Richard Leider, founder of Inventure – The Purpose Company, is one of America’s preeminent executive-life coaches.  He is ranked by Forbes as one of the “Top 5” most respected executive coaches, and by the Conference Board as a “legend in coaching.”  

Richard’s ten books, including three best sellers, have sold over one million copies and have been translated into 20 languages.  Repacking Your Bags and The Power of Purpose are considered classics in the personal development field.  Richard’s “inventures” in writing books have taken him to events with readers in all 50 states, every Canadian province, and 15 countries.

As co-author of Life Reimagined, he is the Chief Curator of content for AARP’s Life Reimagined Institute.  Widely viewed as a visionary and thought leader on the “power of purpose”, his work is featured regularly in many media sources including, PBS public television, and NPR public radio.  He is featured in the PBS Special – The Power of Purpose.

As a keynote speaker, he is one of a select few advisors and coaches who have been asked to work with over 100,000 leaders from over 100 organizations such as AARP, Ericsson, Mayo Clinic, MetLife, National Football League (NFL), and United Health Group discover the power of purpose.

Richard holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a National Certified Career Counselor (NCCC), and a National Certified Master Career Counselor (MCC).  As a Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing, he founded The Purpose Project.  He is co-chairman and dean of the World Purpose Forum, co-chairman of the Linkage/Global Institute for Leadership Development, and a member of the Council of Senior Advisors of the FRED Leadership Forum.  He is also a board member of Youth Frontiers, and Life Coach in Residence at The Marsh: A Center for Balance and Fitness.

He is a contributing author to many coaching books, including:  Coaching for Leadership, The Art and Practice of Leadership Coaching, Executive Coaching for Results, The Leader of the Future, and The Organization of the Future.

Richard’s work has been recognized with awards from the Bush Foundation, from which he was awarded a Bush Fellowship and the Fielding Institute’s Outstanding Scholar for Creative Longevity and Wisdom award.

For 30 years, Richard has led Inventure Expedition walking safaris in Tanzania, East Africa, where he co-founded and is a board member of the Dorobo Fund for Tanzania.  He and his wife, Sally, live on the St. Croix river outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota.