. The fog that regularly rolls in from the Atlantic—obscuring familiar landmarks and requiring a different kind of navigation—serves as a constant reminder that clarity isn't always available, and that's okay. Sometimes the most important skill isn't seeing further, but learning to move forward confidently when visibility is limited.