Sally Blount

Sally Blount is the Michael L. Nemmers Professor of Strategy at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where she also served as Dean from 2010–2018. A distinguished academic and leader, she previously held deanships at NYU Stern School of Business (2004–2010) and is currently President and CEO of Catholic Charities of Chicago. Her career spans roles as an influential thought leader in management, leadership, and organizational transformation.

Education:

• Ph.D. & M.S. in Organizational Behavior, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University (1992)
• B.S.E. in Engineering Systems and Economic Policy, Princeton University (1983)

Research Interests: Blount’s work focuses on negotiations, behavioral economics, organizational behavior, and leadership. She explores how temporal dynamics, cultural interactions, and strategic communication shape organizational performance. Her studies on socio-temporal adaptability and intercultural workplace interactions have significantly impacted management theory and practice.

Awards & Recognition:

• Two-time recipient of National Science Foundation grants
• LinkedIn’s Top Voices (2017)
• Poets & Quants Dean of the Year (2017)

Her leadership has driven record fundraising, curricular innovation, and global expansion at Kellogg and NYU Stern, raising over $550M during her deanships.

Professional Contributions: Blount sits on the boards of Abbott Laboratories and the Joyce Foundation. She co-chaired the World Economic Forum on Latin America (2012) and has authored two books and over 30 peer-reviewed publications. Her executive education course, Leading Organizational Transformation, addresses strategic challenges in large-scale enterprises.